What Truly Defines Gen Z
There is a popular saying: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. For years, the ruling party in India, the BJP, seemed to operate under the illusion of absolute invincibility. Backed by a vast majority, rural strongholds, and the sheer weight of majoritarian politics, they operated with a glaring absence of accountability. They believed they could get away with anything.
That is, until the youth took to the streets.
Recently, we witnessed a historic shift. The anger of Gen Z—sparked by years of systemic paper leaks that destroyed the futures of millions of students—boiled over. What started as whispers turned into a roar on the streets of New Delhi and across the country. Operating as a non-political movement dubbed the "Cockroach Janta Party," Gen Z achieved what seasoned opposition leaders thought was impossible: forcing the resignation of the Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.
It was a victory for accountability. But the political establishment’s reaction to this defeat has been nothing short of embarrassing.
Realizing they can no longer ignore the Gen Z voting bloc, political leaders have decided to pander to us. Suddenly, we are hearing parliamentarians awkwardly drop slang like “delulu” and “clock it” into their speeches, accompanied by clumsy hand gestures. They seem to think that learning our internet vocabulary is the key to winning our votes.
But they are missing the point entirely. As a Gen Z citizen, let me clear this up: we don't even use those words in serious conversations. By trying to mimic us, politicians are proving just how disconnected they are from what actually defines our generation.
Here is what actually defines Gen Z:
1. A Deep Hatred for “Fakeness”
At our core, Gen Z values authenticity above all else. We have grown up in an era of deepfakes, curated social media feeds, and rampant misinformation. As a result, our radar for BS is highly calibrated. We despise fakeness. When a 60-something politician tries to use TikTok slang to relate to us, we don’t feel seen—we cringe. We don’t want politicians who try to act like teenagers; we want politicians who act like responsible, transparent adults.
2. We Question Everything (Even Our Parents)
For older generations, the norm was often blind obedience. If my father is doing something, I must respect it, follow it, and walk in his path. Gen Z has broken that cycle. We are a generation that asks "Why?" We hold our own opinions, even if they clash with our families. We look at our parents’ values and ask: Do these align with my own moral compass? We refuse to blindly inherit beliefs just because of tradition.
3. We Refuse to Inherit Trauma and Hatred
This independent thinking directly applies to the communal politics that have deeply scarred India. Previous generations may have been subjected to trauma that morphed into inter-religious hatred—like the widespread animosity toward Muslims fostered by majoritarian politics. But Gen Z sees themselves as empty vessels, free to paint our own worldview. If the Muslims I meet in my daily life are kind and peaceful to me, why should I carry the burden of my father's trauma or prejudice? We refuse to inherit hatred.
4. Reclaiming True Patriotism
The political establishment has weaponized the term "anti-national." For years, they have equated the identity of the nation with the identity of the ruling party. If you ask a question to the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, you are immediately branded an anti-national. Gen Z is calling out this hypocrisy. We have the critical thinking skills to know that holding our leaders accountable is an act of patriotism. Demanding better for our country doesn't mean we hate it; it means we love it enough to demand it lives up to its constitutional values.
The Bottom Line
To the politicians currently practicing slang in the mirror before parliamentary sessions: Stop.
You cannot distract us from paper leaks, unemployment, and communal division by calling your opponents "delulu." We don't want you to speak our slang. We want you to answer our questions. We want transparency. We want accountability.
Until you can offer that, no amount of internet buzzwords will save you from the reality that Gen Z is watching, and we are not easily fooled.