Aaj bazaar mein pa-bajolaan chalo,
Dast basta chalo, muskurate chalo.
(Come, walk with me to the marketplace today
In chains, yet smiling, with pride in your step.)
— Faiz Ahmad Faiz
It is almost funny how protests today do not begin in dusty town squares anymore; they start on Instagram stories, Twitter threads, TikTok lives, or discord chats. Slogans have shifted from being written on walls to hashtags.
GenZ, the digital citizens who grew up scrolling even before walking, have somehow shocked every field – from social media life to toppling of parliaments. The uniqueness is their sharp, idealistic, and sarcastic criticism; surprisingly, it is a single (United) voice. Since Trump second administration, the talks about shift in world politics i.e., world order are prominent, same is the case with youth’s thinking process.
Popular demonstrations led by youth have been sweeping the world since the ‘Aragalya’ movement in Sri Lanka in 2022. Mass student protests resulted in the downfall of the of Hasina Wajed in Bangladesh in 2024. This September, Gen Z protests forced the resignation of the Nepalese PM. Although, the critical juncture in all the three cases are different, still young people are pushing back against what they see as decades of corruption, nepotism, prestigious DNA, and injustice. And while the results of these youth led movements are still in the process, but one thing is clear: this generation is not here to wait.
Another uniqueness is their nonchalant way of doing all this. They are enjoying it to the fullest and, at the same time, fighting for their rights. Tons of videos circulate on social sites: students dancing during sit-ins, protestors sipping chai (tea) on the roadsides, lighting a cigarette with the burning tyre and pop-cultural references that make you laugh before they make you think. I must say this rebellion has rhythm in it. They have somehow turned resistance into something strangely joyful, almost poetic.
It is not just rebellion; It is creativity with a cause. That is what makes it so infectious, they do not just demand change, they shape it.
And maybe that is why it is working or at least seems like working. Because deep down, they know pain alone does not move the world anymore, stories do. So, they tell theirs, one post, one meme, one reel at a time. Although, it is not organized, it is not perfect, but it is alive.
In the end, the results of the GenZ rebellion are yet to be soon, still unfolding and no one really knows how Farr it will go. But one thing I’m sure of, GenZ has already changes the way protest looks and feels. They have turned resistance into something that trends, something that speaks with humor. The world might not have fully caught yet, but it is definitely paying attention.
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Do mention your thoughts 🤔💭!
Peace 🕊
