Key facts
- Neha Bora, a 29-year-old PhD student and activist, is a prominent Gen Z leader in India's protests.
- Bora uses they/them pronouns and is the president of the All India Students' Association (Aisa).
- Protests are being held seeking the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Bora gained visibility during summer protests over education reforms and joined a hunger strike.
- Police complaints have been filed against Bora for "objectionable remarks" against the chief minister.
- Bora believes street protests are key to political change in India.
Neha Bora, a 29-year-old PhD student at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University and president of the All India Students' Association (Aisa), has become a prominent face in India's Gen Z-led protests. Bora, who uses they/them pronouns, has garnered significant media attention for their activism, including viral images of them being detained by police and speaking at rallies.
The current wave of protests, seen as a significant challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12-year tenure, includes demonstrations by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition parties like the Congress. The CJP is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of manipulating electoral rolls to favor Modi's BJP, accusations that both the Election Commission and the BJP deny.
Bora's activism gained wider recognition during the summer protests against education reforms, where they joined a hunger strike initiated by educationist Sonam Wangchuk. Despite facing police detentions and even alleged ink-throwing incidents, Bora has maintained a strong stance, emphasizing the power of street protests in driving political change.
Bora's outspoken criticism of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, has led to family disagreements and police complaints. Aisa also reported that Bora had received death threats. Despite these challenges, Bora continues to be a sought-after voice for Gen Z activism, appearing alongside political leaders and in media interviews.