We Are Cockroaches: 292-Page Satirical Book Released by Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday released We Are Cockroaches, a 292-page satirical book exploring the experiences of India's youth amid unemployment, examination controversies and political upheavals, during its protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The book was unveiled by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and members of the organisation as hundreds of students, youth activists and supporters gathered at the protest venue in the national capital. The demonstration has centred on demands for accountability over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, along with calls for reforms in the education system.

Positioned as a work of political and social satire, We Are Cockroaches uses the cockroach-the movement's symbol of resilience-as a metaphor for ordinary citizens navigating economic uncertainty, competitive examinations, unemployment and social change.

According to its description, the book traces the emotional journey of a generation that came of age between 2014 and 2026. Across 29 chapters, it touches on issues such as examination systems, paper leaks, joblessness, migration, inflation, digital culture, protests, media narratives and governance.

The publication portrays students, workers, migrants and unemployed graduates as the "cockroaches" of contemporary India-individuals who continue to persevere despite setbacks and systemic challenges. Rather than presenting itself as a historical account, the book describes itself as a survival diary of ordinary people living through a period of rapid political, economic and technological change.

The release marks the latest step in the evolution of the Cockroach Janta Party, which began as a satirical social media campaign before emerging as a visible youth-led movement. The organisation gained traction online after young users adopted the cockroach as a symbol of resilience, eventually transforming the digital campaign into a broader platform focused on education, employment and governance issues.

Speaking at the protest, Dipke reiterated the group's demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and accused authorities of failing to adequately address concerns raised by students affected by examination-related controversies.

The demonstration also drew participation from student groups and activists, with protesters raising slogans demanding accountability and reforms in recruitment and examination processes. Education reform advocate and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was also expected to join the gathering.

While supporters view the book as an extension of the movement's message, critics have questioned whether the rapidly growing organisation could eventually transition into a political platform. CJP leaders have repeatedly maintained that the movement remains focused on social issues and institutional accountability rather than electoral politics.

Priced at ₹199 on Amazon and published in English, We Are Cockroaches was released amid growing public attention on the movement, which has sought to channel online discontent into a broader conversation on youth aspirations, public examinations and employment opportunities.

The We Are Cockroaches book's release also sparked discussion among social media users, with some questioning how a 292-page title could be published so quickly alongside the movement's rapid rise. Others speculated online about whether artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT may have been used during the writing process. However, the Cockroach Janta Party has not publicly addressed such claims, and no evidence has been presented to substantiate them.