Pradhan said he “suffered” because of Gen Z’s stubbornness but had come to realise that the new generation must be understood rather than resisted

BHUBANESWAR: Former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday described Gen Z as a force that cannot be ignored, saying he had told PM Narendra Modi that the responsibilities of an education minister were insignificant compared to the determination and aspirations of the country’s youth.Speaking in a light-hearted vein, the Sambalpur MP said he “suffered” because of Gen Z’s stubbornness but had come to realise that the new generation must be understood rather than resisted.Though some people tried to mislead Gen Z, Pradhan said, the ministerial position “was not at all a prestige issue for me”. Referring to around 20 crores in the 15-25 age group, Pradhan said, “If 20 crore youngsters become determined about something, my responsibility is nothing before their resolve,” adding that he tried to explain this reality to the PM, who later engaged directly with the youth. “Country’s interest is above all,” he said.The Sambalpur MP said every generation has produced youths who made sacrifices for the country.“Historically, it is the youth who have led change and offered sacrifices. They were the Gen Z of their times,” Pradhan said.