Letting the #cockroaches flourish: GenZ’s digital cleanup of democracy?

By Mansee Bal Bhargava* 

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant recently described unemployed youth as “parasites” and “cockroaches,” sparking outrage across the country. His oral observation, though later clarified, revealed a troubling disdain for young citizens who, in the absence of opportunities, turn to activism, media, or social platforms to question the system. Such language from the highest judicial office is not only unfortunate but also symptomatic of a deeper constitutional crisis.  

Cockroaches as Metaphor and Reality

Raised to respect cockroaches at home and farm, I never saw them as pests but as resilient creatures essential to ecological balance. My grandmother’s stories linked cockroaches to sustainability, reminding us that they clean decay, recycle nutrients, and sustain biodiversity. In fact, cockroaches are among the planet’s oldest species, thriving since the dinosaur era. They act as nature’s cleanup crew, breaking down waste, aiding nitrogen cycling, and even inspiring medical research and robotics.  

Yet society has long used animals and insects as slurs—dog, donkey, owl, snake, and now cockroach—ignoring their ecological importance. To demean humans by comparing them to these species is both insulting to people and unjust to the animals themselves. If anything, cockroaches remind us of resilience, adaptability, and survival in hostile environments—qualities our youth embody in today’s India.  

Personal Encounters with Dehumanization

Like many, I have lived through labels. As a girl born when a boy was desired, as a wheat‑skinned woman married into a Brahmanical family, as a Bengali often derided as a “Bangladeshi cockroach,” I have faced slurs that expose the casual cruelty of patriarchy and nationalism. Professionally too, being vocal and educated in male‑dominated fields of architecture and water science earned me the tag of “noisy cockroach.”  

Such remarks are not isolated; they stem from entrenched patriarchy, Manusmriti‑driven hierarchies, and Hindutva politics that normalize abuse. When a Chief Justice echoes this language, it legitimizes dehumanization from the very institution meant to uphold dignity and justice.  

The Cockroach Statement and Its Fallout

Surya Kant’s clarification—that he referred only to those with fake degrees—did little to repair the damage. Instead of apologizing, he reinforced the insult, shifting blame onto youth rather than addressing systemic failures: unemployment, paper leaks, suicides, and suppression of protests. Judges are public servants, entrusted to preserve institutional integrity, not to indulge personal prejudices.  

This was not an isolated lapse. Remarks dismissing PILs on PM CARES Fund, mocking petitioners to “sell sweaters,” or branding activists as obstacles to development reveal a pattern of arrogance. Retired civil servants have warned that such statements create fear, discouraging citizens from challenging ecologically harmful projects. When custodians of constitutional rights resort to slurs, it signals not just misconduct but a constitutional crisis.  

GenZ Turns Insult into Identity

History shows that marginalized groups often reclaim slurs as identity. The youth’s response was swift: the rise of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a digital movement that transformed insult into collective dissent. Within days, the CJP amassed over 20 million Instagram followers, launched websites, and filed registrations. This was no overnight gimmick but a testament to GenZ’s creativity, preparedness, and frustration.  

India, home to the world’s largest youth population, faces a paradox: a highly educated workforce with few stable jobs. Women are disproportionately disengaged, while many men remain unemployable due to mismatched skills. Ministries meant to serve youth are led by non‑youth, often unqualified, further alienating them. Against this backdrop, the cockroach remark became a spark, igniting digital insurgency.  

The government’s reaction—blocking accounts, branding youth as anti‑national or “urban naxal”—only amplified the movement. The sheer scale of followers reflects not just youth anger but also the wider public’s frustration with institutional decay and hate‑filled politics.  

Digital Dissent as Democratic Renewal

India has a rich tradition of Satyagraha, where movements are integral to democracy. The #Cockroach movement re‑establishes faith in protest, reminding us that freedom was won through collective struggle. Unlike complex issues such as CAA‑NRC or farm laws, the demand here—education and employment—is simple, direct, and universal.  

Digital insurgency has brought a structural cyclone to the system. Algorithms, anonymity, and creativity have given youth sovereignty in a space long exploited by government propaganda. Now, the state faces the challenge of countering dissent it cannot easily suppress.  

Whether the CJP survives or succeeds is secondary. Its spontaneity and creativity have already achieved something vital: politicizing youth, fostering collectives, and proving that dissent can thrive digitally. Even if crushed, the movement will inspire on‑ground protests, guiding them with digital tools.  

Wider Resonance of Protest

Across India, protests are rising—from Manipuris demanding justice, farmers marching for forest rights, locals resisting deforestation in Hasdeo and Aravali, women staging “Chita Andolan” against land grabs, workers in Noida seeking fair wages, students in Jaipur and JNU fighting leaks and racism, to citizens in Indore protesting for water. The cockroach movement connects these struggles, offering a unifying metaphor of cleaning filth—political, institutional, ecological.  

The feeling of collective is powerful. GenZ, often dismissed as individualistic, has discovered the strength of solidarity. Influencers, journalists, and activists—from Mahua Moitra to Dhruv Rathee—can amplify this energy, not to defeat one party but to challenge the rotten system itself.  

Way Forward: Listening, Not Crushing

Instead of crushing cockroaches, the government must engage them. Bringing youth to the table, hearing their voices, and addressing their grievances is essential for democracy. Blocking accounts or branding dissenters as enemies only deepens alienation.  

India is heading towards a headless state where nepotism may no longer suffice. Change is inevitable, as recent elections in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala showed. No government is permanent. The fear of cockroaches in power corridors is a good sign—it means the system recognizes the threat of accountability.  

Let the cockroaches flourish, not as pests but as custodians of democracy and biodiversity. Their resilience, creativity, and anger are assets, not liabilities. As an elder, I say: Mei bhi cockroach—I too am part of this struggle, dedicated to peace and ecology.  

Conclusion

Surya Kant’s remark inadvertently awakened a generation. By demeaning youth, he reminded them of their constitutional rights and duties. The cockroach movement is not just about insult; it is about reclaiming dignity, demanding accountability, and cleaning the rot in institutions.  

Whether digital or on ground, whether sustained or spontaneous, the #Cockroach Janta Party has already achieved something profound: it has politicized youth, restored faith in protest, and reminded us that democracy thrives on dissent.  

In a land of Satyagraha, this is not noise but renewal. The cockroaches are here to clean, question, and flourish—for democracy, for biodiversity, and for the future of India.  

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*Entrepreneur, researcher, educator, speaker, and mentor. This is the abridged version of the original article