By Thomas Scaria
Mangalore, July 25, 2026: Apostolic Carmel Sister Maria Nirmalini, who heads the Catholic Women Religious in India, visited Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and offered her support to the protesting youth, who demand drastic reforms in the country’s Education system.
“Their anger is ours too. We stand in solidarity with them”, she told Matters India after visiting the young people July 24, who gathered under the banner of Cockroach Janata Party to assert their educational rights and demand justice.
It was estimated that more than 20 students across the nation had committed suicide as the NEET exam — India’s single, nationwide entrance exam for admission to undergraduate medical courses — was cancelled at the last moment due to the leakage of the question papers.
“Several of our students and those who have passed out from our portals appear for competitive entrance exams like NEET”, observed the Catholic nun who represented over a hundred thousand Catholic nuns in India.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is a rapidly growing youth-led satirical political movement in India, which was formed in May in response to remarks made by India’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, who referred to youth as “cockroaches” and “parasites”.
More than one million youth attended the protest rallies at Jantar Mantar, India’s protest square, and around the Parliament from July 20, and several of them were beaten up by the police and supporters of the Government.
Sister Nirmalini said she spent almost two hours with the youth and held talks with Abhijeet Dipke, the leader of the Cockroach Janata Party, who is involved in a nationwide protest demanding the resignation of the education minister and compensation to the families of students who committed suicide.
“I want our people to know it’s okay to be there and support our youth”, said Sister Nirmalini
Nirmalini, who previously worked as the Principal of a reputed school in New Delhi, said Indian students were affected by the irregularities of the examination system and “I cannot ignore them at this hour of crisis”.
“I am grateful to God for making it possible for me and a few sisters to express our solidarity with the youth who are demanding accountability and systemic change in the educational system”, she said.
She said she was deeply touched by the huge number of youth who are in the streets crossing boundaries and barriers. “No caste or creed stood in between but purely a spirit of young resilient India to shape a better future”, she said.
The first nun to visit the youth at Jantar Mantar, Sister Nirmalini, who is also the Superior General of the Apostolic Carmel, held talks with Abhijeet Dipke, the Founder of the Cockroach party, and expressed her solidarity.
“My encounter with him was very inspiring and encouraging”, said the nun, who observed that the young man was full of courage, conviction, and determination to challenge the leadership of the country.
Dipke, who studied at a convent school in Maharashtra, recalled his great time in school with a Catholic nun as the principal. He admired the great contributions of the Catholic Church in providing quality education in India.
“I was very happy in my heart that so many religious have impacted the lives of young people, and what a meaningful ministry it is”, Sister Nirmalini said.
Several church groups, including the Catholic Bishops Conference of India and the Conference of Religious in India, have expressed their solidarity with the youth on strike.
(Photo supplied)