Gautam Ganguly
(The writer can be reached at gautamganguly2012@gmail.com)
WhatsApp University may be the last to enter into the domain of the whopping 1,113 number of universities that exist in India today, as per the latest available records. These include different kinds of universities, like state, deemed, and private universities and central universities: There are 56 central universities in India.
It needs no reiteration that the advent of the Internet in 1993 and the consequent IT revolution have contributed significantly to the progress and developments of our country phenomenally. The Internet, needless to assert, has played a major role in the establishment of numerous universities in India by facilitating online learning, widening access to education, and enabling virtual learning environments. This has allowed institutions to reach more students and operate more efficiently.
There was a time when universities like those of Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Allahabad, Benares, Aligarh, etc., were rated highly for their strong commitment to excellence in teaching, research, highest academic standards, distinguished faculty, illustrious alumni, etc. Long-term commitment to nation building and unflinching adherence to universal human values have been their hallmarks. With the establishment of Gauhati University in 1948 and a scholar like K.K. Handique as the first vice chancellor, it soon became an important temple of learning for Assam and the Northeast.
Years back, I remember having read Cardinal Newman’s book titled ‘The Idea of a University’ while I was an undergraduate student. Newman’s illuminating thoughts on the essential ingredients of a university that include, inter alia, emphasis on liberal education and upholding human values, are better understood now in the context of the burgeoning growth of ‘WhatsApp’ users, who are funnily or derisively described as students of ‘WhatsApp university’ in India. The ‘WhatsApp’ university students, experience reveals, are constantly busy texting on various topics under the sun – sublime to ridiculous. As per records, India has approximately a massive 596.6 million user base of ‘WhatsApp’, making India the biggest market for ‘WhatsApp’ globally.
Reiterating further, the term ‘WhatsApp university’ is derogatorily used to denote misleading, incorrect, unverified, politically motivated information with ulterior motives.
Esteemed readers, this write-up attempts to focus on a section of users innovating vile, unsubstantiated, dangerous information on the ‘WhatsApp’ platform. However, to put the record straight, lots of educative, positive messages on health education and financial and commercial aspects are disseminated too.
Day-to-day experience reveals that there are two kinds of unverified, baseless messages that revolve around ‘WhatsApp university’ in India. Firstly, issues on sports, social inhibitions, music, education, etc., but generally devoid of politics and malice. Secondly, an abundance of fake, politically motivated, biased messages.
Let’s dissect some of the recent viral WhatsApp messages that showcase the queer, weird, bizarre, hollow, irrational, and obsessed mindsets of the senders and the gullible predicaments of the recipients!!
A couple of years back, a WhatsApp message became viral that UNESCO had declared ‘Bengali’ as the sweetest language. UNESCO denied any such declaration. UNESCO had clarified it had never published a ranking of the world’s “sweetest” languages. It was against UNESCO’s policy to rank cultures against each other.
Speaking at an annual event at O.P. Jindal Law University on 24th February, 2025, Supreme Court Justice KV Viswanath raised concerns about the increasing spread of misinformation, particularly through platforms like WhatsApp, referring to the phenomenon as “WhatsApp University.’ It was rumoured that ex-Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, D. Y. Chandrachud, will be arrested for taking a bribe in giving bail to Teesta Setalvad, a renowned social activist.
Of late, social media has been brimming with revelations that a ‘Muslim regiment’ of the Indian Army had refused to fight in India’s 1965 war with Pakistan. Fact-checked from Army Headquarters clarifies the Indian Army has had no ‘Muslim regiment’ ever... There are the Bihar, Gorkha, and Punjab regiments, etc. But never a Hindu, Muslim or Christian regiment. This was a false propaganda.
During the ICC World Cup 2023, a quote was attributed to Sunil Gavaskar falsely claiming that the legendary Indian batsman had criticised the Board of Control for Cricket for mismanaging the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. It turned out to be false, as some people wanted to malign Sunil Gavaskar.
Following fourteen-year-old boy Vaibhav Suryabanshi’s breathtaking 37-ball century in the ongoing IPL, a section of fans claimed that Sanju Samson was lukewarm and unhappy. A fact check revealed that Samson, captain of the Rajasthan Royals, has always backed young Vaibhav. It’s a ridiculous accusation against a genuine sporting cricketer.
A few days back, an appeal was circulated to netizens to donate one rupee each to the Army Welfare Fund for its modernisation. Akshay Kumar’s name was used as support for the appeal. The Ministry of Defence promptly cautioned that this was a “misleading” message that the government had opened a bank account seeking donations for the modernisation of the Indian Army. The appeal was false.
In the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam tragedy, it was rumoured that a highly popular song, ‘yeh jannat ki tasvir hai, ye tasvir na denge’, sung by Mhd Rafi in the film ‘Johar in Kashmir’, released in 1966, was banned by the then Indian government at the behest of Pakistan. The Indian censor board issued clarification that this popular song was never banned.
Notwithstanding the nuisance value, WhatsApp messages now are inseparable parts of our humdrum existence.