India’s youth protesters are fighting Modi with irreverent humour and memes

As thousands of demonstrators take to the streets in the Indian capital, they are waging a parallel campaign online, flooding social media with memes, parody videos and self-deprecating jokes. In doing so, they are also beating Narendra Modi – the powerful but image-conscious prime.

Modi built his political brand through social media. Now protesters are using that same platform to mock his administration, ridicule pro-government television news coverage, transform confrontation with police into viral content and seize control of the online narrative.

What Happened

The campaign has taken the protests demanding accountability and education reforms beyond the streets, broadening its reach and intensifying pressure on a government wary of appearing to yield to a rapidly growing youth movement. Clashes with police have become viral content.

• But many internet users edited the clip with parody voiceovers and references to his past promises they said had gone unfulfilled.

• When Modi released a late-night, selfie-style video on Thursday addressing the protesters, he promised swift legal action against those responsible for leaking academic or job exams.

• Modi’s gestures, pauses and mannerisms have been turned into viral edits that turn his own words into political jokes.

Key Details

Videos showed protesters joking about keeping their Strava streaks alive — a reference to the fitness tracking app used by runners — as they ran from police baton charges. Others edited footage of themselves dodging police barricades to mimic the popular endless.

• But now, even he has become a target of taunts.

• Jokes about Modi were rare during earlier protests, when his government was criticised for suppressing dissent.

• Nearly half of India’s population is under 25, making young voters one of the country’s most influential electoral groups.

Why It Matters

Some women have borrowed influencer culture, posting “get ready with me” videos before marches and “fit check” posts featuring helmets, goggles and other homemade protest gear. Other protesters have created spoof videos mocking pro-government television anchors and their dramatic style of broadcasts.

• His image is built on strength and decisiveness, but he risks alienating young people if he responds too forcefully.

• For Modi, who is entering his 13th year in office, the protests present an unusual challenge.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Al Jazeera as more details emerge