Modi is one of India’s most powerful prime ministers – so why is he so bothered by Gen Z profanity?

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India’s prime minister Narendra Modi has, in his 12 years in office, cultivated an image of being larger than life. He rarely addresses the country outside of election rallies.

So late on Friday, when he took to Instagram to release a video in a vertical format, it was already an event. Even more remarkable was the fact that Modi was on the back foot. He seemed to adopt a conciliatory approach towards protesters in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar angry with his government for corruption in the education sector.

Specifically, Modi addressed the viral clips of young women protestors using profanity to poke fun at him. “I forgive misguided children who abused me,” he said. “Let’s show them the right path.”

For a muscular, right wing movement like Hindutva, this was an unusual position to take. Indeed, Modi’s video was released after his supporters had been hunting down young women and girls for making fun of the prime minister using purportedly obscene language.

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