Lucknow: A panel discussion titled ‘Raah-e-Umeed’ was held at the Lucknow Bioscope Museum on Saturday, where students shared their thoughts on the relevance of people’s movements and their lasting imprint on India’s democracy.Beginning the conversation, Ritwik Das, associated with the LGBTQ+ movement in Lucknow, said people-led initiatives bring together individuals facing different challenges, enabling them to learn from one another, exchange experiences and support each other through difficult times.Echoing the sentiment, Sabika Abbas, activist and organiser with the feminist collective Pinjra Tod, highlighted how ‘ikhlaqi jurrat’ (moral courage), more than numbers, keeps hope alive.“Real change begins when ordinary people refuse to let fear silence their conscience,” she said.Concluding the discussion, moderator Madhavi Kuckreja said, “The student protests remind us that learning must be accompanied by political awareness.”
