Dear Reader,

The Cockroach Janata Party protests ended on July 25. The crowds have dispersed, the headlines have moved on, and the political moment may already seem like yesterday’s news.

But the end of the protests does not mean the end of the questions they raised. At Scroll, we are staying with those questions and following where they lead.

What made the protests work? How did Abhijeet Dipke build a movement that brought together young people across caste, class and political backgrounds? Why did government supporters respond with claims of anti-nationalism? And what happens now?

Since the protests ended, we have continued to examine these questions from different angles. We have looked at the broad-based politics that put the BJP on the backfoot. We have reported on the gaps between the government’s claims about the NEET re-exam and students’ experiences. We have examined what accountability means after the protests and why India’s young people will have to keep asking difficult questions. We have also brought in perspectives ranging from historian Ramachandra Guha to a writer in Lahore watching the movement from across the border.

This is what independent journalism can do at its best: not simply follow an event, but stay with the questions it leaves behind. If you value this kind of journalism, please become a Scroll Member today.

Regards,
Team Scroll