As always, a brilliant and incisive analysis of the student protests by Pranay Kotasthane:

The WhatsApp uncles and aunties generation that have seen the benefits of the two decades after liberalisation are content with their “settled” lives, their garba in Vietnam and their misguided belief about India’s standing going up in the world because of this government. But the reality confronting the Insta generation is that their future isn’t as rosy and the correcting and disciplining mechanism of the political system isn’t working. Nobody listens, and nobody is accountable. The government increasingly announces decisions instead of explaining them. The youth is, not surprisingly, assuming bad faith instead of listening.

That, more than the current protests themselves, should concern us. Democracies become stronger when they create more places where disagreement can be expressed. That is the sign of a confident government. The youth protesting today are calling out the bluff. Governments do not have to accept every demand placed before them, and protesters do not have to be right about every issue they raise. But both sides have an interest in ensuring that the street remains the last place where a disagreement seeks resolution, not the first place where citizens believe anyone will finally listen. Unfortunately, I believe we have reached there.