Ah, that old question that has haunted social media, stirred family dinners, and may have even been whispered by that crazy conspiracy theory uncle of yours: is the Left anti-national? But why ‘leftists’ have so often been portrayed as modern-day villains? To answer this let’s understand what being a leftist even is.
One whilst trying to understand the political and ideological fabric of this nation would be left bewildered. Patriotism in India is practically a national sport. So, in a place where “loyalty” means going along with the flow, questioning the status quo is perceived as close to treason.
Leftist beliefs represent equality, justice, and collective good for all, usually against systems and the elites. The origin of left-wing politics can be traced back to the late 18th-century French Revolution, where members of the French National Assembly sitting on the left supported liberty, fraternity, and equality for all against the monarchy and aristocracy. The “Left” thus emerged as a political voice of the working class and an advocate of radical social reform, challenging the entrenched hierarchy. Over time, these foundational principles evolved to address broader issues like labour rights, gender equality, and environmental justice.
For today’s youth, leftist ideals hold particular appeal. With younger generations bearing the brunt of ever-rising unemployment, unaffordable housing, and a looming climate crisis, these values become visible as a framework for building a more just and sustainable future. Climate action movements, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender parity, frequently center around leftist thinking, appealing to young activists seeking an overall change of the status quo. A world more defined by precarity and polarisation needs left-wing ideas to offer hope: visions of societies that value collective well-being more than individual profit. For most, it is not simply a political position but a rallying cry for a better future that is more equitable and inclusive.
Being a leftist is almost like joining an exclusive club where the benefits include endless suspicion, online trolling, and the occasional accusation of treason. Maybe it’s because of the suspicious shades of red they wear while still calling for the government to be “fair” and “accountable”? Thus the thought that anything good can come from people who demand equality, affordable health care, or environmental protection, perishes.
Just take a glance at our cinema! Bastar – The Naxal Story and The Kashmir Files are films that spell out one thing sharply: leftists are trouble. Rather than objectors, leftists are projected as threats to national security. Leftists do not come in peace; they come armed with pamphlets, protest slogans, and brazen ideas about social justice. Such polarisation in society creates an ideological gap between generations at large. With the portrayal of the extreme right as the saviour of the country, we are trying to dust the positives and negatives of both sides leading to a rational argument, under the rug.
Some questions about the left may arise whilst we try to decode this mystery like must the leftists question the government? Must they pinpoint some feature of the society in question? And most importantly can’t they just calm down and watch the show with everybody else for once? Is questioning the state, say for some, questioning the country itself?
Unfortunately, the idea of being unpatriotic is programmed as everything that causes even a minor inconvenience to those in power is unpatriotic. Even on social media, leftist opinion (even the extreme right at times) gains the radical label very quickly. A post by some leftists on universal healthcare is tagged “Radical Threat to National Stability,” as if doing so itself is treason. According to the online mob Criticism of one’s own country is like dissent clothed in a t-shirt with a “Traitor” logo.
Then the question arises why didn’t school teach them what being a “leftist” meant or for that matter, what is right (pun intended)? In India, the education system skillfully avoids the explanations behind left and right, socialism and capitalism, or even the development of democracy. In this blissfully oversimplified world, the Left can remain the dark, mysterious “other” that everyone might be afraid of. After all, knowing political philosophies would be to accept that perhaps both sides of an argument have some points to make, which may be unacceptable to those curating these curriculums.
Let’s take an example of tribal rights. More and more tribes are fighting against deforestation, mining, and land preservation. The left would argue that these pieces of land are there for survival, culture, and identity, but pleading for tribal rights sounds like economic sabotage. On the other side, empowering these tribes with modern technology, better health care, and facilities would be a fair explanation by those in power. The leftists’ insistence on giving the tribes autonomy over their land is not anti-national and the rightist approach of empowering them in the legal framework is not depriving them of their identity.
In this digital age, social media governs our lives in an unnoticed manner. This world being run by algorithms can be considered a descendant of the English or the Gandhi of the modern era. Social media can be used to call out elements that create a divide in society and also as a tool to create this divide. It has turbocharged the narrative wars, often turning the left and right into greater-than-life villains. Algorithms thrive on outrage, giving an inflated voice to extreme views and sensational takes while pushing nuance to the margins. For every post branding leftists as “anti-national,” another is decrying the right as authoritarian and regressive. This has left the younger generation trapped in a digital tug-of-war: confused, disillusioned (or in a state of delulu), and presumably lost in their attempt to find solidarity and like-minded people.
This isn’t just a problem for ideologies; it’s a blow to democracy. The widening distance discourages real debate and reduces political participation to choosing sides in an oversimplified battle of extremes. In this world where “memes” and “hashtags” regulate the political narrative, democracy suffers not from dissent but from the inability to reason dialogue. It robs its citizens, especially the youth, of their critical thinking and meaningful engagement capability by never letting them explore middle-ground ideas or perhaps just understand the opposing perspectives.
As I conclude this inquiry initiated for a friend to determine if the left is the villain or even if a villain exists. The questions remain unanswered, but one point is quite clear it is quintessential that for the democracy to sustain there needs to be a middle ground. Someone has to take the lead to help the youth experience and understand both in fact every idealogy. This initiative will not only strengthen the democratic fabric of our country but will infuse colours of various kinds into it. And on this note to answer the friend’s question about “Is the Left Anti-National?” Well, it depends on who you’re asking.