Farmers' Protests, Netflix, And More: Find Out What Women Spoke About on Social Media This Week
India has had another tough week, with even the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic losing its significance, as farmers’ protests and anti-minority sentiments made news. The treatment of those who feed India by those who rule India is beyond disturbing, and many netizens raised their solidarity with the former. Journalists Zeba Warsi and Mitali Saran, politician Atishi Marlena, and nine-year-old climate change activist Licypriya Kangujam were among them:
BREAK- Tear gas shells fired at farmers at the Delhi-Haryana Singhu border.
I’ve seen atleast 8 rounds of tear gas shells being fired.
Police have moved forward to push farmers back. #FarmersProtest #Watch #दिल्ली_चलो pic.twitter.com/hRt1iTytxM— Zeba Warsi (@Zebaism) November 27, 2020
Farmers from Punjab, have traveled to Delhi in biting cold to protest peacefully for their economic interests. The Delhi Police, on directions from Central govt. wants to put them in jail.#NoJailForFarmers
1/2— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) November 27, 2020
I dedicate today’s #ClimateStrike to our brave farmers who are fighting for their rights. They’re already the victims of #ClimateCrisis. As a climate activist, I fully support the peaceful #FarmersProtest #DelhiChalo. They’re the backbone of our nation. Plz Love & Support them.🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/k7kwGwuGrX
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) November 27, 2020
The BJP has solved every problem in India by calling those affected by problems traitors who are conspiring to break India with foreign funds. Boom.
— Mitali Saran (@mitalisaran) November 27, 2020
Yet, an awful lot of Indian politicians and netizens were more concerned about a kissing scene in the Netflix series A Suitable Boy, and called for the boycott of the US-based web streaming platform. Actor Swara Bhasker was among those who called out the irony...
If the actual #Kathua gangrape of an 8 year old child inside a temple didn’t make your blood boil and soul shrivel; you have no right to be offended about a fictionalised depiction of a kiss in a temple. #fact #ASuitableBoy #BoycottNetflixIndia
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) November 25, 2020
...as was comedian Aditi Mittal who referred to another Netflix series, Delhi Crime, winning International Emmy Award for Best Drama.
#DelhiCrime wins an international Emmy.
Nothing will capture the pathos of this situation more than Indians trending #BanNetflix at the same time as this is happening.— out of context aditi mittal (@awryaditi) November 24, 2020
Meanwhile, ‘Love jihad’ and related law continued to make news, as did its proponents and opponents. Among the latter, veteran journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted a poignant thought:
I wish we would debate Patriarchy & Marriage- how women are expected to adjust, surrender, sacrifice, embrace change, compared to the man. Or that we'd discourage 18 year olds from marrying instead of chasing a career or a larger dream. Instead this idiotic 'Love Jihad" law.
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) November 24, 2020
Also Read: Dalit Lives Matter: 8 Dalit Women Activists You Must Know About
On November 26, regarded as the Constitution Day in India, lawyer Karuna Nundy penned this down:
On this #ConstitutionDay2020 , one of India's toughest years, I hope our hardship deepens our bandhuta, our fraternity; our love for and dedication to liberty & equality under intense pressure; & seeing, really seeing & appreciating our fellow citizens in all our difference.
— Karuna Nundy (@karunanundy) November 26, 2020
Meanwhile, the inhuman treatment towards Father Stan Swamy, an octogenarian priest who is an accused in the Bhima Koregaon violence of 2018, continues in jail. Journalist Faye Dsouza and writer Sangita Nambiar were among those who spoke out on social media about it:
The same India that gave political asylum to Dalai Lama and Tasleema Nasreen on idealogical grounds, stood firm against aggressive posturing by western nations, that was seen as a beacon of democracy, today rejects the request of #StanSwamy asking for a sipper-straw. #NewIndia
— Sangita (@Sanginamby) November 27, 2020
As online trolling against women who speak their mind continues, check out this tweet to the trolls by firebrand journalist Rana Ayyub:
You cannot please everyone on twitter. Whatever you say and stand for, you will find critics on all sides. So just stick to your truth and your conscience.
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) November 23, 2020
