New Delhi (GNP): Online games inspired by anti-government protests are gaining popularity among young Indians. They are turning political dissent into digital entertainment while demonstrations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government continue across the country.
One of the best-known examples is a web-based multiplayer game called Jantar Mantar Chalo. Players must dodge police checkpoints, avoid detention and reach a protest site in New Delhi. The game pokes fun at the police barricades, road closures and transport restrictions that demonstrators often face.
Players are not limited to the protester’s side. They can organise protest processions or take on police roles, using batons and tear gas to disperse crowds.
The game was developed by 27-year-old IT professional Suraj Kushwah. He told the media that at least 2,000 people had been playing at the same time since its release on October 14.
Other developers are working in the same space. Anav Nayar and his brother Akshay said satire offers an effective way to communicate political concerns.
These games have appeared alongside youth-led demonstrations over unemployment, examination paper leaks and controversial electoral roll revisions. Opposition parties and activists say the voter list changes have disenfranchised millions of people and benefited Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The trend reflects how younger Indians now communicate politically, using memes, games and social media to express dissent. The protests have also been linked to the youth-led Cockroach movement, which began through online satire.
Also Read: Delhi Police Detain Cockroach Janta Party Founder Abhijeet Dipke
Political analyst Rasheed Kidwai said younger activists were challenging the BJP’s established influence over political narratives. Modi has widened his own outreach to young audiences through Instagram videos.
Analysts caution, however, that digital engagement alone may not resolve the economic and political grievances driving the demonstrations. The rise of protest-themed games shows that interactive entertainment is becoming another platform for political expression in India.
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
