Why ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ Still Resonates With India’s Modern Protest Movements

A detained young woman once asked a police constable to wear her name tag. Even in custody, she wanted to identify the person exercising authority over her.

The incident raises a key question behind modern protests: should those in power answer to the people?

Across India, people protest over livelihoods, fair examinations, electoral integrity, human rights and discrimination. The slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ unites these diverse demands.

Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt did not coin the slogan. Their actions and courtroom statements, however, popularised it.

The phrase appeared in a revolutionary notice after Saunders’ killing in December 1928. On April 8, 1929, Singh and Dutt raised the slogan during the Central Legislative Assembly incident in Delhi.

In their joint statement on June 6, 1929, Singh and Dutt rejected the idea that revolution demanded bloodshed or revenge.

“It is not the cult of the bomb and the pistol,” they declared.

The revolutionaries called for a society that tackled inequality and respected farmers, weavers and workers.

In December 1929, Singh and Dutt described revolutionary spirit as ‘the longing for a change for the better’. The slogan therefore calls for resistance against injustice, not necessarily violence.

Farmers’ protests in 2020–21 and demonstrations at Shambhu from 2024 revived the slogan in public debate.

Examination and recruitment protests have highlighted leaked papers, cancelled tests and delayed appointments.

Disputes over electoral rolls have raised concerns about voting rights. Protesters allege that revisions exclude eligible voters, while the Election Commission says the exercise removes duplicate and ineligible entries.

Women have strengthened protest movements through journalism, social media and public activism.

Allegations of police harassment against women journalists have, however, intensified demands for safety and accountability.

The national flag and the Constitution now represent citizens’ demands for democratic accountability.

Protesters draw inspiration from Bhagat Singh’s defiance, Gandhi’s non-violent organising and Ambedkar’s commitment to equality.

‘Inquilab Zindabad’ endures because each generation uses it to challenge injustice.

The slogan’s lasting power, however, depends on organised action, peaceful participation and the pursuit of a fairer society.

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