New Delhi, July 10 -- The skies are overcast, and it is unbearably humid when I reach Jantar Mantar on a Sunday evening. Beads of sweat run down the faces of the police personnel and guards on duty as people, young and old, walk in. A transgender woman-clearly not here for the first time-asks after the health of one of the guard's children before moving on and merging with the crowd. I'm foolish to think that I'll just quietly observe and absorb this moment of history before going back home.

The two-month-old Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) began its round-the-clock protest at Jantar Mantar more than three weeks ago on 20 June, and has been joined by hundreds of students, parents, activists, citizens and even farmers' groups, all in support ...