‘Khoob ladi mardani’ no more. Protesters ‘fought like girls’ — and won

Contemporary student protests reveal a radical linguistic departure from how brave women have been traditionally honoured. 4 min readJul 30, 2026 04:19 PM IST First published on: Jul 30, 2026 at 04:17 PM IST By Ragini Nayak Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. The students have prevailed. The movement achieved what was initially thought to be impossible. The protestors may have dispersed, but their images will linger.A young woman protestor stands with her arms outstretched in a protective gesture, instinctively shielding fellow students. She isn’t posturing for the camera; she is positioning herself to protect. Elsewhere, on one side, is the state wrapped in armour, carrying a shield and baton, wearing a blue helmet and the authority of law. On the opposite side stands a female student. No he