It’s not some fancy event with lights and cameras – it’s real people, tired feet, sweaty faces, and a whole lot of anger mixed with hope. On the 25th day of this Cockroach Janata Party protest, comedian Kunal Kamra and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad walked in and stood shoulder to shoulder with the students and activists. The place felt alive again. That “jam-packed with cockroaches” line? It’s their way of saying, call us whatever you want, we’re not leaving till things change.
The NEET exam mess – leaks, weird grace marks, results that left everyone scratching their heads. Kids who studied day and night, sacrificed their teens, saw their futures slip away. Some couldn’t handle it and took their own lives. Parents are heartbroken. That’s why the CJP folks, led by Abhijit Dipke, have been camping out here for over three weeks, demanding the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan steps down and the families get some real support, like compensation. It’s not politics for them; it’s personal.
Kunal Kamra came wearing a simple Gandhi T-shirt. No big speeches for laughs this time. He just stood there with the crowd, adding his voice to the noise. I can imagine him thinking, “Yeh log itna mehnat karte hain, aur system unka sapna chheen leta hai.” That hit different. A man who roasts power on stage, now showing up on the streets because he actually cares. It felt genuine, not like a PR stunt. People around him perked up, Small moments like this keep the fire going when days blur into each other under the sun.
Chandrashekhar Azad met Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakhi activist who’s been on hunger strike for 18 days straight. Wangchuk looks frail now – lost nearly 9 kg, blood pressure low, doctors watching him round the clock. But his eyes? Still sharp, still determined. Azad’s presence gave everyone a boost. Dipke thanked him publicly, saying it lifted the students’ spirits after 25 long days. These aren’t distant bigwigs; they came, listened, and stood in the heat with folks who’ve been sleeping on mats and eating whatever little comes their way. That human connection matters more than any press release.
Wangchuk’s story breaks your heart. He joined to fight for fair exams and better education. No drama, just quiet sacrifice. His friends from films – Shabana Azmi, Soni Razdan, Anurag Kashyap – are begging him to stop. “We need you alive for the long haul,” Shabana said. Kashyap called the government’s silence scary, like they don’t care if someone like him fades away. Zeenat Aman and others echoed the same. It’s tough watching someone you respect put their health on the line while the powerful stay quiet. But that’s what makes it powerful too. He’s reminding us that change sometimes needs uncomfortable truths.
Shashi Tharoor wrote a heartfelt open letter. He talked about growing up middle-class, where one honest exam result could change everything for siblings. “Merit wasn’t a slogan for us,” he said. It was the only way forward. Reading that, you feel it in your chest – so many families across India live that reality. One wrong paper, one leak, and years of hard work vanish. It’s not just marks; it’s dreams, loans, migrations, everything.
Tomorrow, they’re calling for a mass one-day hunger strike in support of Wangchuk. And on July 20, a big “Chalo Sansad” march when Parliament opens. They’re asking people to join via missed calls. It’s growing, slowly but surely. Students, activists, opposition voices – everyone’s adding their bit. Brinda Karat and others have shown up too. This feels like regular Indians saying, “Bhai, ab bas karo. Fix this.”
Placards with angry messages, young voices cracking from shouting slogans, aunties and uncles sharing tiffins. The “cockroaches” nickname started maybe as an insult, but they’ve turned it into something proud – small, persistent, impossible to ignore. Kamra cracking a line or two, Azad talking about justice for the marginalized, Wangchuk fasting in the corner. It’s messy, emotional, very Indian.
Sure, some will call it political drama. Maybe parts are. But ignore the noise – at the core, it’s about kids who deserved a fair shot. Exams shouldn’t feel like a lottery rigged against you. Mental health of students, security of question papers, transparent results – these aren’t rocket science. The government could talk, investigate properly, reassure the youth. Silence only makes things worse.
Kamra’s sharp comment during the protest went viral because it echoed what millions feel. Azad connecting with Wangchuk showed solidarity across causes. This isn’t one issue; it’s linked to how we treat our young people, especially from smaller towns and weaker sections.
Day 25 wasn’t the end. It felt like a new chapter. More folks will come, pressure will build. As someone watching from afar, I hope it leads to real fixes, not just photos and promises. Our children study under streetlights and in tiny rooms, dreaming big. They shouldn’t wake up to scams and silence.
If you’re in Delhi, go see for yourself. Have a chai with the protesters. Hear their stories. Because when education hurts this bad, the whole country bleeds a little.
Sources:
- Times of India main report on the Day 25 protest (July 15, 2026)
- Updates from Hindustan Times, Free Press Journal, and voices on the ground via social media.
@Rohit Manral
