What if getting to a protest in Delhi was a video game? That’s the idea behind Jantar Mantar Chalo, a satirical game that puts players in the middle of a protest, complete with police barricades, crowd control and plenty of chaos.Created by Suraj Kushwah, a DevOps engineer from Bareilly who goes by the online name bugswriter, the game gives players two choices. They can join the protesters and try to reach Jantar Mantar, or step into the role of Delhi Police and attempt to stop the march.It’s an unusual idea, to say the least. But in a country where protests regularly become the subject of heated public debate, turning demonstrations into a game was always going to get people talking.
So, what do you actually do in the game?
The premise is pretty straightforward. Pick a side, enter the game and try to complete your objective. The trouble starts when you have to deal with everything standing in your way.Playing as a protester means gathering people and moving towards Jantar Mantar, while trying to get past police resistance. Choose the police side, and your job is to break up the crowd using in-game tactics such as lathi charges, tear gas and detentions.And things don’t always go according to plan.The game includes references to internet shutdowns and a minimap that can stop working. Players who get detained can even find themselves sent to far-off locations such as Kapashera border or Narela Stadium.There’s also an online multiplayer mode, along with an offline practice option for those who want to get a feel for the game on their own.It’s the little details that give the concept its satirical edge. A protest isn’t usually something people associate with arcade-style gameplay, but here, barricades and detentions become obstacles to work around.
Who came up with this idea?
The person behind Jantar Mantar Chalo is Suraj Kushwah, who shares his work online as bugswriter.The game started getting attention after he posted a video of it on Instagram. From there, people began discussing the unusual concept, with some joking about its resemblance to games such as GTA VI and others suggesting new features.And it’s easy to see why the idea caught people’s attention. Most games transport players to fictional worlds. This one takes inspiration from a setting many Indians recognise from news reports and social media footage.Instead of racing cars or fighting fictional enemies, players have to navigate a made-up version of a protest in the national capital.Of course, it’s a satirical game, not a realistic account of how every protest or police operation unfolds. The situations are designed around gameplay, and some of the real-world issues behind them are far more complicated than a game can show.
Why is everyone talking about it?
The unusual premise is a big part of the appeal. Protests are serious business, often involving demands for change, clashes over public policy and questions about people’s right to assemble. Video games, meanwhile, are built around objectives, challenges and winning.Jantar Mantar Chalo puts the two together in a way that’s bound to invite reactions.The fact that players can choose either side adds another twist. One player might be trying to gather a crowd and reach the protest site, while another is attempting to stop them. That clash is at the heart of the experience.Social media reactions have included jokes comparing the game with GTA VI, along with suggestions to add other playable roles, including the courts.But there’s a difference between a game attracting attention online and becoming a massive gaming hit. Verified download figures and player numbers aren’t available, so claims that it has topped download charts shouldn’t be taken as established fact.For now, the interest appears to centre on the concept itself and the conversations it has sparked.
Jantar Mantar isn’t just another location in the game
There’s a reason the developers chose Jantar Mantar as the setting.Located in New Delhi, the site is closely associated with public demonstrations. It’s where people have gathered over the years to raise issues ranging from political demands to social and civic concerns.The phrase “Jantar Mantar Chalo” roughly means “Let’s go to Jantar Mantar”. It’s the kind of call that can be used to rally people for a demonstration.That context gives the game a meaning beyond its mechanics. Its references to barricades, detentions and internet restrictions touch on issues that have featured in wider discussions about protests and the way authorities respond to them.Still, there’s a line between satire and reality. Getting detained in a game might mean losing progress or having to change your strategy. In real life, the consequences can be much more serious.The game simplifies these situations for entertainment, so it’s best understood as a fictional take on protest culture rather than a guide to what happens on the ground.
How can you play ‘Jantar Mantar Chalo’?
The game has been reported as a free browser-based experience, so you don’t need to install a separate mobile app to give it a try.You can check it out on mantarjantar.com
A protest simulator with a satirical twist
Games inspired by current affairs aren’t new. But Jantar Mantar Chalo takes a familiar part of Indian public life and gives it a rather unexpected makeover.Its appeal lies in the simplicity of the idea. Reach the protest site, deal with the obstacles and try to get the job done. Or switch sides and attempt to stop the march.What makes it interesting is the subject behind all that gameplay. A protest, which in real life can involve difficult questions about rights, public order and government accountability, becomes a challenge that players can tackle on a screen.Some will find the premise funny. Others may see it as a pointed comment on how protests are handled and discussed in India. Either way, the game has found a way to bring a serious subject into an unexpected corner of internet culture.And perhaps that’s why people are curious about it. It’s not every day that a trip to Jantar Mantar becomes the premise of a video game.
