Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has drawn a comparison between today's Gen Z and Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, arguing that young people should not be underestimated or dismissed because of the labels used against them. Speaking at a book launch event in Mumbai on Wednesday, Thackeray referred to the term “cockroaches” being used for sections of the younger generation amid the recent political debate around student protests. He said even Shivaji Maharaj had faced insulting descriptions from his opponents, referring to the Mughals calling him a “chuha”, or rat. Thackeray said the young people being described as “cockroaches” today largely belong to Generation Z, which he broadly placed between the ages of 13-14 and 27-28. Drawing a historical parallel, the former Maharashtra chief minister pointed out that Shivaji Maharaj was only around 17 when he captured Torna Fort, an early milestone in his political and military journey. He also referred to Sant Dnyaneshwar, saying he too was very young when he wrote the Dnyaneshwari despite facing considerable opposition during his lifetime.

Thackeray's remarks came at a time when Gen Z has increasingly entered India's political vocabulary following recent student protests and the debate surrounding examination reforms. His argument was that age should not become a reason to dismiss the political concerns or abilities of younger citizens. By invoking Shivaji Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar, Thackeray sought to underline that people who went on to have a major historical impact had themselves faced resistance and criticism while still young. The comments also fit into the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader's recent outreach towards young protesters. Over the past few days, Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray have publicly supported the student movement and participated in political messaging around the agitation. The use of “cockroach” as a political reference has meanwhile moved beyond protest sites and social media, finding its way into speeches and exchanges involving politicians from different parties.

The Gen Z language has also surfaced inside Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session, particularly during discussions surrounding the government's examination reform legislation and the NEET controversy. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, while supporting the proposed legislation, borrowed the popular Gen Z expression “clock it” to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach to providing a legislative solution. On the Opposition side, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also brought Gen Z into her criticism of the Prime Minister's public outreach. She argued that changing camera angles in videos would not be enough to connect with young Indians and said the government instead needed to address what she described as injustice faced by the youth. Against this backdrop, Uddhav Thackeray's comparison with Shivaji Maharaj adds another dimension to the political battle over who speaks for India's younger generation. His message was essentially that young people who are mocked or dismissed today could still emerge as important agents of change, just as prominent historical figures faced opposition at a young age. With student issues continuing to dominate political debate, Gen Z and its language have now become part of the wider contest between the government and Opposition.