The problem with Neha Bora becoming India’s latest “Gen Z crush” is not them, it’s us.

In the span of a few months, the AISA president and student activist ­— who goes by they/them pronouns — has gone from one among several people in India’s protest ecosystem to becoming the face of young political dissent. Their speeches go viral. Their Instagram comment section is full of hearts, fire emojis, and declarations of admiration. One recent social media post even called them a “complete Gen Z icon” with an “absolutely ridiculous aura” — a compliment that CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke simply responded to with, “I agree.”