Come home, let's talk: Delhi's top academics open their doors to Gen Z

In the aftermath of the CJP protests, leading Delhi academics opened their homes to Gen Z students for candid conversations over tea, seeking to understand their politics, aspirations and everyday struggles through dialogue instead of debate.

In Short

• Academics in Delhi-NCR hosted Gen Z students for open, informal talks
• Discussions covered campus politics, education, and social issues
• Students rejected stereotypes of political indifference among Gen Z

In a striking reversal of the traditional teacher-student dynamic, leading academics, intellectuals and civil society members across Delhi – NCR opened their homes on Sunday, not to lecture, but to listen. Over cups of tea and home-cooked meals, they held candid conversations with Gen Z students, seeking to better understand a generation thrust into the national spotlight following the recent CJP protests.

Organised by the Academic Dialogue Forum, the initiative turned private living rooms into spaces for open dialogue, where discussions ranged from campus politics and youth activism to the everyday anxieties and aspirations shaping students' lives.

A DIALOGUE ACROSS GENERATIONS

The discussions were held at 12 homes across Delhi-NCR, hosted by prominent academics, writers and civil society members, including historians Aditya and Mridula Mukherjee, scientist-poet Gauhar Raza, activist Shabnam Hashmi, St Stephen's College professor Karen Gabriel, political scientist Rajeev Bhargava and social activist Syeda Hameed, as reported by The Times of India.

Students signed up in advance through a Google Form, choosing the host and venue they wished to visit.

The initiative deliberately departed from the traditional teacher-student model. Rather than offering guidance or mentorship, the gatherings were designed as listening sessions, giving senior academics and public intellectuals an opportunity to better understand how young people perceive, navigate and respond to an increasingly complex political and social landscape.

FROM CAMPUS POLITICS TO EVERYDAY STRUGGLES

For several hours, the dining table at Gauhar Raza and Shabnam Hashmi's Dwarka home served as a space for stories rather than speeches. Students, the hosts and their family exchanged experiences, questions and perspectives in an informal setting.

Although many participants hailed from JNU, the conversation soon broadened beyond the events that had brought them together. They spoke of academic stress, career anxieties, online political engagement and what it feels like to belong to a generation that is often judged before it is heard.

Students pushed back against the perception that Gen Z is politically apathetic, arguing that while their modes of participation differ from earlier generations, their engagement remains strong. They said social media has become an extension of political activism and described their generation as more questioning and willing to challenge established norms.

CONCERNS OVER EDUCATION AND EXAM SYSTEM

Education emerged as the central theme at historian Mridula Mukherjee's Lajpat Nagar home, where students reflected on both the shortcomings of the system and their experiences during the recent CJP protests.

The conversation ranged from logistical challenges surrounding CUET, including distant examination centres and inadequate facilities, to the mounting pressure of navigating multiple entrance tests. Students also recounted how they came together during the protests, reflecting on the solidarity they found and the lessons they took away from the movement.

DISILLUSIONMENT WITH CONVENTIONAL POLITICS

Students also expressed growing disillusionment with mainstream politics, saying many young people feel disconnected from traditional political parties. They said this has prompted a shift towards issue-based campaigns, grassroots organising and student-led initiatives.

The discussions examined how Gen Z's political participation is evolving, with many choosing forms of engagement that extend beyond conventional party politics.

The organisers described the initiative as an effort to replace assumptions with dialogue and encourage meaningful engagement between generations. According to the Forum, similar interactions have been organised in the past, and more such gatherings are planned in the future as a way of sustaining conversations between students and senior academics outside formal institutional settings.

- Ends