For more than three decades, Jantar Mantar in New Delhi was where people came to make themselves heard by the political establishment. 

It is barely two kilometres from the Parliament and the Union government’s offices. Tamil Nadu farmers came here holding skulls.  Wrestlers came here demanding accountability. And even the India Against Corruption protest was held at Jantar Mantar.

The location mattered. 

Politicians and bureaucrats could not pretend these people did not exist. Journalists did not have to travel to the outskirts of the city to find them. Ordinary commuters could see them, ask questions and understand what they were protesting about.

Now, consider what happens when you move that protest away – somewhere out of sight.

Some people may ask: does the location of a protest matter?

Yes, it does. And that conversation goes beyond Jantar Mantar and Delhi and even the current protests against Gyanesh Kumar.

Across Indian cities, governments are deciding where dissent can take place, often in the name of traffic, security and public order.

This change matters to all of us.

Let Me Explain.

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Produced by Akshay Lal, script by Pooja Prasanna, camera by Ajay R, edit by Nikhil Sekhar ET, Vignesh Manickam