Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat are in a damage control mode. While PM Modi is posting his Instagram and other social media videos almost every day, RSS Chief is also meeting GEN Z representatives, which shows the seriousness of the problem and the alacrity at highest forum, required to tackle this national problem which can derail all the progress made during the last twelve years of his rule. It also has the potentiality of damaging India’s progress, aimed at the 2047 target set by him, the attainment of Five Trillion economy in another couple of years and making India as the third largest power in another few years. Though their commitment and vision however seems to be missing in the party and the organization, and routine political shenanigans seem to be going on in the same fashion in which these were occurring earlier. RSS and BJP leadership at the top may have started the exercise to devise strategies to counter the moves of opposition parties but they have confined it to their own select group and hence may result in the same set of repeated solutions, which they have offered in the past. Unless, they try to involve the concerned citizenry of the country, who may not be their members, but have equal or more concern, for the future of the country and can point out the shortcomings in the approach of the government or the party, in tackling the situation, which an ordinary party worker or government official will not be able to do for fear of antagonizing the higher leadership and earning their displeasure.
The government had the inputs of the impending destabilization moves being made abroad, by all those foreign powers who do not wish to see India’s rise. They have their own agendas, and so should have been our preparation. Over confidence led to the failure to counter the threat, by taking the preventive measures in time. But the policy needs to be changed. We cannot afford to be content with just reactive measures, we have to be pro active and more cannot be divulged in present write up.
The second important player in the entire episode, the Youth or ‘Gen Z’ and the joining of hands by leftists, the fringe element, the opposition parties aiming to grab power and the gullible students and youth with them, who cannot view the hidden agenda behind such agitations, all need to be tackled with different strategies, for each group and sub group. As I have been saying repeatedly for the last few years that the youth of our country, now being called ‘Gen Z’ has no idea of the richness our past, and the value of our philosophical thought process that has shaped the destiny of this country for thousands of years. Modern scientific knowledge may have helped in the rapid progress of mankind, and the scientific thought process seems to be in contradiction with many of our religious and philosophical thoughts, contained in our religious books and this is the major reason of deviant behavior as has been displayed. This is the case with every religion but it is only the Sanatan thought process which gives you the liberty to discuss and deliberate, which should have been done by those shaping the religious thought process of majority. Since, no such endeavor is coming and contradictions are galore, the youth gravitates towards all those who criticize it as an obsolete, outdated and anti-science thought process. The offending videos, against Hindu Gods, in the CPJ agitation are a testimony to this thing of the present day youth. The indecent actions, a vulgar display of nudity and language, obscene gestures, all in the public domain coupled with abusive language against Hindu Gods and their violent conduct during such protests have shocked us all in the entire country. Democracy prevalent in our country, unlike that in the neighbouring countries like China or Pakistan unquestionably protects the right of Indians to protest, dissent and criticize the government. However, our Constitution framers and those who made supreme sacrifices for our freedom had not bargained for such freedom and democracy was never intended to become a licence for public indecency, glorification of vulgarity or intimidation through violence.
As responsible citizens of the country, as parents and well wishers of the progenies and future generations, we must honestly ask ourselves some uncomfortable questions about these young men and women who are future sons-in-law or daughters-in-law of some of us. Would we remain equally comfortable if they or even our own biological children display the same disturbing behaviour in public or in our homes as political activism or social liberty and tread the path of destruction of our cherished values and take the country downstream, where all those baying for our blood and destruction are ready to pounce to blow the final lethal blows for disintegration of the country?
Those who defend such conduct should have a broader viewpoint, think of a situation that if they had succeeded in burning down of Parliament, Supreme Court, and other vital installations in national capital, as happened in neighbouring countries, what would have happened. They must answer this question from their conscience rather than viewing these through the prism of political allegiance and then decide whether their tacit support and encouragement was appropriate and shouldn’t they be asked for public apology, puncturing their inflated egos for a greater cause.
We always try to impart our children and students the best of ‘Sanskars’ and wish that our children should be better educated, have discipline and be respectful to us and elders in the family. But in the name of freedom of expression, what they displayed in public domain is unpardonable. They and their votaries claim it as their Constitutional right but rights divorced from responsibility gradually degenerate into chaos and this is what those intending to harm India want.
From the perspective of criminology and behavioural sciences, our ignorance or silence at this moment can lead to ADHD, ODD, CD and related behaviors, the prescursors of serious offending and normalization of obscenity, aggressive conduct and hatred that will also gradually weaken the moral restraints that holds our society and the country together. Otherwise what is common between the North and South India, East and West India, where language, culture, color of skin, rituals and even ways of thinking are different. When we allow this sort of indecency to permeate politics and public life, it will also become part of our educational institutions, where this Gen Z is studying, family systems, workplaces will suffer and eventually our private life will become hellish, which we often see in matrimonial disputes which are on a rapid rise in courts. Nations do not decline merely because of economic weaknesses; they decline when social values and civic discipline steadily erode.
Our concern should extend beyond what happened in CPJ protests in Delhi and some other cities as well and these cannot be overlooked as isolated incidents. If such methods become politically rewarding, they may gradually influence and encourage other youth across the country. Competitive support to them among political organizations and some sections of media is harmful and may initially offer gradual rise in political ladder but the end results can be grave, for the country and the society. The result could be increasing vying for recognition and street violence, social polarization, disrespect for constitutional institutions would be viewed as legitimate tools but will lead to weakening of family values and ultimate disintegration as well.
India has seen powerful public movements that were disciplined and dignified. From the freedom struggle to JP movement to Anna Hazare led protests and many other several mass social movements, moral authority was derived from the character of those leading from the front, restraint of participants. Their sacrifices and ethical conduct motivated millions but now open display of opulence, vulgarity and public indecency attracts thousands.
We, therefore, in order to counter this emerging challenge need to devise a comprehensive national response extending far beyond what most are advocating at the moment. A nationwide movement advocating for attempts at the highest level calling for ‘Vritti Parivartan” of such generation and call for dissent expressed in a peaceful manner, dignified and constitutionally valid means, if they have some genuine grievances. An encouragement to educational institutions, social organizations, youth forums and voluntary bodies to incorporate structured programmes on ethics, civic responsibility, constitutional duties and respectful public discourse. If any law requires to be passed for such endeavor, we should not hesitate to do so to protect the country. We need to strengthen value-based education rooted in India’s civilizational heritage. This is an achievable target and initiatives promoting character development, self-discipline, yoga, meditation and ‘Vritti Parivartan’ (behavioural transformation) among young citizens, needs to be made as part of NEP, so that emotional maturity accompanies intellectual development and it becomes institutionalized. For these broader perspectives for coming decades, let us encourage greater involvement of parents, teachers, community leaders and religious organizations to develop a “Culture of Lawfulness”, advocated by us since long and an endeavor in the forthcoming UNODC Conference 2026, in which the author is an invitee and that which has already been proposed to the central government long back in Projects ‘SAFE INDIA’ and ‘Sanatan Sanskriti Revival’ in restoring moral and ethical guidance to younger generations.
The challenge before India is not merely to counter foreign forces led attempted political coups, disgruntled politicians and ignorant Gen Z led helping hand or something more; we have also to thwart attacks on our civilizational values. If we falter in checking moral degradation today, our future generations may inherit a society where street power would replace democratic participation, outrage would replace dialogue, vulgarity would replace reason and violence would replace democratic persuasion.
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The author is the President of Criminologists Society and a practicing Advocate of J&K High Court.
