Lucknow, 23 May (HS): ‘Recently, a young man living abroad

began mocking India, Indian society, and Indian youth through a toxic online

narrative symbolically referred to as the “Cockroach Party.” What started as a

troll campaign slowly gained followers across digital platforms. But this was

not merely a joke, meme, or social-media trend. It reflected something far

deeper and more dangerous — a mindset that remains mentally weak and culturally

insecure despite being educated. It exposed a disturbing reality: how easily a

section of educated youth can be manipulated by a single word, a viral clip, or

a provocative slogan into developing a destructive attitude toward their own

nation, civilization, and identity,’ opines Prof. Geeta Singh, Director, Centre

for Professional Development in Higher Education (CPDHE), University of Delhi, Convener,

Vishwagram.

This

raises a fundamental question for our times: Is education merely meant to

produce job-seekers and corporate employees? Are degrees creating minds that

laugh at their own roots in order to gain approval from global digital culture?

Has modernity become synonymous with disconnecting from one’s civilization and

doubting every achievement of one’s own nation? If education cannot awaken

self-respect, wisdom, and constructive vision within a human being, then that

education remains incomplete.

‘Today,

negativity has become fashionable in sections of digital discourse. Patriotism

is mocked as backwardness. Culture is dismissed as superstition. National

confidence is portrayed as extremism. Slowly and systematically, young minds

are conditioned to believe that nothing good can emerge from India. This is not

healthy criticism — it is psychological defeat packaged as intellectualism. The

tragedy is that India possesses the world’s largest youth population and

perhaps its greatest reservoir of untapped human energy. Yet certain digital

ecosystems thrive by disconnecting this generation from its roots, history, and

civilizational confidence. Troll culture is turning thoughtful youth into

reactionary crowds. Study is being replaced by sensationalism; character by

virality; wisdom by outrage. But this has never been the spirit of India’s

youth,’ she remarked.

‘Swami

Vivekananda did not teach young Indians self-hatred; he taught them

fearlessness and self-belief. He reminded the world that every soul carries

infinite potential. His vision was of an India that would guide humanity — not

an India ashamed of itself. Subhas Chandra Bose ignited in the youth the fire

of sacrifice for the nation. Bhagat Singh transformed courage and conviction

into a timeless ideal. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj demonstrated in his youth

that self-respect and organized national will are stronger than any empire. None

of these icons taught young people to ridicule their own civilization. They

taught resistance against injustice, but never contempt for their own nation.

They encouraged questioning, but never civilizational self-destruction. The

youth of India must now understand that identity cannot be built through memes,

online mobs, or digital validation. Real identity is built through

consciousness, character, knowledge, and national purpose,’ she added.

Education

is not merely about degrees; it is about discovering the “Self.” True knowledge

is that which connects a human being to inner strength, culture, and

responsibility toward society. When knowledge moves in the right direction, it

becomes constructive — it builds science, innovation, literature, leadership,

and social harmony. But when knowledge is poisoned by insecurity and confusion,

it becomes destructive. This is not the time for India’s youth to see

themselves through the lens of “cockroach politics” or digital humiliation.

This is the time to rediscover civilizational confidence. This is the time to

rise above toxic propaganda, divisive narratives, and the culture of mockery. India’s

youth are not weak. They are one of the greatest forces of the 21st century.

And history has always shown that the nation which teaches its youth

self-respect, purpose, and pride can never be defeated for long,’ she said

prior to signing off.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi