Indian youth use memes and humor to amplify protests against government

Thousands of young people have taken to the streets of New Delhi while simultaneously flooding social media with memes, parody videos and satirical posts that mock government officials and state-run news coverage. The digital campaign, organized by the self-styled "Cockroach Janta Party," blends footage of clashes with police into formats reminiscent of fitness-tracking apps and mobile games, and features influencer-style videos that showcase protest attire.

Protesters say the humor helps them cope with police crackdowns and conveys their frustration over a series of exam scandals that led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement, which began as a response to alleged cheating in national medical entrance exams, has broadened to address wider concerns about government accountability.

At the main rally site, participants wore Spider-Man and Batman masks and carried placards that referenced artificial intelligence, pop culture and the slogan “Every joke is a tiny revolution.” A 23-year-old student explained that the generation prefers concise, visual communication, adding, "We find speeches boring, we are the summary generation. We have a habit of consuming things in a short span of time, so we are using the same ways to put our message across."

The protests also target Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose own social-media presence has become a source for parody. After Modi released a selfie-style video addressing the demonstrators, users edited the clip with altered voiceovers and captions that question his promises. A 21-year-old student said, "We are just answering him in his language."

Authorities have responded with police action, but the online component continues to amplify the movement, reaching a demographic that makes up nearly half of India's population.