Cockroaches to Movement

Big Questions Ahead

Meet the Guests

Youth Agency Explained

Joy as Resistance

Memes and Phone Cameras

Virality and Power

Identity and Surveillance

NEET Leak Fallout

Reform Trio Breakdown

Radhakrishnan Reforms

Why Implementation Fails

Punishment vs Reform

Nilekani Task Force

Bigger Education Crunch

Closing Thoughts

We look back at the Jantar Mantar protests through the lens of media, technology and youth agency. What began as a Chief Justice’s jibe calling unemployed young Indians “cockroaches” turned into a movement that forced a Union minister’s resignation — powered by satire, memes and a 26-day hunger strike, and a social media following that outgrew the ruling party’s own.

As the government rolls out fast-track courts, a tougher anti-cheating law and a Nilekani-led task force, the question is whether this marks a genuine break from the past or a repeat of 2024 — when a similar paper leak led to the Radhakrishnan committee's 101 recommendations, many of which remain only partially implemented two years on. Anirban Chowdhury speaks to Dr Anindya Kundu, sociologist, best-selling writer, Assistant Professor at Florida International University, Dr Usha Raman, former professor, Dept of Communication, University of Hyderabad and ET’s Anubhuti Vishnoi on virality, power, protest and reforms.

<p>We look back at the Jantar Mantar protests through the lens of media, technology and youth agency. What began as a Chief Justice&rsquo;s jibe calling unemployed young Indians &ldquo;cockroaches&rdquo; turned into a movement that forced a Union minister&rsquo;s resignation &mdash; powered by satire, memes and a 26-day hunger strike, and a social media following that outgrew the ruling party&rsquo;s own.</p>
<p>As the government rolls out fast-track courts, a tougher anti-cheating law and a Nilekani-led task force, the question is whether this marks a genuine break from the past or a repeat of 2024 &mdash; when a similar paper leak led to the Radhakrishnan committee's 101 recommendations, many of which remain only partially implemented two years on. Anirban Chowdhury speaks to Dr Anindya Kundu, sociologist, best-selling writer, Assistant Professor at Florida International University, Dr Usha Raman, former professor, Dept of Communication, University of Hyderabad and ET&rsquo;s Anubhuti Vishnoi on virality, power, protest and reforms.</p>

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The Morning Brief

Cockroaches, Courts & Committees: What Did India’s GenZ Really Win?