Veteran actor Sunil Lahiri legendary for his definitive portrayal of Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar’s classic television epic “Ramayan” has triggered a massive cultural conversation across social media platforms after openly criticizing the widespread usage of Western generational terms.
In an video statement shared across his official digital handles, the actor strongly argued that terms such as “Gen Z”
and “Gen Alpha” are fundamentally alien to Indian civilization and serve only to alienate younger generations from their inherent cultural roots.
Lahri expressed deep concern that labeling youth with phrases like ‘Gen Z’ and ‘Gen Alpha’ is taking the younger generation ‘away from us” and driving a psychological wedge between eras.
To counter westernization and restore traditional values, he passionately advocated for the integration of traditional Gurukul-based learning methodologies within modern school curriculums.
The actor captioned his video emphasizing that choosing appropriate vocabulary to bond generations together is the true mark of modernity rather than blindly adopting global demographic trends.
The veteran actor’s commentary has rapidly morphed into a trending talking point, dividing internet users into sharply contrasting camps:
Many users backed Lahri, agreeing that modern education frameworks must do more to preserve respect, discipline, and Indian civilizational heritage.
Conversely, critics pointed out that ‘Gen Z’ and ‘Gen Alpha’ are merely technical, socio-technological identifiers used globally to study generational shifts rather than cultural statements. Some internet users also playfully pointed out the contradiction of making these remarks while wearing Western clothing styles.
Unfazed by the digital backlash, Lahri concluded his address by invoking a traditional couplet on maturity and leadership, reiterating his focus on protecting Indian values for future generations.
News Edit KV Raman
