Six Pocket Syndrome or Innocence

Kaun Banega Crorepati, also known as KBC, one of the most popular Indian Reality Shows, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, has been airing its 17th season of KBC Junior where the participants are children and pre-teens.

In recent episodes, Ishit Bhatt, a grade five student from Gujarat, was on the KBC 17 hot seat. He overconfidently and arrogantly told host Amitabh Bachchan that they should get to the point, and not bother at all about narrating the rules as he was well versed with them – abruptly answering questions without even listening to the options. His nonchalant attitude, precociousness, talk-backs and over-confidence on Kaun Banega Crorepati, undaunted by Amitabh's presence, has sparked a huge online debate on parenting, and whether we are mollycoddling a generation into demanding the right of way, unfiltered by responsible behavioural patterns.

He was called many names after his behaviour on the show,"Rude kid", "Overconfident", and what not and was deemed inappropriate. A section of social media users even went on to question his parents and their upbringing. Some admired his confidence, others called it arrogance. But beyond this, lies a deeper question, are parents and educators, raising a generation that's overconfident yet under-prepared?

"Mere ko rules pata hai isliye aap mereko abhi rules samjhane mat baithna," Ishit was indicating he already knew the rules and didn't need an explanation.The boy continued with similar responses throughout the show, making demands about the game's progression. "Arre option daalo," he said while waiting for the options to be displayed on screen. When it came time to confirm his answer, Ishit stated, "Sir ek kya uss mein chaar lock lagado, lekin lock karo." Even the host, Amitabh Bachchan addressed the situation during the show, saying, ‘Kabhi kabhi bachhe over confidence mein galti kar dete hai.’

Although, there’s no perfect book on parenting and all families go through ups and downs, there’s not a single human who is perfect and has never made a mistake. Instead of quick judgement, people should realise that criticism and negativity rarely correct behaviour, they can harm a child’s emotional well-being, affecting self-esteem, confidence, and overall mental health. Labels such as ‘arrogant’ and ‘disobedient’ can leave deep and lasting impressions on a young mind. Words carry weight. Repeated criticism risks instilling fear, shame, or self-doubt. At this age, children need empathy, understanding, and gentle guidance.

All this discussion regarding the child's behavior sparked a debate on social media about a famous condition which netizens believe the child is going through – 'Six Pocket Syndrome’,

This term emerged in China during its one-child policy era. It describes children who receive attention, support, and indulgence from multiple adults in the family, typically their two parents and four grandparents – six pockets, all pampering and giving attention to one single child. Mixing love with responsibility helps children grow up into independent, empathetic, and well-rounded individuals, while avoiding the potential negative effects of overindulgence.

While his behaviour might have triggered a lot of audience, bullying a child on social media because he literally behaved like a "child" could be quite ironic. Many famous faces, like Varun Chakravarty, also came forward and defended Ishit, while praising the young participant's confidence, he also said that he is just a child and even if he made a mistake, he does not deserve to be bashed on social media.

The controversy has led to broader discussions about the nature of social media criticism, particularly when directed at minors appearing on television shows, and has also highlighted the challenges faced by young participants in reality television shows and the public scrutiny they encounter. One incident or one episode is not enough to define the behaviour of the child. The child could have also been nervous and acted in such a way due to emotional pressure or after realising that so many people were watching him. Impulsivity is not the same as overconfidence or rudeness. It is normal for a child to act out when put before the camera, and presumably alarge audience – a huge reality show which tests your knowledge. No matter what, no child deserves to be bullied, instead they should be taught properly where they went wrong.