The curious case of Gurmehar Kaur. No one outside the Social Media knew about her a week ago, any one who isn't linked to media probably don't know have an iota of clue about her.
In a short period of time, she has gained a celebrity in her own rights and we, the people, have contributed to that. She is the daughter of an Army Officer who was Killed in Action while fighting against terrorists (No offence, but I chose the word killed instead of the more patriotic sounding word "martyr". The choice of words is matter of personal choice, so using "killed" instead of "martyr" doesn't make one less patriotic, nor it is any kinda vilification of a soldier. Killed in Action is a term officially used by nations known for patriotism and no one raises an eyebrow).
It all started when the girl studying in Delhi University posted a picture on social media, holding a placard "Pakistan didn't kill my father, War did". We might agree to disagree on her action, but our Constitution guarantees her right to Freedom of expression on a social platform.
Soon she was trolled, several of them by celebrities, including the retired cricketer Virendra Shehwag. She was accused by many of misrepresentation of facts, spreading fake news. The girl probably threw a bait, and others readily took it.
No one might care about my blog, but if Donald Trump comments on it, it makes me a celebrity. Same as an ordinary piece of iron gets magnetic in contact with a strong magnet, the high prifile trollers have magnetized her and her supporters.
In the summer of 1990, V P Singh, the then Prime minister of India forced moribund "Mandal Commission" on the nation. It was followed by widespread protests by students. Many student set themselves on fire. Those who died were eventually forgotten. Some of those survived got elected to Student Union bodies, a stepping stone to political career.
Has she planned this from beginning to launch a political career ? Or may be her innocuous protest to get some attention was blown out of propertion by trollers, forcing her to bite more than she can chew. We don't know, as myriad views on her are partisan, depending on the Left or Right side of the Isle. But what we know - her detractors might have played into her hands, handing her a celebrity status, crashing her into the limelight, inadvertently or otherwise.
20 years old is the ripe age to shape one's career. She is pretty well known now and she is pretty, a perfect media sales pitch, both mainstream and social. Media is already helping her brand. Win or lose - she can cherish her newly aquired brand status while it lasts, because nothing lasts forever.
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