When the Chief Justice of India, during a court hearing, made an insensitive remark comparing the unemployed youth of India to cockroaches who become social activists attacking the system, satire emerged in the form of memes and witty quotes.
It immediately prompted young people, mostly Gen Z, to embrace the comparison—the cockroach as a symbol of protest—and raise their voices against a system that has long ignored their plight.
Since mid-May, cockroaches have begun to swarm all over social media. Calling themselves the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), they became an instant hit not only among Gen Z but also among Gen X and even the older generation, cutting across professions and all walks of life.
The satire eventually turned into a serious movement within a week, provoked by the blocking and trolling of the social media accounts and websites of those who initiated the satirical humour and social media content.
By the first week of June, the digital movement spilled over onto the streets as hundreds of youths, who now call themselves “Cockroaches,” swarmed Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, the national capital’s designated site for protests.
The brain behind the Cockroach Janta Party is Abhijeet Dipke, a student in the US. Along with him are his associates Saurav Das, Vijeta Dahiya, and Ashutosh Ranka, who serve as official spokespersons.
Several prominent personalities have come out in support of the movement. Most significantly, Sonam Wangchuk, a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, has openly supported the cockroaches. His support and presence boosted the movement and added considerable value. Actor Prakash Raj has thrown his weight behind it as well.
The cockroaches’ physical protests are meant to send a message that the movement is not limited to social media and should not be dismissed as merely a digital phenomenon.
Now, following the Delhi protests, demonstrations have taken place in several other cities.
Meanwhile, across the country, “cockroach” has become a trending keyword. The Cockroach Janta Party is now among the most-followed accounts on social media and is one of the most talked-about topics in social circles. The movement is gaining traction everywhere, including Northeast India.
The cockroaches, through their catchy reels and slogans, have also highlighted Manipur, which has been going through a crisis for more than three years. This resonates strongly with people in Northeast India.
Several CJP accounts from Northeast India have also sprung up, though they are not as popular as the main CJP account. Unfortunately, many of the CJP accounts in the region follow communal and ethnic lines, particularly those emerging from Manipur.
Ever since the cockroaches grabbed the headlines and began appearing all over social media, they have also raised eyebrows and stirred doubts among many observers. The movement has drawn criticism and prompted deeper analysis.
The architect of the cockroach movement, Abhijeet Dipke, was associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) more than a decade ago, when the party was still evolving and in its formative stages.
Although Dipke later left for the US to build his own career, recent events brought him back to India and compelled him to take the movement to another level.
This time, however, the movement is different from the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement that eventually led to the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party. Nevertheless, observers and analysts have viewed Dipke as someone with political backing. He continues to be portrayed as a proxy for the AAP.
Some suspect that he is funded by a political party or receives support from foreign sources. Others even speculate that the cockroach movement could be a creation of the ruling BJP itself.
Several critics have also compared the Delhi CJP protest with other protests, such as the farmers’ protest. Demonstrations in Delhi are usually met with stiff police action.
But in the case of the cockroaches, there were no reports of police excesses, and permission for the protest was granted quickly. This has raised eyebrows and fuelled suspicions about the relatively soft treatment extended to Dipke and the cockroaches.
Another question frequently raised concerns the finances behind the movement. There have been numerous suspicions about where funds and aid come from. But the young spokespersons have responded to such questions with confidence and wit, making the issue seem almost irrelevant.
For the cockroaches, campaigning or initiating a digital movement requires little money. Every cockroach has the privilege of an internet connection.
For instance, spokesperson Sourav Das said that a poster for a press conference costs a mere Rs 200 and does not require funding from any individual or organisation.
All the cockroaches who participated in the street protests came on their own. They did not require an organisation or political party to pay for their auto fares. More importantly, the young protesters came driven by their own convictions and commitment.
When they say they have their own resources and do not need funding, another criticism emerges. Observers argue that the cockroach movement is an elite, urban movement—an upper-class Gen Z movement sustained by privilege.
Dipke’s cockroach movement has also drawn comparisons with Gen Z movements in neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh. It drew sharp criticism from Nepal after Dipke stated in an interview that the Indian cockroach movement is not, and will not become, like the Gen Z movements of Nepal or Bangladesh.
Whatever the case may be, it is too early to draw conclusions. It is also too early to assess whether the movement will be sustained or whether it will have any lasting impact. It may also take time for the cockroaches to spread across the northeastern states, especially as the region, particularly Manipur, remains embroiled in ethnic and communal conflicts.
The fact is that this cockroach movement appears spontaneous and organic. It did not emerge from any ideology, political theory, or party instigation. The truth is that frustration has been simmering for a long time. Unemployment is a reality. Educational scams are not a myth.
All that was needed was a spark to ignite the fire. That spark, fortunately or unfortunately, came from an insensitive casual remark made by the head of one of the country’s highest institutions.
Now these cockroaches are a phenomenon to reckon with. The older generation needs to listen to Gen Z. Whether it is a Gen Z movement or a cockroach movement, India must take such voices seriously and ensure that young people’s grievances are taken into consideration.
The country needs to reflect on and respond to what future generations are saying.
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