Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap on Tuesday, 22 July took to Instagram to share a pointed observation about Generation Alpha — the cohort now approaching voting age — arguing that this generation has grown up entirely under the current regime and is increasingly dissatisfied with it. The post arrived against the backdrop of intensifying street protests across New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

What Kashyap Said

The director, long known for his outspoken political views, wrote that children who have come down to protest were between 2 and 6 years old when the current Prime Minister came to power. In his words: “All they’ve seen is Congress-mukt Bharat and they’re tired of it.”

Kashyap further argued that blaming the previous government will no longer suffice as a political strategy. He wrote: “Kisi aur ko gaali deke iss baar nahin chalega. In bachchon ke sawaal poochhne aur vote dene ka time aa gaya hai (This time, blaming someone else won’t work. It’s time for these children to ask questions and cast their votes).”

The Protest Context

Kashyap’s post comes amid a volatile political atmosphere triggered in large part by the NEET paper leak controversy and broader concerns about exam irregularities in the education system. Protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi turned violent on 20 July, when demonstrators were lathi-charged by law enforcement, leading to clashes.

At the centre of the agitation is climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 21 days at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam irregularities. In the early hours of 18 July, Delhi Police removed Wangchuk from the protest site, shifting him to a hospital citing deteriorating health, medical advice, and compliance with a Delhi High Court order.

As of the time of Kashyap’s post, Wangchuk had entered day 24 of his hunger strike and vowed to continue despite the crackdown.

Why Gen Alpha Matters Politically

Generation Alpha — broadly, those born from 2010 onwards — represents the next wave of first-time voters in India. Kashyap’s argument is that this cohort has no lived memory of any government other than the current one, making the standard opposition tactic of invoking past misrule less effective. He noted that these young people have been observant and are now at the cusp of entering the voter base.

Notably, this is not the first time a prominent voice from the film industry has weighed in on the protests. The NEET controversy and Wangchuk’s hunger strike have drawn commentary from across civil society, amplifying pressure on the government.

What Comes Next

With Wangchuk’s strike continuing and student protests showing no sign of abating, the political temperature is expected to remain elevated. Whether the government responds with policy action on exam reform or doubles down on the current approach will likely determine how this generation — and its eventual votes — are shaped.