Renowned author Sir Salman Rushdie and filmmaker Mira Nair have voiced their support for India’s “cockroach” protest movement, which has faced recent police action against its leaders. This movement has sparked widespread demonstrations across the country, initially resulting in the dismissal of the education minister and now calling for the resignation of the chief election commissioner due to controversial changes in voter registration.
The protests represent a growing opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party, the BJP. Students’ unions and various political groups have organized multiple marches, which have led to a tight security response in central Delhi.
During a fundraising dinner for the Asian American Writers’ Workshop in New York, Rushdie referred to the protests as India’s “most hopeful moment” in a long time. He expressed his thoughts, saying, “Something significant is happening in India right now. It feels like India is boiling.” He celebrated the youth involved in the protests, calling it a moment of hope for the nation.
The event, held on Wednesday, was also a celebration for Nair’s birthday. She identified herself as a “cockroach mom,” a term reflecting solidarity with the fight for democracy in India. Writer Amitava Kumar shared insights on Nair’s comments during the event via his Substack platform.
Rushdie has previously raised concerns about the threats to free speech and the rise of Hindu nationalism in India, his country of origin. He reminisced about his childhood in Mumbai, recalling a time when festivals united people of various faiths, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Parsis. He noted that this spirit of togetherness seems to be fading in current times.
Recently, Abhijeet Dipke, the leader of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), was briefly detained during a protest in Delhi. He was released the next day and was described in a movement statement as a “free man.” According to CJP’s legal head, Dipke agreed to certain conditions for his release, though details were not provided. In a post on Instagram, Dipke acknowledged the risks of imprisonment but expressed his commitment to the cause, stating, “I placed my fate in the hands of the people of India and the Constitution.”
Last month, in an interview with The Independent, Rushdie reflected on his life after surviving an assassination attempt. He remarked on the need to move beyond the era of “brilliant liar” Donald Trump as he looks forward to the opportunity for new beginnings.
