Speakers
Humour is reshaping political imagination.
This discussion explores the frustrations driving young people towards political action, why established political channels may feel inadequate, and how humour, memes and digital culture become tools of subversion and power. The recent protests around competitive examinations, and the emergence of phenomena such as the satirical Cockroach Party, have brought these currents dramatically into public view. Humour and memes are becoming Gen Z’s political vocabulary, filling a gap that conventional politics has left behind
Young people have always been at the forefront of protest movements, and humour, music and irreverence have long histories as tools of dissent. This session illuminates what is genuinely new about this moment, with the capacity to create narratives, symbols, satire and online communities. How does this change what becomes politically conceivable? And what if apparent disengagement is instead the emergence of new political actors, and new forms of participation?
Venue: Seminar Halls
Speakers
Rachita Taneja aka Sanitary Panels
Sanitary Panels is an Indian political webcomic by Rachita Taneja. An award-winning satirist and artist, Taneja takes a distinct feminist position in her work, commenting on current affairs and social justice issues. She received the Kofi Annan Courage in Cartooning Award (2024). Her signature stick-figure-style comics have garnered a substantial audience on Instagram, Facebook, and X, where she posts as @sanitarypanels.
Mihir Rajamane
Mihir (he/they), born and raised in Bangalore, works in the worlds of equality, identity, and legality. As a DPhil candidate in Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Oxford, Mihir’s research examines how gender minorities in South India navigate legal recognition and affirmative action to access livelihood, employment, and education. Mihir also works as a consultant providing legal aid to gender minorities and is involved in the queer movement.
Ganga
Ganga is a student activist with the All India Students Association (AISA), Bangalore, and a member of its District Committee. She is also part of the editorial board of Spark, a monthly student-led magazine, and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Economics.
Samhita Arni
At eight, Samhita Arni began writing and illustrating her first book, The Mahabharata – A Child’s View, later published in seven language editions and selling 50,000 copies worldwide. Her second book, Sita’s Ramayana, a graphic novel developed with Patua artist Moyna Chitrakar, made the New York Times Bestseller list for Graphic Novels. Her third book is The Missing Queen, and her fourth is The Prince. She was also head scriptwriter for the first season of The Defenders, a TV series produced by Tolo TV in Kabul, Afghanistan.
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