WhatsApp University Degrees

WhatsApp University Degrees – How Aunties and Uncles Have Mastered Misinformation

If India had a national pastime besides cricket and gossip, it would be forwarding messages on WhatsApp.

Welcome to WhatsApp University — where the syllabus changes hourly, degrees are free, and facts are optional. Admission? Automatic. Attendance? Mandatory (especially in family groups).

Every Indian family has a few star students: The health expert auntie, the patriotic uncle, and that cousin who replies “😂😂😂” to every conspiracy theory.

In this syllabus, your uncle teaches Political Science with blurry video clips, your aunt takes Health Sciences with haldi-water formulas, and the “Good Morning Gyaan Gang” compiles daily motivational essays written in ALL CAPS with heart <3 emojis. Do they actually read what they forward? I wonder. But they press “forward” faster than you blink.

The Great Indian Curriculum

The syllabus here is surprisingly diverse. It is perhaps richer than any formal education. You get everything from politics to spirituality. You’ll find science, history, and health tips, too. Furthermore, every subject has a bizarre, new ‘fact.’ You definitely won’t find this in any textbook.

Health and Wellness – The Ultimate ‘Funde’

1. Drink haldi pani with ajwain, your COVID will run away.” “NASA ne bhi confirm kiya hai!” “Drink neem juice, eat garlic raw, and COVID will flee,” says a forward from some group I joined accidentally.
   This department runs on desi nuskhas mixed with half a teaspoon of science and one tablespoon of drama.
2. This is the most popular subject. You’ll find amazing cures here. Even big doctors don’t know these secrets.
3. Garlic Under the Pillow: My aunt once sent this message. She claimed garlic cures all diseases. I wonder why doctors charge such high fees then.
4. The Cancer Cure: Another forward suggests hot water, lemon, and honey. It promises to cure cancer daily. Consequently, scientists could save millions on research!
5. Allopathy Avoidance: This is a recurring theme. The message states neem and tulsi are the ultimate cure. They are healthy, no doubt. But replacing critical medicine? That’s a Fake News alert.

Political Science – Forward Pe Forward Breaking news arrives before it’s even broken. 

1. Every uncle has a “source” — his friend’s cousin’s driver’s WhatsApp group.“No, no, beta, I saw the original video. CNN ne bhi dikhaya tha.” “Operation Sindoor begins tonight,” claims a WhatsApp message pretending to be from the Defence Ministry.
2. NASA’s 15 Days of Darkness: This Fake News classic appears every few years. A solar eclipse is turned into a disaster. My uncle started stocking up on rations after seeing this WhatsApp Forward
3. Political Revisions: Political history has many dramatic twists. It rivals any soap opera plot. The closing line is always the same. “Forward if you are a true Indian!” This creates extra pressure.

Astrology & Superstition – Forward for Good Luck!

“Share this five times or you’ll never find love,” in between pictures of cats typing on laptops.

“If you don’t forward this to 7 people, your phone battery will die, your boss will shout, and your samosa will fall face down.” “But if you do – congratulations, you’ll get a promotion and a miracle cure for hair fall!

Lethal Food Combinations: 

The popular one is eating mangoes with cold drinks. Supposedly, this combination causes instant death. Therefore, I must be a ghost, as I still enjoy this treat.

History Revisiting – Their Own Unique Way

WhatsApp University teaches history with major twists. Professional historians would give up.

1. The Taj Mahal Claim: This message surfaces every month. It claims the Taj Mahal was a Shiva Temple. “Did you know Taj Mahal was actually a Shiva Temple?” – This message circulates every other month. And it often comes with a photo showing a Shivling inside the Taj Mahal. The misinformation comes with a fake picture. I can only say, ‘Kya graphic design hai !’
2. Zero Discovery Pride: India certainly discovered zero. However, the message makes it sound extreme. They present it as the start of all calculations.“India discovered zero, so we are the smartest!” – There’s truth in this, but it’s presented as if everyone else couldn’t calculate before zero was discovered. Imagine Newton saying, “If zero weren’t discovered, my apple would just float around aimlessly.”
3. “Gandhi ji supported this, Nehru ji did that…” Political history here has so many ‘twists and turns’ that even Ekta Kapoor’s serials would fall short. At the end of every message, the pressure of “Forward if you are a true Indian!” is a bonus.

Department of Misinformation

In recent studies, around 13% of shared images in WhatsApp groups were misinformation – often out-of-context, photoshopped, or just unverified. Misinformation Review. And yet, the forwards keep coming. Because once you hit “forward,” you earn your honorary diploma. And who’s behind all this? Our beloved aunties and uncles! The people who have truly made misinformation an art form.

Meet the Professors

Aunty in your group: She sends “Good Morning” messages at 5 AM. “Life is short, drink green tea, be kind”, she writes, then sends a link titled “Stop eating mango with milk – you’ll explode.”

Uncle in your group: He begins every forward with “I’m sharing for your own good” and concludes, “Forward this to all your contacts.” He might not ask you to forward a chain of 50, but the pressure is still there.

They haven’t read every article, but they share those forwards like they carry ancestral wisdom. Meanwhile, your “Delete” button sighs.

The Hall of Fame – Viral Forwards We’ll Never Forget

• “NASA ne confirm kiya: India is the smartest country.”
  
• “If you eat mango and drink milk, you will explode.”
  
• “5G towers spread COVID.”
  
• “Send this Hanuman Chalisa audio to 21 people and your problems will disappear.”
  
• “Government is tracking you through WhatsApp DP – Operation Sindoor.”
  

Each message comes with a sense of urgency: “Share this before it’s deleted!” Because obviously, the Indian government has time to delete your uncle’s forwards before breakfast.

Aunties, Uncles & Forward Fever

Uncles type like they’re sending telegrams:
“GOOD MORNING 🌸🌞🙏 STAY SAFE. DON’T TRUST MEDIA. TRUST ME.”

Aunties’ forward health remedies that could put AIIMS to shame:
“Eat one garlic, one tulsi leaf, and one positive thought daily.”
And if you ask where it came from? “Arre beta, ek group mein aaya tha — bahut genuine hai.”

Then there’s always that one person who sends a “Good Night” video with 40 roses, flute music, and a glittering “Om”.

Graduation Ceremony (Unseen)

Once you’ve forwarded, laughed, worried, and deleted, you’re done. You receive no certificate, no convocation, just the satisfaction of being ahead in the group chat forward game. Your badge? A green tick that says you shared it.

And when your phone buzzes at 6:00 AM with “🌺 GOOD MORNING! SHARE FOR GOOD LUCK,” you don’t groan – you smile. (I cringe) Hey, you’re an alumna of WhatsApp University now. I mean, WhatsApp University! Indeed, it’s a unique education system. Admission is completely free here. There are never any exams. Instead, you become a certified ‘forward-gyaani’ instantly.

The Alumni Network Never Sleeps

Once you’re part of WhatsApp University, there’s no graduation. Only groups after groups after groups.

“Good Morning Positive Vibes 🌺”,
“Health Tips & Motivation 🌿”,
“Truth You Won’t See on News 🔥.”

Everyone’s a PhD in something – from politics to papaya juice benefits.

And let’s be honest – we all secretly enjoy scrolling through those crazy forwards, even if it’s just for the entertainment value.

The Real Tadka – A Pinch of Truth

Jokes apart, misinformation spreads faster than gossip at a kitty party.
One well-meaning forward can turn into a national emergency by lunchtime.

So before you hit Forward, pause and ask – “Yeh sach hai ya masaledaar news?”
If you can’t tell, better to laugh and move on.

Because not every message deserves a share – some just deserve a 😂 and delete. You can finish your degree in “Forwarding Without Verifying,” or choose the honours course in Common Sense 2.0

How to Handle the Forward-Flood

Why do they engage in this habit? They truly believe they are being helpful. They feel a sense of accomplishment. It’s like submitting homework on time.

So, what should you do? Leaving the family group is impossible. Arguing is a ‘war you can’t win.’

However, you can gently educate them. When a viral message appears, ask politely for the source. Say, “Aunty, ‘iska source kya hai?'”. The usual answer is, “A friend sent it.”

Furthermore, use humour to cope. These classes are ongoing. They will certainly keep us entertained. Therefore, the next time your phone vibrates, smile. Remember, you are now a proud alumnus of the WhatsApp University, too!

Everyday Masala Moment

WhatsApp University may not teach facts, but it definitely teaches patience – especially when you’re on your 20th “Good Morning” pic before coffee.

And honestly? These uncles and aunties make our days brighter – with their pure conviction and unstoppable enthusiasm.

Because in the grand scheme of life, a little misinformation and a lot of laughter is just part of our Everyday Masala.

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2025

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

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4. WhatsApp University Degrees
5. Chai Pe Charcha
6. Indian Stretchable Time Decoded
7. AC versus Fan-The Indian Temperature War
8. Indian Guest Etiquette
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