Dare to speak

Gurmehar Kaur’s post on social media was a down-to-earth true statement and unveiled the hidden face of the Indian style of democracy. This one-line message has sent a wave of shock in the hearts of many Indians and Kaur deserves accolades taking such a bold step. However, the countrywide hate campaign launched against her and the multiple death threats she received eventually forced her to delete her post.

What is the state of democracy in India where an aggrieved daughter cannot voice her opinion without displeasing the Indian government and the extremist groups? While Kaur has shown that the new generation of Indians is more open-minded and can move beyond the ingrained prejudices that exist in society, the reaction to her post highlights how these voices are being suppressed.

Ghazanfar Ali Chaudhary

Bhimber