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One of the biggest challenges in studying China is that Beijing rarely announces its intentions clearly. In the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army, promotions depend on loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), unlike most countries where they are based mainly on professional achievements. Promotions in the Xi era show who President Xi trusts, what capabilities he values, and the direction of the PLA. They signal China&rsquo;s strategic intentions in the military domain and, by extension, the security environment that India must prepare itself for.

On July 3, 2026, China&rsquo;s Central Military Commission (CMC) held its first promotion ceremony of the year, promoting senior officers to the rank of general. The promotions are particularly remarkable given the scrutiny the CMC has faced following the anti-corruption campaign of the CCP&rsquo;s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Notably, Zhang Shuguang, secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission (CMCCDI) and director of the CMC Commission of Supervision, and Wang Gang, commander of the PLA Air Force (PLAAF), were <a href="http://en.cppcc.gov.cn/2026-07/06/c_1195306.htm">promoted</a> to the general rank, sparking speculation about a reshuffling in the CMC next year. As the 21st Party Congress approaches, these promotions deserve close attention.

When Xi Jinping assumed office as General Secretary of the CCP in 2012, the anti-corruption campaign was launched to target corrupt officials across the Party and the PLA. Rather than losing momentum over time, it dismantled numerous political and military factions. By 2017, CMC&rsquo;s membership shrunk from eleven members to just <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/how-chinas-military-is-hit-by-biggest-purge-in-decades-2943331-2026-07-08">seven</a>. Many analysts concluded that Xi had successfully consolidated control over the military.

The wave of purges and personnel changes subsided after 2017, and the CMC and the PLA became relatively stable by 2021. However, a fresh round of dismissals began in 2022, triggering renewed speculation in Beijing. Beginning in 2022, the CCP launched what can be called &ldquo;Phase Two&rdquo; of Xi&rsquo;s anti-corruption <a href="https://orcasia.org/anti-corruption-campaigns-in-china">campaign</a>, signaling that the effort to reshape China&rsquo;s military and political elite was ongoing.

This raises more important questions. What do these promotions reveal about Xi Jinping&rsquo;s military reforms? Most importantly, what are the implications for India&rsquo;s strategic environment?

The CMC is the top command of China&rsquo;s military and currently consists of only two members: Xi Jinping as chairman and General Zhang Shengmin as vice chairman. Over the past two years, five CMC members were removed. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-67207353">Li Shangfu</a> was fired in 2023, followed by He <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-expels-two-top-generals-communist-party-anti-corruption-purge-2025-10-17/">Weidong</a> and Miao Hua in 2025, and Zhang <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d0l0g8yz5o">Youxia</a> and Liu Zhenli earlier this year. The rapid restructuring has prompted questions about the future composition of the CMC

While Zhang Shengmin remains on the CMC, he has been <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-03/xi-replaces-anti-corruption-leader-in-purge-of-china-s-army">succeeded </a>as Secretary of the CMCCDI by General Zhang Shuguang. Although this does not automatically entail CMC membership, his eventual appointment would make him the second CMCCDI secretary to serve on the CMC, underscoring CMCCDI&rsquo;s growing importance in Beijing&rsquo;s military and political strategy.

&nbsp;

However, the promotion of Wang Gang is of particular interest to us Indians.

For the first time in decades, China has a strong opportunity to convert its qualitative edge over India into regional strategic advantage. The long-standing Sino-India border dispute spans nearly 3,500 kilometers, although most of it is impassable by the Himalayas. Even the 1962 Sino-India War broke out over the contested Aksai Chin region, surrounded by extremely rugged terrain. While the natural barriers contributed to the outcome of the war, they also impacted the nature of the fighting. More specifically, waging war in such conditions was logistically challenging, with both nations constrained by the local geography. Air superiority was paramount, although impossible for either nation to achieve given the limitations of their air power at the time.

Over six decades later, air power has become central to the prospects of renewed conflict. It is only logical to assume that air superiority will be decisive in any future Sino-India conflict. The promotion of Wang Gang is another sign that President Xi is determined to accelerate PLA modernization, with air power at the center of his vision.

Since 2015, Xi&rsquo;s <a href="https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/an-analysis-of-chinese-military-reform-towards-the-us-model/">military reforms</a> have altered the PLA&rsquo;s organizational structure. New institutions for aerospace, cyber operations, information support, and logistics now provide centralized functions across all military branches, allowing the PLAAF to operate within an integrated system. In contrast, India&rsquo;s military infrastructure remains comparatively more siloed.

For India, this represents a critical challenge, as competition between the two regional powers will take place not only on the contested border but also in the skies above it. The Indian Air Force ranks among the world&rsquo;s finest <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/iaf-more-powerful-than-chinas-air-force-retains-worlds-no-3-rank-for-fifth-consecutive-year-wdmma/articleshow/132354673.cms?from=mdr">fighting</a> forces and possesses valuable operational experience. However, China enjoys advantages in size, domestic production, and industrial capacity. At present, India&rsquo;s defense industry relies on a combination of foreign suppliers and indigenous producers, whereas China has gradually increased its domestic production through state-owned companies.

In this context, the promotion of Wang Gang may represent the next step in the long-planned expansion of China&rsquo;s aerospace capabilities. With continued investment in aviation and network-centric capabilities, the PLAAF will be capable of projecting power deep into the Indian border areas. Thus, Wang&rsquo;s promotion has far-reaching implications for India&rsquo;s strategic military planning.&nbsp;

The implications for India extend beyond military competition. As China&rsquo;s military seeks to reduce geographical limitations through integrated structures, India&rsquo;s strategic planning must also account for an operational environment where air superiority could be just as important as territorial control.

Military promotions in China rarely serve only a ceremonial function. For Xi Jinping, each promotion is a key pillar in his strategy of transforming both the CCP and the PLA into truly formidable organizations. In turn, the appointments of General Zhang Shuguang and Wang Gang highlight the two aspects of this strategy, namely, China&rsquo;s political and military modernization. For India, such developments must always be regarded as matters of strategic significance, as they provide useful insights into the future intentions of China&rsquo;s military authorities.

As Beijing reshapes the relationship between political power, military organization, and future warfare, India&rsquo;s strategic community must focus on changes in China&rsquo;s military leadership as much as on advancements in its military equipment.

New Faces, New Priorities? Reading Xi Jinping's Military Promotions

In April 2026, a video showing hundreds of workers at a garment factory in Gurugram went <a href="https://scroll.in/article/1092960/how-big-tech-is-harnessing-the-data-of-indian-factory-workers-to-train-robots">viral</a>. Seated at their sewing machines, with head-mounted cameras, workers laboured on. The cameras recorded every stitch, finger calibration and hand <a href="https://www.theindiaforum.in/economy/ai-needs-human-hands-indian-workers-resist">movement</a>. Some of them work twelve-hour shifts, six days a week, with little or no extra pay for the first-person footage of the tasks that define their work.&ldquo;They are recording our work to prepare and train a robot, which is making us worried&hellip;it will mean job losses,&rdquo; said <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/indias-workers-train-ai-that-may-replace-them/video-77940078">Ravi</a> Kumar, a factory worker from Delhi. Another worker from Nagpur stated, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/workers-india-training-robots-replace-factory-10698712/">working</a> in my own grave.&rdquo;

Real human labour, contributing to large behaviour models (LBMs) and helping train AI-powered humanoid robots that could one day <a href="https://growjustindia.com/national/the-ai-eye-why-indian-workers-are-training-their-robot-replacements-33338">replace </a>them. This is not a one-off occurrence but a lived reality for thousands of blue-collar workers across India. Investigative reports conducted by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jun/24/indian-factory-workers-told-film-themselves-for-ai-robots">The Guardian</a>, <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/indias-workers-train-ai-that-may-replace-them/video-77940078">DW</a>, and <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/business/workers-india-training-robots-replace-factory-10698712/">the Indian Express</a> highlight at least five states where the daily routines of workers are captured from factory floors. Workers from Delhi, Gurugram, Nagpur, Bengaluru, and Chennai are all contributors to an ever-growing pool of egocentric data. Data, critical for creating LBMs and developing humanoids.

The prize?

A market size of an astronomic 5 trillion dollars for humanoids by 2050, according to one <a href="https://www.morganstanley.com/insights/articles/humanoid-robot-market-5-trillion-by-2050">Morgan</a> Stanley report.&nbsp; One billion humanoid robots could be in use by 2050. Most importantly, one could avail it for as low as $15,000 by 2050. However, terms and conditions apply. The technology must advance at an accelerated pace, production volumes must increase, and supply chains should be predominantly <a href="https://www.morganstanley.com/insights/articles/humanoid-robot-market-5-trillion-by-2050">Chinese</a>.

The costs?&nbsp;

Several, but in this particular scenario, physical labour, the intellectual <a href="https://growjustindia.com/national/the-ai-eye-why-indian-workers-are-training-their-robot-replacements-33338">property</a> of informal workers, privacy, consent, collective harm and possible <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/looking-through-their-eyes-egocentric-data-collection-in-india">job loss</a>.&nbsp; Added costs include constant replacement anxiety, fears of workplace <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/looking-through-their-eyes-egocentric-data-collection-in-india">surveillance</a>, and extreme pressure from real-time <a href="https://growjustindia.com/national/the-ai-eye-why-indian-workers-are-training-their-robot-replacements-33338">monitoring</a>.

All of this, however, begs one simple policy question.&nbsp;

Is the direction of technology a choice?&nbsp;

Nobel laureates Daron Acemoglu and Simon <a href="https://shapingwork.mit.edu/research/power-and-progress-our-1000-year-struggle-over-technology-and-prosperity/">Johnson</a> stipulate that, &quot;Better technology offers the potential of better lives for many people, but only if it creates sufficient new tasks requiring human expertise and workers have enough power to demand a matching increase in compensation.&rdquo;&nbsp;

In their book, <a href="https://samataindia.org.in/data/books/Power-and-Progress-Our-Thousand-Year-Struggle-Over-Technology-and-Prosperity-(Daron-Acemoglu-Simon-Johnson)-(Z-Library).pdf">Power and Progress</a>: Our Thousand-Year Struggle over Technology and Prosperity, the writers highlight that throughout history, there have been several episodes of technological progress that produced &ldquo;<a href="https://samataindia.org.in/data/books/Power-and-Progress-Our-Thousand-Year-Struggle-Over-Technology-and-Prosperity-(Daron-Acemoglu-Simon-Johnson)-(Z-Library).pdf">no improvements&rdquo;</a> and led to &ldquo;even significant deterioration&rdquo;. According to them, if the market were to be left to its own devices, it would deliver great wealth to <a href="https://samataindia.org.in/data/books/Power-and-Progress-Our-Thousand-Year-Struggle-Over-Technology-and-Prosperity-(Daron-Acemoglu-Simon-Johnson)-(Z-Library).pdf">aggressive</a> investors and executives and leave out the rest.

In the past four and a half decades, much of the <a href="https://shapingwork.mit.edu/research/power-and-progress-our-1000-year-struggle-over-technology-and-prosperity/">industrial </a>world and the US have witnessed rising earning inequality, stagnation in earnings among <a href="https://shapingwork.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Acemoglu_Johnson_April-2024.pdf">non-college workers</a>, and an ever-shrinking share of labour in the national income. Data from the manufacturing sector, reflecting both US and global trends, show the precipitous drop in labour&rsquo;s share of value added from <a href="https://penguinrandomhouselibrary.com/book/?isbn=9798217182169">74 per cent </a>in 1981 to 46 per cent in 2016. A comparable contraction, though less severe, has been observed in the share of labour in national income both <a href="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w32872/w32872.pdf#page=4.04">globally</a> and in the US.&nbsp;

According to Acemoglu, Johnson and David Autor, if the current tech sector efforts on &ldquo;even more automation&rdquo; hold, the pain for workers <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">&ldquo;will be magnified&quot;.</a> They caution, &quot;Really <a href="https://shapingwork.mit.edu/research/power-and-progress-our-1000-year-struggle-over-technology-and-prosperity/">bad</a> outcomes are possible when deluded technology leaders are able to impose their messianic visions on society.&rdquo;

The direction of technology is a choice. Striking a balance between automation and technologies that create new tasks is critical not only for stable wages and job creation but also for managing the cascading web of social consequences and <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">economic</a> disruptions it can trigger.

&ldquo;Pro-worker <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">Artificial Intelligence</a> (AI)&rdquo; and technologies &quot;that make human skills and expertise more valuable by expanding worker capabilities&quot; can provide a framework for intervention.&nbsp;

What is pro-worker AI?

By acting as a catalyst for new task creation, &ldquo;Pro-worker AI&rdquo; cultivates demand for novel manual proficiency. Consequently, such an approach can mitigate the <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">wicked</a> social challenges posed by job loss, rising inequality, and premature mortality.

Pro-worker AI acts as a force multiplier by combining human skills with technical expertise. They can enable workers to carry out &ldquo;more <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">sophisticated</a> tasks related to their jobs&rdquo;, &ldquo;tackle new tasks&rdquo; and also &ldquo;acquire new expertise&rdquo;. AI&rsquo;s ability to learn from examples by harnessing knowledge from unstructured information makes it a critical tool for augmenting worker capabilities.&nbsp;

Technologies are generally classified under five expansive and economically discrete categories as provided by <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">Acemoglu</a>, Autor and Johnson (2026). They can be labour-augmenting, capital-augmenting, automation-orientated, expertise-levellers or new-task creators. &ldquo;New task-creating technologies&rdquo; are <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">unambiguously</a> good for workers. They have the potential to expand what humans can do by creating entirely new tasks that did not exist a generation earlier, thus generating a demand for novel human expertise.&nbsp;

History offers a parallel precedent for pro-worker technologies. In the 19th century, as the industrial <a href="https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/2079/pba167p199_0.pdf">revolution</a> lowered labour share in the textile industry, the impact of automation was counterbalanced by expanding roles in manufacturing, railways, clerical and accounting roles. This trajectory manifested once more during the four decades post-World War II.

Pro-Worker AI in Practice

The <a href="https://www.se.com/my/en/work/support/myschneider-app/myschneider-electrician-app/">&ldquo;electrician&rsquo;s assistant (EA)&quot;</a> is a tangible example of <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/can-ai-be-pro-worker">pro-worker AI.</a> The tool leverages the expertise of electricians while providing real-time assistance from a large language model. By working collaboratively with the technician, it ensures efficiency with reliability, simultaneously allowing them to accomplish more challenging tasks. The tool not only increases the effective supply of workers but also boosts technical proficiency, meeting the definition of pro-worker AI.

<a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">&ldquo;Teacher&rsquo;s AI-aid&quot;</a> is another example of pro-worker AI. The support tool, trained on curriculum material, student preferences and real-time inputs from the class, can work collaboratively with the educator. Such collaborative paradigms can be extended to support workers in different domains like construction, plumbing, healthcare, team leadership, training and supervision.&nbsp;

However, despite its obvious potential for good, pro-worker AI has not been a mainstream phenomenon. <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">This is largely driven by</a>, first, the commitment to the overarching ideological vision of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and, most critically, market failures for firms deploying AI as well as its developers.

The Way Forward

Moving towards pro-worker AI calls for a recalibration of the pro-automation and pro-AGI mindset that currently dominates the tech market. <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">Acemoglu, Autor and Johnson,</a>&nbsp; through their research, provide policy levers that can significantly shift the needle towards pro-worker AI. Within India&rsquo;s blue-collar workers in the textile sector, two become absolutely critical.&nbsp;

<a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">Discouraging</a> the theft of expertise by firms that use their own employees to train AI models through legal frameworks and amplifying the perspective of these workers through institutional mechanisms will help prevent a future that is inherently anti-worker.&nbsp;

Imposing limits on a firm&rsquo;s ability to harvest their employee&rsquo;s human expertise, by providing workers a <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">decisive</a> say over how their data is used, will help limit the commodification of human knowledge.&nbsp;

Finally, at the <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf">institutional</a> level, civil society organisations, especially labour unions, should champion voices of frontline workers and advocate for protective strategies at the local, state and central levels.

Striking a balance between automation and collaboration, coupling human judgement and AI capabilities will be critical as the technology matures.&nbsp;

Pro-Worker Artificial Intelligence: Reshaping the Direction of Technology

When we think about social status, we tend to focus on the things that people own and eventually on the money they spend: a luxury car, grand villa, designer clothing or even an extravagant wedding. Economists have largely reinforced this view, studying how people use <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ijcs.12852">consumption</a> to signal status, success or their place in the social hierarchy.&nbsp;

But is status really just about money?

<a href="https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/political-science/social-status-and-social-interaction">Social status</a> essentially refers to the position an individual or a household occupies within a social hierarchy. Some aspects of these positions are ascribed, i.e., we inherit them at birth. The family that we are born into, our caste, gender, religion, etc., shapes how society perceives us well before we make our own choices. There are other aspects that are achieved through personal effort, such as education, occupation, and income, which can alter our status throughout our lives. Together, these shape not only our opportunities but also the expectations placed upon us. Yet what we often fail to see is that status is rarely static. Whether inherited or achieved, social status has to be<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053535798800048"> maintained</a>. Relationships must be nurtured, social obligations fulfilled and one&rsquo;s own place in the community continually reaffirmed. Simply put, status is not just something we have, but constantly reproduce through our everyday lives.

This leads to another question: if status is something we maintain, what exactly do we invest in to maintain it?

Money is, of course, one answer. Thorstein Veblen&rsquo;s famous idea of <a href="https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&amp;lr=&amp;id=T3AAptSW8hkC&amp;oi=fnd&amp;pg=PT5&amp;dq=veblen+conspicuous+consumption&amp;ots=5q8717wHgA&amp;sig=uFvvCMrAkc-ZSZCc3JR1RFLlCM8&amp;redir_esc=y#v=onepage&amp;q=veblen%20conspicuous%20consumption&amp;f=false">conspicuous consumption</a> argued that people often consume not only for utility but also to showcase their wealth and social standing. Since then, status has been observed through visible forms of expenditure communication, showing who we are or who we want to be. But this is only a part of the story. Imagine a family travelling for hours to attend a wedding, or neighbours who put their time into organising local events; these do not generate direct income, but people still do it. Why?&nbsp; None of these activities generates income, yet they require so much planning, commitment and above all, time.

Time, unlike money, is a resource every person possesses in equal measure. Every day offers twenty-four hours, no more and no less. But the way we spend those hours is anything but equal. Maybe these activities are doing something that we rarely pay attention to. They are not merely moments of leisure or recreation. They help build relationships, reinforce trust, maintain community ties, and demonstrate continued participation in a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00213624.2001.11506342">shared</a> social world. They are investments not of money, but of time.

Feminist scholar Hanna Papanek referred to this idea as <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/493663">status production</a>. Rather than focusing on how people display status, status production asks how households actively create and sustain it. The emphasis shifts from visible consumption to the everyday practices that maintain a family&#39;s social standing. Attending community gatherings, participating in cultural events, maintaining kinship networks, or engaging in religious life are not always simply personal choices or hobbies. They can also be ways of fulfilling social expectations and reaffirming one&#39;s place within a community.

This distinction between status signalling and status production is subtle but important. Buying an expensive car may communicate wealth. Maintaining community relationships communicates reliability, belonging, commitment, or respectability. Both shape social standing, but they do so through very different means.

Looking at status through the lens of time also broadens our understanding of inequality. Not everyone has the same freedom to invest their time in maintaining social relationships. Paid work,<a href="https://www.emerald.com/ijse/article-pdf/50/7/969/1392725/ijse-03-2022-0164.pdf"> caregiving responsibilities</a>, <a href="https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2014/12/unpaid-care-work-the-missing-link-in-the-analysis-of-gender-gaps-in-labour-outcomes_d26d4043/1f3fd03f-en.pdf">household labour</a>, and other obligations all compete for the same twenty-four hours. The ability to participate in community life is therefore not simply a matter of personal preference; it is shaped by the social and economic constraints people face. Time itself becomes an unequally available resource.

This perspective also encourages us to rethink activities that are often dismissed as &quot;non-economic.&quot; Traditional economic analysis has become increasingly successful at recognising unpaid work, care work, and domestic labour as productive uses of time. Yet many activities that sustain social life continue to be classified as<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X22002972"> leisure</a> or personal choice, even when they involve strong social obligations and generate important social returns.

Perhaps this is because economics has long been better at measuring what can be bought than what must be sustained. By paying attention to how people invest their time, we begin to see a richer picture of how societies function. Social status is not built solely through consumption. It is also quietly produced through everyday acts of participation, reciprocity, and belonging.

Looking at status through the lens of time also reveals another important dimension: who bears the responsibility of producing it?

Status-producing activities are often imagined as gender-neutral. After all, everyone attends weddings, participates in festivals, maintains family ties or engages in community life. Yet the time devoted to these activities is far from evenly distributed. Data from <a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2106113&amp;reg=48&amp;lang=2">India&#39;s 2024 Time Use Survey</a>, shows that once we account for the less visible forms of status production, such as childcare and unpaid domestic work that sustain a household&#39;s social position over time, women spend, on average, nearly 51 minutes more each day on status-producing activities than men.

This finding invites us to rethink a familiar question in economics: why do women continue to spend less time in paid employment than men, even as educational attainment has improved? One explanation has long pointed to <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/668282?seq=1">status considerations</a> within households. Looking at time use adds another layer to this discussion. It suggests that status is not simply an abstract preference shaping decisions; it also requires labour. Much of that labour is carried out through the everyday work of maintaining families, relationships, and communities.

Recognising this labour also changes how we think about inequality. The capacity to build and sustain social status is not determined only by income or education, but also by the time people are able or expected to invest. Maybe this is where the conversation on status needs to move next. If economics has taught us to ask what people spend their money on, it may also be time to ask what people spend their time on. In those everyday choices, and in the constraints that shape them, lies another story about how status is created, maintained, and reproduced across generations.

When Time Becomes Social Capital 

The FIFA World Cup becomes not only a football competition but also an international celebration every four years. All over the world, millions of fans stay awake at unusual times, gather at caf&eacute;s, and flood social networks with their forecasts, joys, and disappointments.

India is also a participant of this festival.

From busy showings in major cities to discussions during night hours on whether Argentina, Brazil, or France will win the cup, Indians follow the World Cup with amazing interest. But while celebrating this event, one question keeps appearing every four years:

&quot;Why is<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce95gvpn535o"> India,</a> a nation of over 1.4 billion people and millions of football fans, unable to participate in the most important football event?&quot;

There are some interesting statistics here.

India is one of the <a href="https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/fifa-world-cup-reaches-over-100-million-viewers-in-india/">largest media</a> markets for the FIFA World Cup. Hundreds of millions of fans are watching the 2026 World Cup in India through TV and streaming services.

But when it comes to performance on the field, the scenario is completely opposite. The Indian team has never participated in the FIFA World Cup. On the contrary, countries like Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have been taking part in the tournament regularly, whereas India is an outsider to the same.

This is often attributed to cricket.

<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/indian-sports-economy-crosses-2-billion-mark-cricket-accounts-for-89/articleshow/129753506.cms">Cricket</a> definitely is dominant in Indian sport in terms of funding, sponsorship, infrastructure, and media coverage. But to attribute this failure only to cricket would be oversimplification.&nbsp;

Even countries that have lesser number of people and less financial capacity have succeeded in becoming football-playing nations. Croatia, having fewer people than several cities of India, reached the finals of the World Cup in 2018 and semi-finals in 2022. Likewise, Morocco became the first African nation to reach a semi-final in the World Cup in 2022. This was not achieved in one day. It took decades of hard work to reach there.

A perfect example of such an event is the current year&rsquo;s World Cup, which saw <a href="https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/49265781/cape-verde-incredible-world-cup-run-captured-hearts-earned-respect">Cabo Verde </a>come up with something spectacular. The nation is home to less than half a million people compared to most Indian cities and towns. However, Cabo Verde is among the success stories from the ongoing competition. This team had never qualified to play in any World Cup prior to now, but in their debut tournament, they went unbeaten in the group stage by drawing against football powerhouses like Spain, and giving two-time World Cup champions Uruguay a run for their money. Not even defending champions like Argentina could easily beat them in the knockout stage of the competition when they took the match into extra time before losing 3-2.&nbsp;

This is where India has traditionally fallen short.

For a long time, football in India lacked a robust youth base. There were few opportunities for young players to get quality coaching, compete in leagues, and get professional training. The transition from playing football at the school level to the professional level was vague.

Fortunately, things are starting to change now.

The introduction of the <a href="https://www.the-aiff.com/competitions/isl">Indian Super League</a> in 2014 has helped put the spotlight on Indian football. There have been more football academies, more participation of children in football at school levels, and better training for young players from an earlier age. This may not yield results in World Cup qualification efforts soon, but the development of football takes time. Japan spent decades developing itself into a football power after starting the J-League in the early 1990s. Currently, it is one of the most successful Asian countries in football and regularly qualifies for the World Cup.

It looks like India can expect to follow the same path.

However, some positive signs can be seen. Kerala, West Bengal, Goa, and several northeastern states still contribute talented players as well as devoted fans. The establishment of domestic leagues as well as local tournaments creates the atmosphere of football culture gradually.

It should be noted that there is an interesting facet of India&#39;s attitude to the World Cup which frequently remains unnoticed. Even though India does not have its national team participating in the tournament, people of Indian origins appear to be represented in the World Cup.

One of the most remarkable stories from the current World Cup involves <a href="https://www.brut.media/in/articles/sports/football/who-is-tahsin-mohammed-jamshid-the-19-year-old-with-kerala-roots-in-qatar-s-world-cup-squad">Tahsin Mohammed </a>Jamshid who represents the Qatar national team and whose roots originate from Kerala. Born and brought up in Doha, the son of Indian immigrants from Kannur, Tahsin comes from a football-loving family. His father, Jamshid, used to be a football player representing Calicut University before moving to Qatar. Many years later, his son made it to the top league in football. It was an emotionally significant event for many fans in Kerala.

It is not just Tahsin. The players from India who have participated in the World Cup include people playing for teams like New Zealand, Australia, and DR Congo. Such stories reflect the fact that talent from India associated with football is indeed playing at the highest levels already, although there is a need for creating an environment for nurturing such talent in India.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Emotional ties between India and football have been exemplified very well by the visit of <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/india-a-passionate-football-nation-honour-to-return-messi/article70117139.ece">Lionel Messi</a> to India in 2025. Thousands of fans flocked from Mumbai to Kolkata and many other places in India during the trip taken by Messi just to meet him. This reflects the reality that while statistics might show otherwise, India is a country of football lovers who live and breathe the game. It is hard to think of another nation where fans cheer for their favorite team even though they are from a different part of the world.

However, perhaps the greatest transformation has occurred psychologically.

Where previous generations would be supporting their football by backing a foreign team every four years as neutral supporters of the tournament, today&rsquo;s young footballers dream of playing for India in the World Cup.&nbsp;

This dream counts.&nbsp;

India qualifying for the FIFA World Cup is unlikely to happen within one generation of players or even one successful league season. It requires investment, good coaching, proper infrastructure, and patience on the part of all stakeholders.&nbsp;

Nevertheless, for the first time in many years, the discussion has moved from &ldquo;Will India ever qualify?&rdquo; to &ldquo;When will India qualify?&rdquo;

As another World Cup fires up the passion of millions of Indians, it is evident that India celebrates other people&#39;s goals, other people&rsquo;s victories, and other people&rsquo;s trophies.

The day will come soon enough when India might stop being a spectator at football&#39;s biggest spectacle.

On that day, it will be much more than a sporting achievement. It will be a fulfillment of a dream cherished by an entire nation.

India and the FIFA World Cup: A Story of Passion Without Participation 

The country felt immense pride when India won its third T-20 world cup recently, there might be an argument like why a country having so much problem should care about the sports. The fact of the matter about the sports is that they are one of the matters which critically unites people across the country together without any difference. As sports are extended habits of human society which shapes people&rsquo;s cognitive thinking and encourages them to engage in social conversation.&nbsp;

As sports have many positive effects India should make use of it. The Olympics of 2036 is very <a href="https://gamesbids.com/eng/summer-olympic-bids/why-indias-strong-push-to-host-the-2036-olympics-and-suggesting-new-sports-like-yoga-and-kabaddi-is-the-wrong-approach-in-the-iocs-new-bidding-world/">crucial</a> for a developing country like India to host. As the 2030s are becoming the decade for Asian countries in the field of development of sports like India is hosting commonwealth games in 2030 and 2031 Men&rsquo;s cricket world cup along with Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia is hosting 2034 Fifa world cup then this would be the 2036 Olympics of India.&nbsp;

Why to organise the Olympics 2036 ?&nbsp;

Critics point to India&#39;s development gaps, air quality, and infrastructure shortfalls as reasons to avoid an <a href="https://www.thequint.com/climate-change/indias-bid-to-host-olympics-2036-air-pollution-might-be-a-roadblock">Olympic bid</a>. But these gaps are also the argument for bidding: an Olympic deadline creates political and financial pressure to fast-track transport, housing, and environmental projects that might otherwise stall for decades. The risk is real, Olympic hosting has a history of cost overruns and underused venues, but if infrastructure spending is planned with post-Games use in mind, the Games can function as a forcing mechanism for development India already needs, not just a two-week spectacle.&nbsp;

India is not performing well in the Olympics, criticising the infrastructure of the country and so on. When Neeraj Chopra got a gold medal, people took immense pride saying India got a medal. Yes ! The medals will improve when countries have capacity to improve, the hosting of the Olympics 2036 will give a way for that. The classical example would be <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359888138_The_Impact_of_the_2008_Beijing_Olympic_Games_on_China_and_the_Olympic_Movement_The_Legacy">China</a> as before the 2008 Beijing Olympics the number of athletes who participated from China increased three times than earlier one. That also changes the medals winning ratio among athletes. The people who are demoting sports as a secondary matter have to understand that for some it provides livelihood, for the understanding of that one who thinks why there are no or less medals for India &lsquo;the medals will increase&rsquo; when the athletes who are participating for the country increase.

&nbsp;

The Olympics are one of the important aspects which shape the <a href="https://time.com/7371910/the-olympics-diplomatic-power/">foreign policy</a> of the country, the people have to understand the influence of countries&#39; interaction with each other. It shapes the connections of people to people from different nationalities, which can strengthen the ties between countries. The argument can be made with India&rsquo;s past of having international summits like the AI summit that happened recently highlighting the problems, externalities can be possible for a diverse country like India but the fear of past events. There is no denial for the argument that India has to improve its infrastructure but that shouldn&rsquo;t affect the nation&rsquo;s decision on future events. Externalities and gaps should not stop India from developing its infrastructure and fulfilling the gaps for the event which will happen after ten years.&nbsp;

There has been a significant increase in the sports participation of Indian youth in many sports by the games like &lsquo;Khelo India&rsquo; which also provides chances for tribals as &lsquo;Khelo India tribals&rsquo; to engage in the same ladder as non-tribals. It increases the connection between the people across the country even for the people who are not connected. It shows that India has the capabilities to host sports events, in the ten year future the gaps can be filled. The country which has diverse populations, sports and physical activities will connect and unites the people in the same banner. What is greater than the feeling of representing the country in an international event? When the person wins, it means the country wins.

India’s Olympic Dream: Building Towards 2036

As long as there has been AI there is one question that keeps on arising: Can Ai replace graphic <a href="https://www.coursera.org/articles/will-ai-replace-graphic-designers">designers</a>? Recently, I listened to multiple podcasts featuring graphic designers, creative directors and tech leaders. Every single one of them says the same thing &ndash; Ai is not replacing graphic designers. Rather, ai is becoming a very useful tool which makes designers work more <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024160689">effectively</a> and efficiently.

Major tech companies even use ai as a helper not replacement when it comes to the design process. Many of the leaders use Ai as a tool for accelerating assets production, image generation, layouts, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/07/28/harnessing-ai-for-pitch-decks-a-guide-to-ai-generated-presentations/">pitch decks</a>, client mock-up presentations. Since the importance of design is greatly determined by people who create, the most popular strategies revolve around empowering the designer rather than firing him or her. Hence, design value is now shifting beyond the mere production of pixels. The true value of design consists of judgement, <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/391738337_Survey_of_Cultural_Awareness_in_Language_Models_Text_and_Beyond">cultural awareness</a>, strategy and emotion.These are deeply human skills Ai still cannot fully match.

Design is often believed to consist of colour and typography selection. The truth is that the role of designers is to solve business problems. <a href="https://www.designweek.co.uk/graphic-design-among-most-at-risk-jobs-from-ai-report/">Designers</a> should consider all factors to make sure their projects meet brand guidelines, the appropriate target audience and solve the issue that a business faces. AI will produce good visuals but it won&#39;t know how to read clients&#39; expectations, corporate culture, psychological needs of customers or build an emotional narrative.

How I use AI every day!

I use AI technologies such as ChatGPT, Claude &amp; Gemini almost every day. They enable me to generate content, proofread texts, check facts, extract text from different documents, make summaries and brainstorm ideas. All these activities used to require a lot of my time before. AI performs the vast majority of routine tasks, allowing me to concentrate on visual communication and design itself.

One project which used to take hours is now completed significantly faster. In many cases, AI has helped me to decrease my production time almost by half. This does not imply any loss of quality. This just means that I have more time for creativity and strategic work with clients. Many premium AI subscriptions now cost almost the same as a designer hourly rate. This shows that AI is becoming a source of professional productivity, not a replacement for creative people. Designers who learn to use Ai well will produce better work in less time. 
 
Print media still depends on designers 
AI is getting stronger in digital design, but print media still needs technical skills. Designers must prepare files for brochures, packaging banners, newspapers, business cards, hoarding and many other print formats. Software like Adobe Creative Suite and CorelDRAW still lead professional print production because print needs a level of precision that Ai cannot fully handle yet.

Print has a legacy that spans a period of over one thousand years starting from woodblock printing in China to the invention of the printing press in India. Today, even when print jobs are created, there are numerous technical considerations in printing. AI assists designers in identifying mistakes even before they are printed; thus, minimizing errors, saving paper and lowering costs.

The future is for the designer using AI

AI is <a href="https://www.creativeboom.com/news/its-official-ai-is-coming-for-your-graphic-design-job/">revolutionizing</a> the design industry but is not replacing designers. The designer&rsquo;s job is evolving from mere creative visualization to problem-solving, branding and smart creative thinking. This change in job roles is well-supported by research conducted on the topic; for example, the World Economic Forum&#39;s Future of Jobs Report 2025 showed that even as demand for traditional execution-oriented design jobs is falling, the need for UI/UX design and creative analysis is increasing, a uniquely human skill that Ai fails to perform.

Ai is the assistant. The designer is still the decision maker

Will Ai replace Graphic Designers?

There have been disruptions in supplies through conflict, and poor governance has worsened the situation. It is not LPG that is scarce but <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/middle-east-conflict-pushes-india-to-rethink-lpg-imports-as-omcs-continued-to-absorb-price-shocks/articleshow/131872658.cms">planning</a>, affordability and belief in the state. The energy crisis begins at home, as testified by history. It&#39;s always an outside impact. It could be the oil shock in <a href="https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/publications/the-1973-oil-crisis-three-crises-in-one-and-the-lessons-for-today/">1973</a>, or it could be the tensions in West Asia today, but it is always&nbsp; a Global conflict that reveals a home weakness. They even bang on the kitchen door- sometimes it is a late gas supply, sometimes a <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lpg-price-hike-government-says-rates-in-india-among-worlds-lowest-despite-46-jump-in-global-benchmark/article71072406.ece">hiked bill</a>, sometimes it is the concern of what one will eat tomorrow.

The LPG crisis that is currently occurring gives us the true picture. It is easy to fault the war in the West Asian region, the Strait of Hormuz disturbance or the instability of the world energy market. All that is correct. But this is the whole truth here. What we do not want to see is that the crisis has just been revealed by the war. The issue on the ground is back home, in a policy framework that is strong in regular circumstances and weak in bad ones.

It is not as if the dependence of <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/one-narrow-strait-millions-of-cylinders-india-s-lpg-crisis">India</a> on imported LPG was something new. Any nation that imports almost all the cooking gas that it uses must have been placed in a position to prepare for disruptions and not come up with a system that begins to tremble with the smallest change in the world order. But, that was just what had happened. The current tension has merely highlighted the fact that the LPG policy in the country has been more of a sudden growth than a sustainable progress.

It is at this point that the model fails. The LPG crisis is largely referred to as a shortage.&nbsp; The term is too simple and straightforward. In fact, it is not a product, not merely a lack of supply, that India, as a nation, is lacking but rather a lack of preparation. The <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/energy/in-protecting-politically-sensitive-household-consumers-from-lpg-shock-economically-vulnerable-groups-being-exposed-to-war-driven-price-surge-experts">poorest</a> families are the first to be bitten when supplies are reduced, and the prices rise. A refill to a household that already spent its monthly cash is not a routine purchase. When it becomes not so affordable, trust also decreases. And where there is a decrease in trust, panic, anxiety, and fear soon follow.

That is why the argument of misreporting does not hold that well. Yes, media coverage may enhance fear. Small-scale events can appear to be a crisis that has entered the country as a whole due to sensationalist headlines in the news. It is easy to fault the media since it shifts the attention away on the part of governance and suggests that there is nothing wrong with the system and it is simply being overblown. An effective working system does not fail because of this sort of exaggeration. It is supposed to safeguard and reassure the people. But all is panic, followed by a reply, confidence, followed by action. This is not being proactive in governance. This is a reactive behaviour due to the fact that it is too late. The crisis can be observed to bring about delays and unequal distribution in different cities. An example is that a panic buying spurt in <a href="https://theprint.in/india/bengal-long-queues-outside-cooking-gas-agency-offices-petrol-pumps-operating-normally/2876084/">Kolkata</a> increased demand to nearly the two times normal level in recent weeks, and the cylinders were being diverted to the black market rather than making it to the consumers. In certain parts of North India, Delhi, citizens were unable to purchase gas on the spot and had to wait a considerable period of time, as some gangs were storing around <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/delhi/2026/Mar/17/over-600-cylinders-seized-from-godown-in-delhis-mundka">600+ cylinders</a> illegally. &ldquo;These are not isolated disruptions&mdash;they are clear signs of a system under strain.&rdquo;

Thus, this should not be regarded as something that just occurred in a war and will therefore pass. It should be regarded as a problem in policy terms. The crisis shows how an outside shock is translated into distress within the home when internal systems are weak. and how there is always a gap between announcing and actually carrying out reform. It is not the actual shortage of LPG that is present at that time, but that of the state. A government is unable to cushion its economy against all shocks. But it can help that shock from becoming a crisis. That is the ultimate trial of the government. And according to that test, we must say that the LPG system of the country has failed under this situation.

The LPG Crisis in India 

<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359199408_AN_OVERVIEW_OF_THE_ARTS_AS_A_LANGUAGE_OF_COMMUNICATION_EXPRESSION_AND_EXPERIENCE_A_DISCOURSE">Art</a> has always been an important medium of connection between people which transcends time, language and cultural barriers. It has always been a powerful tool of communication across ages and has always been intertwined or a byproduct of the politics at which time it was created.

Early evidence as ancient as the Mesopotamia or Egyptian civilisations show that the kings or the ruling class commissioned their <a href="https://www.respectegypttours.com/blog/ancient-egyptian-god-statues">statues</a> and effigies to be made and displayed for the people to see every day and remember who was in power. Through sculptures, paintings and architecture, rules and regimes have always communicated their<a href="https://americascollection.com/education/art-and-politics-visual-expressions-of-power/?srsltid=AfmBOooVHbcnJNDCSX9BVl4isNofHEZRS-RL_mkUnB2Nx3M2J0ML6Q9T"> ideologies</a>, asserted their dominance and sought to influence public perception. While the mediums and styles have evolved, the underlying purpose of using art as a tool for political propaganda remains a constant thread through history.

Art in itself has never been apolitical and cannot be seen devoid of the context. Art and artists are influenced by the surroundings they exist in. Examples of this can be seen in the art produced in colonies by colonisers like the paintings made by <a href="https://www.moma.org/artists/2098-paul-gauguin">Paul Gauguin</a>. A French painter who moved to Tahiti, at the time part of the French Polynesian islands to paint primitive subjects. His paintings feature Tahitian women and landscape. Another example of this is the oleographs and paintings of<a href="https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/blogs/painting-through-colonial-lens-how-british-prints-shaped-how-southern-india-was"> Indians royals</a> painted during the colonial rule where they were painted in their traditional attire and jewellery with medals pinned onto their chest bestowed onto them by the British Raj. These portraits were then circulated and ridiculed by the press in Britain calling the Indian rulers feminized for this extravagant fashion. Their perceived femininity was stated as one of the reasons for the British to assert their rule upon them. Times and mediums changed, the Nazis used propaganda films, the Americans used patriotic films such as Marvel&#39;s Avengers and <a href="https://lccollege.org/2024/05/positive-influence-of-captain-america-on-american-society-as-propaganda-during-world-war-ii-1941-1945/">Captain America</a> in times of war to influence the masses. In one case movies were used to incite hatred towards a community and another to increase trust in a country&#39;s army and its values. But both despite their purposes had politics in them.

There are many instances of art being used by people in power to further their agenda but it has also been a medium for the oppressed and voiceless to express their opinions especially during suffragette and Black Lives Matter movements (BLM). Graffiti is one such medium which has been used by the <a href="https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-graffiti-artists-propelling-vision-black-lives-matter-movement">BLM movement</a> to occupy spaces and imaginations of people.<a href="https://www.melodigging.com/genre/chutney"> Chutney music </a>an Indo-Caribbean genre of music originating from Trinidad and Tobago which is a fusion of Bhojpuri folk music and Caribbean music honours the heritage of the people who are descendants from indentured labourers. Art gives voice to the marginalized and brings them to the spotlight. In the villages of Bihar another artform thrives, the<a href="https://www.memeraki.com/blogs/posts/sujani-the-quiet-archive-of-bihar-s-women?srsltid=AfmBOoosuPiojz7P5yw6IjSxIrfMLPqn-7CmonA_RWs0pQVNYzyRKl9n"> art of Sujni</a> made by the women of the village with old cloths and sarees put together and fine needlework which illustrates stories of harvest and mean leaving for distant places to earn. The stories woven by their thread showcase the reality and struggles of their everyday life.

Subconsciously, art and the artist get influenced by the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364138568_On_the_problem_of_interaction_between_art_and_politics_in_the_context_of_contemporary_culture">socio-political</a> climate they exist in lent politics should deliberately not intervene in creative processes to change the artistic outcome. The interference in the free flow of ideas distorts the final product. In conclusion, art&#39;s indelible link to politics spanning elite propaganda from ancient kings to colonial caricatures and wartime films, as well as the subversive voices of the marginalized through graffiti, chutney music, and Sujni embroidery reveals its dual role as both mirror and hammer of society. This interplay underscores that no creation exists in isolation; it is shaped by, and shapes, the socio-political currents around it. Rather than seeking an impossible apolitical purity, we must champion unfettered artistic freedom, allowing art to bridge divides, amplify the silenced, and propel meaningful.

Politicisation of Art Through the Ages

Art is a form of expression. Art does not exist in a vacuum. When the law is quiet, society is in dismay, and hope is shattered, art emerges as a voice of freedom, a mirror to history, and, as rightly said, the voice of the voiceless. If <a href="https://www.annefrank.org/en/anne-frank/who-was-anne-frank/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=21527316865&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADkxeltHhZuH2J_kzyr5vreS76vOe&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwxITRBhBYEiwA6mZm7QfYQBZ6J3anh_MCgvmblUTrlWLZgQn6qIO2TqlJTBOqXxxCHvcxnhoCjlMQAvD_BwE">Anne Frank</a> hadn&rsquo;t written her diary, a form of art, the world would never have understood life in hiding during the Holocaust. Art has been the expression of fear, freedom, and oppression since the dawn of civilization. The murals in the caves told the story of emotions, experiences, and innovation, which continued till today. The artists all over the world have used art to document oppression, show resistance, and challenge the authorities.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Art is also used as <a href="https://johncanningco.com/importance-of-patronage-in-the-arts/">patronage</a>. Kings commissioned poets, painters, and sculpture makers to reinforce their authority. The art was used as a medium to legitimize the ruler. Today also, the leaders use the expression of aesthetics to reach the wider audience. In later ages art helped the religious moment to gain importance, and the political class tagged along the religion to be a part of art as history. The art has changed forms, from canvas to canvas, yet the hold over the audience remains strong.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Alongside this, there always existed a side that told the truth. Art was always based on the intentions of the artist. It has shaped the political standing in the world. Literature is one such form of art that recorded inequalities, voices of the illiterate, and worked as a critic with aesthetics. <a href="https://www.forwardpress.in/2020/06/kabir-fearless-sociologist-who-challenged-conventions/">Kabirdas</a> is one such example that wrote political satires, questioned caste divisions and orthodox practices, and provoked thoughts for a spiritual egalitarian society. Literature, perhaps, is one of the most enduring forms of politics. For example, George Orwell, in his famous writings, &quot;1984&quot; and &quot;Animal Farm,&quot; reflected his views on <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357311809_Totalitarianism_in_George_Orwell's_Animal_Farm">totalitarianism</a>, politics, and the use of propaganda. Politics and art are intrinsically fused. Even during the Renaissance, art was used as a medium to mobilize, unite people, and document the atrocities towards people. The <a href="https://www.thecollector.com/french-revolution-in-5-iconic-paintings/">French Revolution</a> is one of the examples where the painting was seen as a sentiment of the nation. There was the use of allegory, as seen in one of the paintings &quot;Liberty Leading the People,&quot; where a woman, Marianne, is seen leading the masses into the fray, symbolizing freedom and politics. The Portrait of <a href="https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10199832/1/Kumar_Tagore%20and%20Bengal%20School_Smarthistory_Feb%202024.pdf">Bharatmata</a> by Abindranath Tagore was used to awaken the nationalist conscience of people and helped the people to imagine the nation as a serene mother figure, mobilizing the anti-colonial sentiments.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Visual art has been a form of mirror to turmoil in nations. Paintings often showcased the hard realities of the world in subtle strokes. The Third of May by <a href="https://smarthistory.org/goya-third-of-may-1808/">Francisco Goya</a> captures the horror of the war and reflection of politics of the time. Architectural designs, too, are a reflection of politics. For example, the <a href="https://polsci.institute/international-relations-world-history/berlin-wall-cold-war-tensions/#google_vignette">Berlin Wall</a> was a reflection of politics during the Cold War. When it was destroyed in 1989, it was turned into a canvas for artists, reflecting hope, freedom, and politics. Similarly, the India Gate is a reflection of politics, reminding people of the sacrifices that were made during the war.&nbsp;

In the 20th century, movements like the <a href="https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/new-african-american-identity-harlem-renaissance">Harlem Renaissance</a> in the United States showcased how art can become a carrier for marginalized communities to reclaim identity and stand against systemic racism. Through literature, music, and visual art, Black artists asserted their cultural pride and challenged racist narratives that had long existed. Even in modern times, art continues to report and commentate on the conflict and inequality. Whether it is through protest art, digital art, or performance art, art continues to engage with issues such as war, climate change, gender issues, and government violence. Though in modern times, the claws of the political class have dug through several artists to speak out against the government, the desire for expression never fades. The watch may have intensified, but the movement of resistance has also intensified. <a href="https://saspublishers.com/media/articles/CCIJHSS_86_85-90.pdf">Social media</a> has shown the potential of art in mobilizing the people. The medium may have changed, but the intent has remained the same.&nbsp;

Most importantly, the approach of art lies not in what it represents but in how it makes people feel. The painting of The Third of May 1808 may make people feel empathy Spanish people; the poetry of Kabir may make people think of caste inequalities ; the novels of George Orwell&nbsp;

may still make people feel uneasy. Art goes beyond the confines of political discussions by using the appeal of emotion and imagination, yet are intrinsically fused.&nbsp;

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