Ex-Judge S. Muralidhar Says Gen Z Resistance Will Ensure India’s Democracy Endures

Democracy in India will endure due to the active resistance of Gen Z protesters against authoritarian political strategies, according to S. Muralidhar. Speaking at the 28th D.S. Borker Memorial Lecture, Muralidhar addressed the growing youth-led movements across the country and dismissed attempts by political figures to discredit student activists using pejorative labels like “Dimaghi Naxal.”

According to Live Law, Muralidhar emphasized that the energy and defiance displayed by the younger generation serve as a vital guarantee for the survival of democratic institutions. Muralidhar noted that labelling politically engaged youth with derogatory terms will not deter them from demanding accountability or speaking out against state policies.

Youth Discontent and Political Strategy

As reported by The Wire and Frontline Magazine, India’s younger population increasingly feels alienated by current economic conditions, high unemployment rates, and shrinking civic spaces under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. Analysts and commentators observing the ruling apparatus point out that the central government’s future political strategy relies heavily on a dual approach of appeasement and intimidation to manage growing dissent.

Despite these pressures, youth-led opposition has continued to surface in unexpected ways. Nikkei Asia has documented grassroots mobilization efforts, sometimes referred to by observers as cockroach movements due to their decentralized and resilient nature, which have successfully exposed vulnerabilities within the ruling political machinery. These fluid networks make traditional state crackdowns less effective.

Transforming Education and Civic Ownership

Beyond street protests, Gen Z engagement is reshaping institutional spaces, particularly within India’s education system. According to analysis published by The Times of India, students are moving past traditional student politics toward systemic ownership of educational reforms. This shift involves demanding transparent governance, curriculum updates, and protection of free speech on university campuses across different states.

Legal scholars and civil rights advocates point to the 28th D.S. Borker Memorial Lecture as a significant milestone for public discourse on dissent. By publicly backing the right of young citizens to protest, judicial voices like Muralidhar’s provide an important counterweight to executive attempts to criminalize student activism. The ongoing friction between state narratives and youth-led resistance highlights a deepening generational divide over the future trajectory of Indian democracy.