From Marathi-medium school to Boston: How Abhijeet Dipke built his academic journey

From a Marathi-medium school to Boston University and now a popular figure in India who led the Jantar Mantar protest that resulted in the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Abhijeet Dipke has come a long way. But what did he study, and how did it shape his mindset?

In Short

• The party says its name reflects ignored yet resilient citizens
• Students, teachers, parents and activists joined after social media outreach
• He argued daily that structural reforms mattered more than temporary measures

India's former Education Minister resigned a few days back. The man who led the protest at Jantar Mantar that eventually forced former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to step down is Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which came into existence in May after the remarks made by the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

The controversy erupted soon after the CJI's remarks, and Dipke, a US-return PR graduate, announced the formation of the party named after cockroaches.

According to the party, the name symbolises people who continue to survive despite being ignored by the system.

Soon after launching the party, Dipke shifted his focus to education reforms and announced a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability from the Education Ministry over issues ranging from examination irregularities to the quality of public education.

HOW DIPKE STARTED THE PROTEST

The protest began as a small gathering led by Dipke and a group of supporters outside Jantar Mantar. In the initial days, participants included students, teachers, parents and education activists who joined after calls made through social media and public meetings.

Dipke addressed the gathering daily, arguing that the country's education system required structural reforms rather than temporary measures.

As the protest continued, more students from different states joined in, turning it into a larger demonstration that kept the issue in the national spotlight. The sustained protest eventually increased pressure on the government and was followed by Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

Dipke, who had been leading the protest at Jantar Mantar, had previously worked with Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party. A resident of Aurangabad, he has on many occasions criticised India's education system and called for reforms.

Let's have a look at what he studied and how his ideology has been shaped over the years, allowing him to seize the opportunity and form a political party.

EARLY LIFE AND SCHOOLING

Born in Maharashtra in 1996, Dipke missed being a member of Gen Z by just one year, but he has repeatedly said that he speaks for the issues faced by the generation. CJP's official website states that he belongs to a middle-class Marathi-speaking family.

His father worked as an engineer in the state's electricity department, while his mother continues to run a small home tuition centre.

Dipke completed his schooling in a Marathi-medium school until Class 10 before shifting to a CBSE English-medium school for Classes 11 and 12. According to the party's website, he scored 92% in Class 12 and opted for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM).

However, the website creates some confusion.

While it says that he studied in a CBSE English-medium school for Classes 11 and 12, it later mentions that "he scored 92% in his Class 12 board exams (Maharashtra State Board) with a focus on Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics." The two claims appear to be inconsistent.

ENGINEERING AND STUDENT LIFE IN US

Abhijeet Dipke completed his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from Government College of Engineering, Aurangabad, in 2018.

He was an active member of the college's debate society and student council and authored a widely shared blog called Tier-2 Engineer during his college years.

Through the blog, he wrote about the structural disadvantages faced by engineering students outside the IIT and NIT system.

After graduation, Dipke worked for four years as a backend developer at two Pune-based startups before securing admission to Boston University's Pardee School of Global Studies in 2023.

He is pursuing a Master's in International Relations with a focus on South Asian political economy. According to the party's website, he receives a partial scholarship and has been on a student visa since May 2026.

Dipke's educational journey remained humble. He first studied in a Marathi-medium school before shifting to a CBSE school. He later pursued engineering before beginning his studies for a Master's PR programme.

Now, he is a well-known face in Indian politics, having started this phase of his life with a focus on becoming Education Minister and reforming India's education system.

- Ends