The reframing of the political narrative by Gen Z at Jantar Mantar
Gen Z protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar to demonstrate against recurring examination paper leaks in India. The protest also served as a critique of mainstream media's perceived bias in favor of the government.
Why it matters
The event highlights a shift in political engagement among younger generations and their growing distrust of traditional media narratives.
“All is well.” The line from Three Idiots became an anthem of optimism for an entire generation. The film portrayed the story of three friends trying to break free from the rigid expectations imposed by India’s education system.
Aamir Khan played Rancho, whose real identity in the film was Phunsukh Wangdu, an engineer and innovator living in Ladakh. The character was widely believed to have been inspired by innovator-turned-activist Sonam Wangchuk, who later emerged as the face of the anti-paper leak protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Ironically, the protest site represented the exact inversion of the film’s celebrated refrain. Students and young people from diverse social and economic backgrounds gathered to send a simple message: all was not well.
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