India, Sept. 5 -- Two days after the police lathi-charged students as they tried to march to Parliament, I was in Dadar, Mumbai, where a solidarity protest was scheduled.

The atmosphere was tense. Police stood behind barricades; there were rumours about students being detained. Bands of teenagers milled about, uncertain which way to go.

Eventually, as the crowd swelled, the mood shifted from wariness to power, with a hint of joy. Two boys marched by wearing matching Spiderman masks and chanting "Inquilab Zindabad" (Long Live the Revolution). Another, dressed as Superman, handed out roses to policemen and fellow protesters.

And over and over I saw banners bearing what would, a few months ago, have seemed like an odd symbol: a black flag...