In the age of social media, 20-year-old Gurmehar Kaur expressed an opinion. An opinion is a dangerous thing to have, because if you aren’t singing praises of our Bharat Mata, her bhakts will be out to get you. To make matters worse, Gurmehar is a woman. She must now field rape threats, because rape is acceptable as long as you’re a patriot.
Gurmehar’s views on the ABVP goons may have gone largely unnoticed if Virender Sehwag hadn’t made them his business. One of India’s biggest cricketing heroes, with a Twitter following of nearly 9 million, Sehwag thought it perfectly acceptable to bully her.
Gurmehar is the daughter of a Kargil martyr. In a viral video in 2015, she appealed for peace by saying that Pakistan did not kill her father, war did. Sehwag, with the sense of humour of a barely sentient dishcloth, said that he didn’t score three centuries, his bat did. Of course, Twitter thought his joke was hilarious. Among his obsequious cheerleaders was actor Randeep Hooda, who conveyed his wordless applause through multiple emojis.
I understand that it is in poor taste to call people names, but Sehwag and Hooda are responsible for what befell Gurmehar. Trolls, politicians, goons, celebrities: everyone wanted a piece of India’s latest anti-national. Relentless harassment intensified into rape threats, and she was forced to withdraw from Delhi University’s campaign against the ABVP.
“Plain Fun”
On Tuesday, Sehwag issued a sham of an apology. In a defensive statement, he said that his tweet wasn’t intended for Gurmehar, and that it was “plain fun.”
Virender Sehwag, your lousy explanation cuts no ice. Your tweet invited rape threats on this young woman. You abused your status as a celebrity; you resorted to bullying someone who will never have the kind of public support that you do. You made a politically sensitive issue in Delhi’s biggest universities all about you. I confess, I am no national hero. But tell me, isn’t your statement a display of poor sportsmanship? Shouldn’t you have said sorry and done everything in your power to ensure that she isn’t harassed any further?
This morning, you waxed eloquent on Twitter about everyone having a right to their opinion and you called those who sent Gurmehar rape threats lowlifes. However, you still haven’t said sorry. You have refused to admit that what you did is wrong. Even if it wasn’t what you intended, a woman has been harassed, and it is because of you.
Who Is an Anti-National?
The likes of Sehwag, Yogeshwar Dutt and Geeta and Babita Phogat have a lot to lose if they’re perceived as “anti-national.” For example, no one wants to send their kids to coaching academies run by ‘seditious’ coaches. Expressing dissent is bad press; it can cost them their careers.
Look, we know you’re not going to do a Meryl Streep or a Viola Davis and stand up for what you believe in, unless you’re echoing the popular, pro-government sentiment. In a country where the trolls have won, that is too much to ask of you. All we’re asking you to do is stay out of matters that don’t concern you. Sehwag, whether you see it or not, this is bigger than you and your bat.
(Isha is a fledgling freelance journalist with a keen interest in politics, pop culture and gender. Encouragement, grouses and feedback can be tweeted to her at @purks92)
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