Not just arrogance, he’s just a child: Experts caution against trolling of 10-yr-old KBC contestant
New Delhi (PTI): The hate came in droves -- on social media, in office debates and drawing room conversations. The unlikely target? A 10-year-old labelled “arrogant”, “rude” and “budtameez” after his appearance on “Kaun Banega Crorepati”, gaining notoriety entirely out of sync with his age.
Gujarat boy Ishit Bhatt’s brisk confidence on the hot seat, telling host Amitabh Bachchan not to repeat the rules, answering before hearing the full question, and interrupting mid-sentence, became a flashpoint for furious discussion. Is it poor parenting? Is it the natural brashness of a bright boy? Should it be ignored, after all he is just a child, or should it be addressed? The questions came fast and furious, pitching the fifth grader into a trending topic. An apology letter, purportedly written by Bhatt and shared on an Instagram account @ishit_bhatt_official along with a video, was widely reported. And then pulled down with the message that the account doesn’t exist.
There were also scores of fake accounts on various social media platforms with the boy’s photograph.
Everything points to a troubling lynch mob mentality with concerns that such events of trolling and public shaming can have long-lasting impact on a child at a formative age.
According to experts, the reality is complex, shaped by shifting parenting styles, school cultures, and the way children today process and express themselves.
The instant two-minute verdict is that he is rude.
“But that may or may not be the case,” family therapist Maitri Chand told PTI.
People are judging the child’s tone, gestures and responses in a “unidimensional way”, she said.
“Rudeness and arrogance have a cultural basis - they are culturally normed. And I don’t just mean country-wise culture. It can be a family culture, a community culture, or even a school culture.” Bhatt isn’t the first such case.
In 2023, Virat Iyer, a then eight-year-old from Chhattisgarh, played the game in a similar manner - answering before Bachchan could finish asking a question.
Unlike Bhatt, who went home without winning anything, Iyer reached the final question for Rs 1 crore but went home with Rs 3.20 lakh after answering it incorrectly.
As Chand sees it, children of this generation are growing up in an environment that actively encourages them to be vocal and opinionated.
“Schools teach critical thinking earlier and earlier, which is fantastic. In our generation, if we were lucky, we learnt it at the master’s level. So the child may simply have been thinking fast, assuming things, responding quickly, not necessarily from a place of disrespect.” What many adults perceive as arrogance could actually be impatience born from faster cognitive rhythm, Chand added.
Ankita Verma Mehta, an HR professional and mother, has a slightly different view. She believes the child’s behaviour should have been corrected at the right time.
“He feels this way of talking and kind of demeaning is fine, because it has been accepted in his past. Maybe he was praised for his confidence which turned into overconfidence. It needs to be corrected. I would have taken him to a separate room and told that the behaviour is wrong,” Mehta said.
Chand, however, feels that humility is not a construct most 10-year-olds can meaningfully grasp.
“Humility comes later in life when experience humbles us a bit,” she said.
“At his age, if you try to impose it, it can feel like stifling the child or discouraging him from voicing his thoughts.” She also pointed out that Bhatt’s response to one question - “Which of these meals are generally eaten in the morning" - may have been misread. The young contestant immediately asked Bachchan to lock “breakfast” without hearing the options.
The options could very well have been about different types of dishes typically served in the morning.
“There are multiple options that can come up for a question as wide as this. But a fifth grader does not have the neurological ability for abstraction that comes about in the seventh grade typically. So you cannot just bracket this and say that the child is arrogant. I think that would be a disservice. Other things need to be taken into account as well,” she said.
Is it about bad parenting? There’s no absolute answer.
“It’s larger than just parenting,” she said.
“We are raising children differently - to perform, to express, to be up front and centre. And then when they do that, we come down on them for being too much. That’s a contradiction.” Chand added that children today face mixed signals from society.
“We want them to be go-getters, confident, verbal - but just enough to sit well with us. That’s an unfair ask,” she said.
For clinical psychologist Shweta Sharma, it wasn’t about confidence. His responses reflected gaps in his social emotional skills, as he had difficulty with “impulse control, boundary awareness, and respectful communication, a pattern in today’s generation”.
Sharma added that the pressure of performing on national television opposite a towering figure like Amitabh Bachchan could have magnified the child’s behaviour.
“Excitement, adrenaline, and the desire to prove oneself can all exacerbate boundary-crossing,” she said.
“So instead of criticism and labels, this should be treated as an opportunity to teach emotional regulation, respect for social norms, and adaptive assertiveness.” The long-term impact could be profound, the psychologists agreed.
“Exposure to this kind of criticism can impact his self-esteem and social trust. He might even become more defensive or rude as a result,” Sharma said.
Chand recommended that the family work with a therapist to help the child process the backlash and retain his confidence.
“Otherwise, the shock and hurt of being misunderstood can make a child withdraw, doubt himself, or develop anxiety,” she said.
“Beyond everything, he’s still a child. We need to see him in that light.”
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Delhi CM inaugurates Atal Canteens, offering Rs 5 meals
New Delhi (PTI): The Atal Canteens, inaugurated on Thursday to mark the 101st birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will offer nutritious meals for just Rs 5.
The initiative aims to provide affordable and nutritious meals to workers, the poor, and other needy residents of the national capital. The government has allocated Rs 104.24 crore for the operation and management of this ambitious scheme.
Each Atal Canteen will serve approximately 1,000 meals per day, benefiting over 1,00,000 people daily across Delhi, said an official statement.
Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, along with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, inaugurated an Atal Canteen near 'Apna Bazaar' in Nehru Nagar, Lajpat Nagar.
Gupta, along with ministers and dignitaries, also partook of a meal at the Atal Canteen and directed officials to ensure the highest standards of food quality and hygiene.
Speaking on the occasion, Khattar said the Atal Canteens launched across Delhi on the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee represent a historic initiative inspired by the ideals of service, good governance, and human sensitivity.
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He said that the scheme is not merely a welfare programme, but a strong commitment to extending dignified support to citizens at the last mile.
By providing nutritious meals for Rs 5, the spirit of public service is being strengthened.
He added that, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi centred on service, good governance, and welfare of the poor, the initiative will ensure that no one in Delhi goes hungry.
Gupta also described the scheme as a significant step towards ensuring a life of respect and self-reliance for poor and hardworking citizens.
Recalling the legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she said his leadership and commitment to good governance continue to inspire public service initiatives across the country.
She said that 100 Atal Canteens are being established across Delhi. Of these, 45 canteens were virtually inaugurated on Thursday, while the remaining 55 will become operational within the next 15 to 20 days.
The chief minister said a symbolic contribution of Rs 5 has been fixed to preserve the self-respect of beneficiaries, encourage responsible consumption, and prevent food wastage.
Each beneficiary is provided freshly cooked meals at a nominal cost of Rs 5 per plate, while the Delhi government bears Rs 25 per meal.
Under this scheme, 100 Atal Canteens are being set up across Delhi. Each canteen will serve meals twice a day.
A standardised menu has been prepared for all canteens, including nutritious items such as dal-rice, roti, and vegetables. Facilities include modern kitchens, LPG-based cooking systems, and industrial RO water plants.
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To ensure transparency and smooth operations, digital token systems, CCTV surveillance, and regular audits have been put in place. In addition, the quality of food and raw materials will be regularly tested by FSSAI and NABL-accredited laboratories to ensure safe and high-quality meals for citizens.
Each meal weighs approximately 600 grams, providing an average of 700-800 calories and 20-25 grams of protein, in line with balanced and nutritious dietary norms.
The lunch timings are from 11:30 am to 2 pm, and dinner is from 6:30 pm to 9 pm.
Approximately 700 people will gain employment under this scheme.
For the operation of Atal Canteens, 11 experienced agencies have been selected by DUSIB through a transparent tendering process.
