There is nationwide outrage against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant’s remarks in the apex judiciary’s court room that unemployed youth of India are “cockroaches” and “parasites” and they, failing to secure jobs for themselves, join journalism, social media or become RTI activists and “attack the system”.Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty.Contrast such observations of the CJI in the context of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s 1954 descriptions of zamindars and landlords as “parasites” and his appeal in 1929 for mobilisation of, what he called, “peasants, workers on land, industrial workers, shopkeepers, members of some professions, artisans and craftsmen and unemployed intellectuals” against the classes which by their nature were parasitical on society and rooted in a capitalist and feudal structure.The contrasting examples – one currently representing the apex judiciary as its chief justice and the other as a freedom fighter and first prime minister of India – show in 2026 the tragic decline of the leadership of our institutions which have suffered huge loss of credibility and erosion of integrity.It is shocking that the CJI made those observations about the unemployed youth of our country on May 15, 2026, while adjudicating a petition filed by a lawyer seeking designation as a senior advocate – particularly at a time when vast sections of our young population are denied employment opportunities in an economy marked not only by chronic joblessness and massive job losses, but also by the Modi government’s repeal of MNREGA, the scheme that guaranteed 100 days of work to the poor.Subsequently, facing massive criticism from all quarters, the CJI defended himself by saying that his oral observations in the court room have been misquoted by the media and hailed the youth as “the pillars of a developed India.” He justified his usage of the word parasite by saying, “What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites.” It is a lame excuse in defence of a stand which is indefensible.Nehru’s usage of the word “parasite”To understand the issue in a historical context it is worthwhile to invoke Nehru who in 1954 called Zamindars “parasites”. It is fascinating to note that he did so in the context of decisions of the Supreme Court and high courts which, in some cases, caused difficulties for implementation of legislative measures to abolish the zamindari system.While speaking in Orissa, (now Odisha) on December 11, 1954, Nehru referred to the delay in some states for abolishing the zamindari system due, among others, to key obstacles caused by high courts and the Supreme Court which, according to him, put forth “ all sorts of arguments, legal and constitutional” which his government never could decipher from Articles of the constitution. However, accepting the verdict of the Supreme Court, he went ahead in amending the constitution to remove those obstacles for fulfilling the task of the abolition of the zamindari system because the zamindars, he said, lived off the labour of others and so were parasites and exploiters.It is rather baffling that seven decades after Nehru referred to zamindars as parasites, CJI Surya Kant is calling unemployed youth “parasites” and “cockroaches” and derisively alleged that by joining journalism, social media and engaging in RTI activism they attack the whole system.Also read: My Lordships, There is No System, Only the ConstitutionThe emancipatory dimension of Nehru appealing in 1929 to unite and mobilise “unemployed intellectuals” along with “peasants, workers on land, industrial workers, shopkeepers, members of some professions, artisans and craftsmen” to change society in a progressive manner by striking at the very root of capitalist and feudal order stands in refreshing contrast to the CJI’s description of the unemployed as cockroaches and parasites in 2026.Apart from employing the word “parasite” for zamindars, he also used it in the context of the princely rulers whose royal pageantry, with all its associated extravagance, mocked their famished subjects. In his prison diary he wrote in 1933 that “as I saw the procession of Rajas and Ranis and their satellites and parasites dancing away in a veritable danse macabre, for they danced on a seething mass of hungry and famine-stricken humanity, and their dance led to a sudden precipice over which they toppled and vanished from the scene.”He further remarked, “They were, rather pitiful figures, relics of a bygone age, trying bravely to keep up appearances but doomed to inevitable extinction.”Nehru’s critical outlook to interrogate the profligacy of the princely class and those who possessed enormous wealth and resources and dubbing them as parasites set a fine example for asking questions to the existing order. CJI calling the youth, who are struggling to get employed, parasites and cockroaches is clearly contrary to the legacy of Nehru.Of course, Nehru while addressing a public meeting on March 9, 1959 spoke of building a social order where no individual without contributing anything useful manually or intellectually should be treated with respect. “Nobody,” he said, “should be allowed to be a parasite and live off the labour of others.” However, while generically outlining that ideal he made it clear that “…this is the goal we must have before us” and left it to the society to decide the course of action based on intelligent planning and help and cooperation of the masses.Also read: CJI’s ‘Cockroaches’ Remark Does Not Bode Well for DemocracyIt is clear that Nehru was not blaming the unemployed youth for being parasites. If he was blaming any individual or group for acting as parasites. It was the people who were opulent and flushed with affluence. It was evidenced from his speech delivered at a public meeting at Rourkela on March 28, 1961.“Even the rich,” he sharply remarked, “if they live off the labour of others, must be regarded as robbing society.” Nehru then forcefully stated, “Those who live off society without repaying their debt are parasites and become a burden on society.”Crony capitalists as parasitesThe Modi regime, pursuing an aggressively neo-liberal economy, is dominated by crony capitalists who grow at the cost of society and should be regarded as parasites. The yardsticks set by Nehru when applied in the context of CJI Suryakant’s remarks blaming unemployed youth as parasites and cockroaches demonstrate that he should eschew such utterances to uphold the dignity and esteem of the office he occupies.S.N. Sahu served as officer on special duty to former President K.R. Narayanan.This piece was first published on The India Cable – a premium newsletter from The Wire – and has been updated and republished here. 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