KBC Contestant Ishit Bhatt Faces Backlash for Overconfidence
KBC Contestant Ishit Bhatt: The internet has never been slow to criticize, and this time it is 10-year-old Ishit Bhatt from Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) who is being memed, mocked, and debated. His confident, loud demeanor on a national platform divided opinion, and raised a broader question — are parents responsible for kids’ public behaviour?
Now, in a hyper-connected world where everything becomes content the second it happens, the conversation around Ishit on KBC has transitioned from a television program to commentary on society. Here’s a closer look at recent news updates and what this means for parenting, internet culture, and ourselves.
The Viral Event That Started It All
Young Ishit Bhatt, a fifth grader from Gujarat, became an immediate social media sensation when he appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati, with his sprightly, confident answers, while others called his attitude to Amitabh Bachchan ‘rude’.
Instead of compliments for his cleverness and bravery, the child was bullied online. Even worse, his parents became collateral damage in the public’s anger toward a seemingly rude child, having charges of ‘bad parenting’ thrown at them by strangers based on a few minutes of footage.
Yet, how reasonable is it to turn a child’s momentary action or expression on television into a parenting indictment that encompasses the country?
Reasons for Children’s Behavior
Child psychologist Dr. Sushma Gopalan said that a child’s behavior goes hand in hand with both temperament and environment. “Some children are simply more expressive or more spontaneous. While others are more stable and observing.” Parenting frames these inherent characteristics “but doesn’t eliminate them,” she said.
What does that mean? A child’s confidence or bravery isn’t inherently about a bad upbringing. It’s a mixture of character, upbringing, and environment – all of which are operating in concert.
Reasons why we shouldn’t hold parents responsible for every mistake
Dr. Gopalan stated, “For parents to be complete vigilantes over every word and gesture from their child is unrealistic and unreasonable.” Even the best-behaved child can misbehave if they are exhausted, stressed, or overwhelmed.
Children receive signals not just from parents, but also from school, friends and media sources. What we often consider “impudent” or “entitled” is often simply a child who is overwhelmed and unable to manage their emotions in an unknown and high-pressure environment such as national television.
When Anxiety Looks Like Arrogance
Each child will show stage fright in a different way. For some, it might look like shyness; for others, it might look like over-assertiveness or humor.
“Enthusiasm and anxiety are often mistaken for arrogance,” states Dr. Gopalan. “Children display their emotions fully and dramatically — this does not mean a lack of respect.”
That burst of confidence might just be a way of defending themselves — a young mind trying to make sense among the chaos of flashing lights and the public eye.
The “Perfect Parent” Within 10 Seconds of Film
It is pretty foolish to judge a parent from a viral video. Parenting is an experience, that evolves along the way and has many obstacles, personal growth, and lessons learned behind closed doors.
“Good parenting is not just about raising perfect children. It is about raising children to be emotionally connected adults,” says Dr. Gopalan.
The truth is that no matter how good a parent you are and how closely you watch your children, you can’t stop them from screwing up in public — nor is it your job to.
What the Outcry Really Tells Us About Us
The outcry regarding Ishit Bhatt’s behavior says more about the norms that society values than about parenting per se. Dr. Gopalan states, “In our culture, we prize obedience and politeness more than authenticity.” “We expect children to show humility instead of having humility.”
In pursuit of the concept of “perfect behavior,” we forget that children are always learning — and public punishment can hurt emotionally. Online trolling can seem harmless, but for children, it can knock their confidence and self-esteem for years.
The Takeaway
In the end, a three minute encounter on live TV shouldn’t define a child or what their parents do. After all, everyone makes mistakes while they are growing — children and adults alike.
Maybe we should stop expecting perfection from children, and think about our own need for kindness and self-control on the internet. The real lesson in humility isn’t even for children — it’s for us.
