<div class='bc_element' id='bc_element'1 style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p>It usually starts at 6:02 a.m.</p><p>A blooming rose. A twinkling diya. Sometimes a sleeping baby cupped in a sunflower. And always, always, in bold yellow font: "GOOD MORNING. STAY BLESSED."</p><p><br></p><p>You haven’t even opened your eyes properly, but WhatsApp has already tried to spiritually align your chakras and deliver unsolicited news updates. Congratulations, you’ve logged in — not to your work laptop, but to WhatsApp University.</p><p><br></p><p><b>The University That Runs Without a Campus</b></p><p><br></p><p>WhatsApp University isn’t on a map. It has no Vice Chancellor, no semester system, and no real admissions process. You’re automatically enrolled the moment your cousin adds you to a group called "Family Reboot 2020 ."</p><p><br></p><p>The curriculum? A rolling feed of wisdom, warnings, conspiracy theories, and proud Indian achievements that may or may not have actually happened.</p><p><br></p><p>Course highlights include:</p><p><br></p><p>How turmeric cures everything from seasonal allergies to international diplomacy</p><p><br></p><p>Why drinking hot water can neutralize Chinese satellites</p><p><br></p><p>A blurry forwarded image of APJ Abdul Kalam supposedly predicting Bitcoin</p><p><br></p><p>Peer-reviewed? No. Peer-forwarded? Absolutely.</p><p><br></p><p><b>The Aunty Department of Messaging and Outreach</b></p><p><br></p><p>At the heart of this institution is a faculty like no other — the WhatsApp Aunties. They are up before the sun, determined to spread joy, health tips, and slightly edited quotes from Rumi (or was it Kabir?). Each message they send is backed by emotional conviction and at least 3 exclamation marks.</p><p><br></p><p>A WhatsApp Aunty doesn’t need fact-checkers — she has her intuition. And if that fails, she has IndiaTV screenshots and voice notes with dramatic music in the background.</p><p><br></p><p>She doesn’t just send messages. She broadcasts them. She is the marketing, the PR, and the syllabus designer — all rolled into one.</p><p><br></p><p>Rumors, Remedies, and Revolutionary Thinking</p><p>Some days, WhatsApp University becomes a medical college. If you’re unwell, forget the doctor — the group chat will prescribe you a mix of:</p><p><br></p><p>Ajwain steam</p><p><br></p><p>Garlic in your socks</p><p><br></p><p>Homeopathy pills found behind the flour jar in your mother’s kitchen</p><p><br></p><p>Other days, it's a political science seminar. Or a world history class where the syllabus is loosely based on selective YouTube links and images with too many fonts.</p><p><br></p><p>The point is — knowledge flows freely. Unverified, uninterrupted, and mostly unchallenged.</p><p><br></p><p><b>The 'Forwarded Many Times' PhD Program</b></p><p><br></p><p>WhatsApp does try. The little tag that says “Forwarded many times” is their version of a content warning. But in this university, that's actually a badge of honour. If something has been forwarded enough to get the tag, it must be true. Why else would so many people believe it?</p><p><br></p><p>Never mind that it's from 2013, mentions retired army generals who don't exist, or that a quick Google search debunks it. Facts are for people with trust issues.</p><p><br></p><p>Graduation? That’s Optional.</p><p>There’s no way to really "graduate" from WhatsApp University. You can mute a group, archive a chat, or even leave (if you're feeling brave). But eventually, someone will add you back. Probably the same cousin. Probably with the same rose-and-sunshine “GOOD MORNING” message.</p><p><br></p><p>What’s Really Going On?</p><p>All jokes aside, WhatsApp University tells us something very real about how we share, consume, and believe information — especially in diasporic communities where social circles often replace institutional trust.</p><p><br></p><p>In the absence of verified, accessible information, people turn to what feels familiar — family, friends, and forwarded wisdom. And sometimes, in between the misinformation and mythology, there are also real connections, shared laughter, and the sense of still being part of a larger, messier, well-meaning community.</p><p><br></p><p>So the next time you get that “World Bank says India is #1” message, maybe take a breath. Smile. Fact-check. And if you're in the mood, reply with a sticker of a duck in sunglasses that says “cool story bro.”</p><p><br></p><p>Because at WhatsApp University, participation is mandatory. But your reaction? That’s entirely up to you</p><span></div>