Student Activism as a Catalyst for Political Change in India: A Theoretical and Historical Analysis

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/10/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 5 (2026)

Article No.

022

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-L2AB99ZF

Received

08 Sep 2026

Views

27

Downloads

17

Abstract

Throughout Indian political history, student activism has consistently operated as a formidable force of change. This article explores how youth protests legitimise the political theories of Louis Althusser, Antonio Gramsci, and Michel Foucault regarding state apparatuses, cultural hegemony, and counter-conduct. By evaluating the anti-Hindi agitation of 1965 and the J.P. Movement of the 1970s, the paper discusses how students act as organic intellectuals to challenge dominant ideologies. It further examines the democratisation of campuses through Dalit and OBC activism, highlighting how the "Justice for Rohith" movement disrupted Brahmanical hegemony and brought about institutional reforms. The analysis of recent uprisings, including the anti-CAA protests and opposition to NEP 2020, illustrates the state's use of repressive apparatuses alongside the students' use of digital activism and artistic expression. Furthermore, this article traverses beyond the metropolitan ambit to examine student-led regional movements in Tripura, such as the demand for the Roman script for the Kokborok language. Ultimately, the paper concludes that student mobilisation remains an indispensable engine for progressive societal transformation and safeguarding India's constitutional ethos.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.