India's youth-led Cockroach movement has cancelled further protests after the Modi government accepted all of their demands. The unexpected concession is viewed as a major victory for protesters fighting for education reforms and greater government accountability.
Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
"It's a victory for the Constitution of India. It's a victory for the people of India, and it's the defeat for the dictator."
Holding a portrait of the father of India's constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke has beaten the odds.
After forming the satirical youth-led 'Cockroach Janta Party' just two months ago, he has now led the movement to stunning success.
For the first time in the twelve years of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, a mass uprising has forced a minister to resign.
The self-described 'satirical political movement' was founded in May, after the chief justice minister referred to the unemployed youth in India as 'cockroaches'.
When a major exam leak in June forced millions to re-sit gruelling medical exams and was linked to at least twelve suicides, the youth-led movement took to the streets.
Galvanised over the lack of prospects for young Indians, tens of thousands gathered this week to march on parliament and demand the education minister resign.
Professor of Indian Politics Christophe Jaffrelot says their success could set a precedent.
“The education minister needs to resign because of a lack of accountability, I mean, because of massive, problems in education, you can also ask for the resignation of the..I don't know, home minister, for the way the police behaves, finance minister for the economic crisis India is facing. That may have created a precedent indeed. Yeah, Rajnath Singh (Indian politician) used to say ministers don't resign in this government. Well, they do. And that's an interesting precedent also from that point of view."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has built a reputation for refusing to budge under public pressure, making the education minister's announcement an even greater achievement.
As one of the youngest populations in the world, India's youth vote forms a critical support base for the ruling party.
With opposition parties disrupting parliament and echoing the protesters' demands, Professor Jaffrelot says this was a major test for the government.
"In the sense that the authority of the prime minister himself has been tested, has been somewhat eroded and now the idea that we are entering into the post-Modi phase, to some extent is materializing. You know, that was something people were talking about. But you may consider that the post-Modi era begins today with so many BJP leaders in the fray."
In addition to Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party says it will accept all of the CJP's demands.
These include compensation for the families of those who died by suicide after the exam leak, broader exam and educational reforms, and dropping police charges against protesters.
Hours after the government agreed and the protests were called off, thousands remained in the streets to celebrate their victory.
Standing beside her young daughter, Mrinalini Sharma says the younger generation is making a real difference.
“I am feeling really happy and I am grateful for everyone who has come here in support of the Gen Z protests, because this is a new generation who has led this reform and I am really happy. My daughter is also here today and I am supporting her future, and that is all because of Gen Z who has started this”
The founder of the movement, Abhijeet Dipke, saluted the courage of protesters who faced police with batons and tear gas.
As protesters cheered him on, he reminded them the fight for democratic rights is not over and cautioned against making one person a hero.
Professor Jaffrelot says the popularity of what started as a satirical movement signals a real desire for change in India.
“Yes. I think the style of the protest reflecting, reflected this fatigue with, well, someone who is of a completely different generation, in office for so many years, so many decades, in Gujarat, and then of course, in India. The need for a new wind to blow on, on a society that is young, that is energetic, that wants fun, that asks fun, when the leaders don't have a terribly, great sense of humour. So you have, you have this contrast, which is really making Modi a man of the past in many ways."
