Ramayan actor Sunil Lahri says ‘Gen Z, Gen Alpha’ labels are taking younger generation ‘away from us’; urges schools to revive Gurukul system

​Sunil Lahri says Gen Z and Gen Alpha labels distance youth from Indian culture.

Ramayan actor Sunil Lahri, who became a household name for playing Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television show Ramayan, has sparked a fresh debate with his comments on Gen Z and Gen Alpha. The actor recently took to his official X account and shared a video in which he questioned the terminology used to describe younger generations, saying that labels such as “Gen Z” and “Gen Alpha” are not rooted in Indian culture.Sunil argued that society should choose words that bring the younger generation closer to the older generation rather than creating a sense of distance. He also stressed the need to preserve Indian culture and sanskar while adapting to modern times, and suggested that elements of the traditional Gurukul education system should be introduced into schools to encourage values such as respect and discipline.In the video, Sunil Lahri said, “Gen Z, Gen Alpha, with what kind of words are we addressing our future generation? These are not our Sanskriti. With these words we are addressing our future generation.” He further said, “We should use our kind of words so that the coming generation comes near us and we can introduce them to our Sanskrit and our values.”The actor went on to praise India’s civilizational heritage and said, “It is said that India is the oldest and richest literature and Sanskrit in the world.” He concluded by urging people to think about how modern education can preserve traditional values, saying that Gurukul-based learning could help instill respect and discipline among children.

Sunil Lahri says ‘Gen Z’ and ‘Gen Alpha’ are not part of Indian culture

In a post shared on his social media handles, Sunil captioned his video saying, “Gen-Z, Gen Alpha jaise shabd hamari Sanskriti nahi hain. The tea of ​​appropriate words has been added. To preserve our Indian culture, it is necessary to follow the Gurukul system.”His post quickly became a talking point on social media, with users expressing sharply different opinions. While some agreed with Lahri’s argument that younger Indians should remain connected to their cultural roots, others questioned his criticism of the terms Gen Z and Gen Alpha.The terms are commonly used around the world to describe generations based broadly on their birth years and the social and technological environment in which they grew up. Lahri, however, appeared to be focusing less on the technical meaning of these terms and more on the cultural distance he believes such labels can create.

Sunil Lahri’s connection with Ramayan

Sunil Lahri is best known for playing Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, which originally premiered in 1987.Arun Govil played Lord Ram, while Dipika Chikhlia portrayed Mata Sita. Lahri’s portrayal of Lakshman became one of the most memorable performances from Indian television, and the show continues to enjoy a devoted following decades after its original broadcast.Ramayan also returned to television during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and became a major television success once again, introducing the iconic series and its characters to a younger generation.Lahri has remained active on social media and frequently shares videos, personal memories and opinions on subjects concerning Indian culture, society and current affairs.

Sunil Lahri recently praised PM Narendra Modi

Lahri has also recently made headlines for his comments in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.In a video shared on X, the actor praised Modi and spoke about what he described as the Prime Minister’s ability to forgive people despite criticism directed towards him, his late mother and the Indian armed forces.Lahri said, “Pratnam friend, our dear Prime Minister has such a big heart. During the 20-star movement, his late mother said so much to him and the people of our army. Despite him, he forgave everyone. If someone else had been in his place, he would have punished him even more. This is his great father.”

He then recalled a traditional saying about forgiveness, saying, “In this situation, an old saying came to my mind — ‘Forgiveness is needed by the body, but is used by the child. Ka Rahiman Hari ko ghataiyo, jo Bhrigu maari laat.’”Lahri went on to praise Modi, saying, “I love such a Prime Minister. We are lucky to have such a Prime Minister who is a tough master for the world but a mother for us and for his own destruction.”He acknowledged that his comments might not be appreciated by everyone but said he was not concerned about criticism. He ended the video by wishing people happiness and health and saying, “Jai Shri Ram.”Ultimately, Lahri’s comments have opened up a wider conversation about how India can embrace modern generational identities while ensuring that cultural values, traditions and intergenerational connections remain part of the conversation.‘Awarapan 2’ box office collection Day 1: Emraan Hashmi starrer opens with Rs 27 crore haul; becomes actor’s biggest opener