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, ye kis tarah ke shabdon se hum apni aane wali generation ko sambodhit kar rahe hain? Ye hamari sanskriti nahi hai. Is shabd se hum apni aane wali generation ko apne se door kar rahe hain.” He further said, “Humein us tarah ke shabdon ka prayog karna chahiye jisse aane wali generation hamare nazdeek aaye aur hum unhe apni sanskriti aur apne sanskaron se avagat kara sakein.”The actor went on to praise India’s civilisational heritage and said, “Kehte hain na ki duniya ki sabse purani aur sabse rich sabhyata aur sanskriti Bharatiya hai.” He concluded by urging people to think about how modern education can preserve traditional values, saying that Gurukul-based learning could help instil 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. Uchit shabdon ka chayan hi aadhunikta hai. Hamare Bharatiya sanskaron ko bachane ke liye Gurukul paddhati ka pathyakram zaroori hai.”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, “Pranam doston, hamare maananiya Pradhan Mantri ka kitna bada dil hai. 20 tareekh ke aandolan mein unki swargiya mataji, unhe aur hamari sena ko logon ne kitna bhala-bura kaha. Uske bawajood unhone sabko maaf kar diya. Agar unki jagah koi aur hota to kadi se kadi saza deta. Ye unka badappan hai.”

He then recalled a traditional saying about forgiveness, saying, “Is situation mein mujhe ek purani kahawat yaad aa gayi — ‘Kshama badan ko chahiye, chhotan ko utpaat. Ka Rahiman Hari ko ghataiyo, jo Bhrigu maari laat.’”Lahri went on to praise Modi, saying, “Aise Pradhan Mantri ji ko mera koti-koti naman. Hum bhagyashali hain ki humein aise Pradhan Mantri mile jo duniya ke liye tough master hain, lekin hamare liye aur apne deshvasiyon ke liye mom hain.”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.”