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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Gen Z revolt leaves Modi govt scrambling

Mumbai: The recent CJP agitation at Jantar Mantar, amplified by a ferocious wave of social media backlash, has achieved what years of fragmented opposition politics could not: it has visibly shaken the highest echelons of the Narendra Modi government. For the first time in over a decade, the seemingly impenetrable fortress managed by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah appears vulnerable. Driven by a Gen Z demographic that refuses to play by traditional political rules, the...

Gen Z revolt leaves Modi govt scrambling

Mumbai: The recent CJP agitation at Jantar Mantar, amplified by a ferocious wave of social media backlash, has achieved what years of fragmented opposition politics could not: it has visibly shaken the highest echelons of the Narendra Modi government. For the first time in over a decade, the seemingly impenetrable fortress managed by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah appears vulnerable. Driven by a Gen Z demographic that refuses to play by traditional political rules, the movement has made the ruling dispensation’s meticulously crafted narrative look starkly outdated. The scale and intensity of the public unrest have triggered alarm bells, prompting the government to take unprecedented corrective measures. In a remarkable departure from its usual top-down approach, the Union government has officially deputed Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) to execute a massive ground-level feedback-gathering exercise. Insiders reveal that this crisis management strategy operates on multiple tiers. The government is actively seeking counsel from technology experts and content analysts to decipher exactly what went wrong and to understand the strategic advantages of the digital content generated by CJP supporters. These grassroots digital campaigns brought about a drastic, organic shift in public expression that caught the administration entirely off guard. Furthermore, officials are engaging in candid dialogues with independent, well-meaning individuals tasked with holding a mirror to the administration's failures. Professionals entrusted with coordinating these meetings admit the outcome remains uncertain, but the sheer scale of outreach marks a watershed moment for a government usually insulated from external critique. The political vacuum created by this unrest has been masterfully exploited by the opposition. Capitalizing on the opening created by the CJP protests and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, Rahul Gandhi has seized the political advantage. By deploying an emotional narrative—particularly regarding the use of pellet guns—Gandhi has effectively targeted Amit Shah, leaving the Prime Minister cornered. The optics in Parliament have been equally jarring for the ruling party. For the first time in twelve years, fumbling, elderly figures within the BJP found themselves outmatched by the scathing, articulate assaults from Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. Armed with quick wit, finesse, and an undeniable superiority in content, the Congress leadership is dictating the terms of the debate, forcing the BJP onto the defensive. This sudden vulnerability has blown the lid off simmering discontent within the ruling party. Insiders are now openly arguing that the hyper-centralization of power by Modi and Shah is fundamentally flawed. The strategy of installing dependent "yes-men"—leaders who shine merely in borrowed light—in key state positions is backfiring spectacularly. While this iron-fisted strategy yields dividends during favourable times, the current crisis proves that an artificially sustained leadership cannot withstand a genuine storm. Many within the party lament the sidelining of softer, grassroots-connected leaders like Shivraj Singh Chouhan. A leader of Chouhan's calibre, possessing natural empathy and a deep understanding of the masses, could have offered a sympathetic and appealing rebuttal, contrasting sharply with the shallow, dry rhetoric currently being peddled by the party's younger, yet out-of-touch, defenders. The immediate consensus is that the party desperately needs to replace its aging heavyweights with articulate voices who can genuinely connect with an evolving electorate. Perhaps the most shocking revelation from the fallout is the catastrophic failure of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) legendary feedback and feed-forward mechanism. For decades, the RSS has served as the eyes and ears of BJP governments, but this time, the machinery completely failed to gauge the scale of the impending unrest. According to senior insiders, the root cause lies in a deep-seated rot within the RSS itself. As the organization celebrates its centenary year, it is grappling with an internal crisis. Unlike previous BJP regimes where the political arm bore the exclusive brunt of corruption allegations, the malaise has now reportedly crept into the highest echelons of the RSS leadership. This unprecedented internal decay has severed the organization's vital connection to the ground, leaving the BJP flying blind during a crucial socio-political upheaval.Despite the prevailing anxiety within the corridors of power, the newly initiated feedback-gathering exercise is being hailed as a much-needed course correction by veteran leaders within both the party and the RSS. Long-sidelined stalwarts view this desperate measure as a vindication of their long-held grievances against the centralized high command. While the designated OSDs and professionals remain cautiously optimistic about the immediate impact of their data-gathering, these old-guard insiders sense a rare opportunity. They believe that confronting the unvarnished truth from the ground might finally force a complete and necessary overhaul of the Parivar organizations, dismantling the fragile, sycophantic structures currently in place and returning the party to its grassroots origins.

Mahashivratri: The wants fast

Mahashivratri is associated with discipline, stillness, and control over impulses. Most people interpret fasting as a food ritual. But what if you tried a different kind of fast this year - one that improves your finances and your health? I call it as “Wants Fast” for 30 days.


The Simple Rule

The idea is simple. For one full month, you do not spend money on wants, only needs. Not as punishment, but as a reset - because in personal finance, the biggest damage rarely comes from one big mistake. It comes from small, frequent “leaks” that quietly drain your wealth.


Needs vs Wants

Let us define it clearly. Needs are essentials: groceries, medicines, fuel, rent/EMIs, electricity and phone bills, and truly necessary household and work expenses. Wants are everything else: online shopping “because it was on sale,” impulse café visits, random Swiggy/Zomato orders, unplanned outings, new gadgets/accessories, and subscriptions you do not even use.


Why It Works

This experiment works because impulse spending is emotional, not logical. We buy because we are bored, stressed, tired, or scrolling. A Wants Fast breaks that loop, and you will quickly spot patterns you never noticed before.


The 48-Hour Pause Protocol

To make it practical, follow a few rules. Start with the 48-Hour Pause Protocol. Whenever you feel like buying something non-essential, wait 48 hours. You will be shocked how many “must-haves” disappear in two days.


The One Place Investment Rule

Now here is the key upgrade for this month. Do not just save the money you avoid spending, invest it, and invest it in one place. Pick one instrument only for the entire month: one mutual fund scheme, or one good-quality stock, or one ETF (like a Nifty ETF, for simplicity). Every time you skip a want, take that exact amount (or consolidate it weekly) and invest it into that single chosen instrument.


Why Consolidation Matters

Why this “one place” rule? Because consolidation makes the result visible. When you spread savings across multiple items, you do not feel the impact. But when all that avoided spending accumulates in one mutual fund, one ETF, or one stock, you will physically see how much money was leaking from your lifestyle. Many people underestimate this until they witness the lumpsum created in just 30 days.


The Health Dividend

And yes, there is a health benefit too. A Wants Fast naturally reduces ordering out, late-night snacking triggered by scrolling, and “reward spending” that often comes with sugary drinks and junk food.Money improves, and so does your body.


The 30-Day Audit

At the end of 30 days, do a personal audit: which expenses were pure noise, and which were definitely necessary. Because fasting is not about hunger, it is about control. If you like the concept of Wants Fast, maybe extend it for a month or two more, remember - money saved is money earned. 


(The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor.  Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)


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