5 Hashtags Created by Indians That Had an Impact

#TalkToAMuslim joins the list of these popular hashtags.

Here’s a look at five impactful hashtags started by Indians.

(Photo Courtesy: The Quint/Erum Gour)

#Overusing #hashtags can be #super #annoying, but hashtags, in today’s digital age, serve as powerful tools for raising awareness, starting digital movements, spearheading protests, and propelling social change.

Here’s a look at five such hashtags that were started by Indians.

#TalkToAMuslim: Indian Muslims Against Islamophobia

A recent addition to the social media universe, #TalkToAMuslim was started by Twitter user Zainab Sikander and popularised by Bollywood’s ‘Anaarkali of Aarah’, actress Swara Bhasker.

Also Read: How To Be a Casual Islamophobe: A Step-By-Step Guide

The hashtag was then taken up by actress Gauhar Khan, historian Rana Safvi, and writer Nazia Erum and soon began to trend on Twitter.

#TalkToAMuslim, which was a counter appeal to the rampant Islamophobic sentiment in India, created quite a heated debate on Twitter with tweeple questioning the thought behind its inception and its necessity.

Also Read: #TalkToAMuslim: Yay or Nay? Twitter Divided on ‘Patronising’ Trend

#GirlsWhoDrinkBeer: Women Against Sexism

When Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar made a sexist comment regarding his fear of girls drinking beer, Indian women on social media began a nationwide trend with #GirlsWhoDrinkBeer.

The hashtag, which was started by Twitter user @TedhiLakeer in February 2018, had women sharing photos of themselves drinking and enjoying beer.

Also Read: #GirlsWhoDrinkBeer Trends After Manohar Parrikar’s Women-Beer Jibe

#NotInMyName: Indian Citizens Against Lynching of Muslims and Dalits

The #NotInMyName protests started after the murder of 15-year-old Junaid Khan. Khan was stabbed to death in Ballabhgarh, Haryana by a mob that mocked his skull cap and called him a “beef eater”.

The first protest was called by filmmaker Saba Dewan in Delhi but the demonstrations soon spread to many Indian cities.

Also Read: #NotInMyName: Thousands Protest Against ‘Murderous Nationalism’

#AintNoCinderella: Indian Women Reclaim the Night

#AintNoCinderella became a Twitter trend in August 2017. The hashtag was used by Indian women who posted pictures of themselves enjoying a night out in an attempt to reclaim public spaces.

The hashtag was a response to a BJP leader’s comment on the Varnika Kundu stalking case. The BJP leader said that Kundu should not have gone out so late at night if she didn’t want to be stalked.

Also Read: Women on Twitter Are Reclaiming Open Spaces With #AintNoCinderella

The Quint also started its campaign #TalkingStalking after the incident.

#SaveDU: Students and Teachers Against ‘Gundagardi’

The #SaveDU campaign was started by Gurmehar Kaur in February 2017 to oppose the violence that erupted at Ramjas College, Delhi University after the lectures of Umar Khalid and Sheila Rashid were cancelled after pressure from the BJP’s student wing, ABVP.

The hashtag soon caught on and resulted in a call for protest against ABVP’s ‘gundagardi’ on the Delhi University campus.

Kaur found herself at the receiving end of vicious online trolling after she launched the campaign. Since then, Kaur has penned a book titled Small Acts of Freedom, which is a tale of three passionate women in her life: her grandmother, her mother and herself.

Think we’ve missed some hashtags that created an impact in India? Tell us in the comments section.