‘The joke is on us’
THE post began with an apology. The writer Amitava Kumar explained that Facebook had blocked his Substack link in India, so he was sharing his essay as plain text instead. I read that line twice. Then I laughed, because I recognised it. In Pakistan, we know this routine well. The link that won’t open. The site that loads everywhere except here. The workaround that everyone shares and no one in…
The article "The joke is on us" discusses the growing movement of young Indians who call themselves "cockroaches," a movement that began as satire but has since evolved into a political force. The writer Amitava Kumar explains that this movement started as a joke party mocking the government over a leaked medical entrance exam, but it has since turned into a serious political movement.
The article highlights the government's response to the movement, which has included detaining protesters and journalists, jamming mobile and internet services, and stripping millions of their right to vote. Despite these actions, the "cockroaches" continue to fight, using humor as a means of resistance. The article draws parallels between the movement in India and the experiences of young people in Pakistan who have also used humor and unconventional methods to challenge the government.
The writer emphasizes that humor is a powerful tool for resistance, especially when traditional channels of communication are closed off.
Brief written by urgent.news from Dawn's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
