Why is the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ More Than Just a Satire? — An Analysis by Justice Markandey Katju
- The ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ Becomes a Symbol of India’s Unease
- Satire, Rebellion, and Systemic Crisis: Justice Katju on the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’
Justice Markandey Katju’s article views the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ not merely as a satire, but as a symbol of the growing public discontent, unemployment, poverty, and political failures in India. The article presents a serious discourse on the necessity of mass struggle, revolution, and systemic change.
The relevance of the Cockroach Janta Party
By Justice Markandey Katju
I have written several articles on the Cockroach Janta Party ( hereafter called the CJP ) which has been recently created in India.
As mentioned in these articles, the CJP was created as a satire following the inane and unwarranted remark of the present Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, likening unemployed youth in India to cockroaches and parasites ( which he later sought to clarify ).
I called the CJP a joke because its agenda is trivial, mentioning some peripheral reforms, and does not deal with the real huge socio-economic problems facing India, viz. abolishing or substantially reducing the massive poverty, record and rising unemployment, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, appalling level of child malnutrition, almost total lack of proper healthcare and good education for the masses, etc.
However, though a joke, the CJP has great relevance and significance. The very fact that, within a few days of its announcement, it gathered over 20 million followers shows how desperate Indians are for change and improvement in their lives. In particular, our youth see the dark and looming spectre of unemployment.
But great changes cannot come about by emotional responses alone. They require a scientific understanding of the causes and a scientific solution.
I remember in my youth ( I was born in 1946 ) many young Indians were drawn towards Ram Manohar Lohia's Praja Socialist Party, and joined the SYS, its youth wing, thinking that the party will solve all India's huge socio-economic problems. But all the PSP leaders did was to abuse and ridicule the ruling Congress party, offering no scientific solutions of their own, and the SYS soon deteriorated into a bunch of lumpen elements.
A massive movement arose under the leadership of Jaiprakash Narain after the proclamation of the Emergency in 1975 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Congress government, which culminated in the victory of the Janata Party in the 1977 parliamentary elections, ousting the Congress. But this did not bring about any change in the miserable lives of the Indian masses, and the party broke up due to infighting among its constituents, resulting in Indira Gandhi again coming to power in 1980.
The Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement of 2011 saw huge numbers of people supporting it, but its only result was that the Aam Admi Party came to power in Delhi, but with no significant improvement in the lives of the people.
The same can be said of the BJP which came to power in 2014 under the slogan 'vikaas' ( development ), and has been in power ever since.
So the Indian people have been emotionally following some Pied Piper of Hamelin or the other, thinking he will relieve them of their woes, but to no avail.
As mentioned above, the very fact that within a few days of its creation by a satire, the CJP has acquired over 20 million followers, shows how desperate the Indian people are for change, and improvement of their lives.
But historical changes cannot be brought about only by emotions. They require a deep scientific understanding of historical forces and how to solve the problem using this understanding. This can be provided only by the small conscious and enlightened section of Indian society viz its intelligentsia. But unfortunately, most of our so-called 'intellectuals' have only a superficial understanding, and the few who have it are well content with their cushy jobs, and do not wish to risk losing them if they express their ideas openly.
The truth is that India's huge socio-economic problems can only be solved by a mighty, united, protracted people's struggle ( jan sangharsh ), which may last 10-20 years, rising above caste and communal barriers, in which tremendous sacrifices will have to be made, led by patriotic, selfless, modern minded leaders with scientific understanding, culminating in a historical people's Revolution ( jan kranti ), after which a political and social order will be created under which there is rapid industrialization of the country, and steady rise in the standard of living of the people.
I have expressed my ideas in some articles,.
I have explained therein that the huge problems of India cannot be solved within the present Constitutional framework. The solution lies outside it, i.e. by a Revolution
To my mind, there is no other way.
(Justice Katju is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India and a former Chairman of the Press Council of India. These are his personal views.)
