This movement has arisen from a fear experienced by millions of young Indians. The inability to trust the exams that determine their future has made people anxious. After weeks of protests, tens of thousands of youth tried to march toward India’s Parliament on Monday. Police attempted to stop them using tear gas and baton charges. Since then, thousands have continued to join street demonstrations. The anger sparked by repeated exam paper leaks in major competitive examinations led to the formation of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). This youth-led campaign involves a large number of students and has become one of the largest student movements in India in recent years.
The CJP demands educational reforms and the resignation of Central Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement’s focal activist is Sonam Wangchuk, who fasted for 26 days in support of the protests. Before ending her fast on Thursday night, she disclosed she had lost 11 kilograms. Although Wangchuk ended her hunger strike, student leaders remain determined to continue the movement until their demands are met.
A natural question that has emerged is whether this is merely a typical student protest or the beginning of a larger phenomenon. History suggests the need for vigilance but also provides ample reasons for optimism. Student movements have sometimes led to significant political changes in India. However, the leadership of the CJP and the movement’s growing scale and widespread youth dissatisfaction impart special significance to this campaign.
There have been major protests against the Narendra Modi government on issues like citizenship laws, agricultural reforms, and other controversial policies. But the current movement is not inspired by any particular ideology. Nor is it focused solely on the interests of any single community or social group. Instead, it raises a fundamental question for millions of young Indians: can the state make the examinations—the main pathway to social advancement—more fair and just?
