Between all that trended and offended

Ashima sehajpal Batish

1. #ChaturBaniya

Amit Shah knows it all! He knows what purpose the Congress served before Independence and why it should have been dismantled after India became free. The only other person to know it was Mahatma Gandhi and that’s why he called him “chatur baniya” or wily baniya. The attribution smacked of caste prejudice. Overlook it, since Amit Shah knows it all!  

2. #MeToo

The world woke up to the hashtag in October 2017 post Hollywood female actors went vocal about Harvey Weinstein's gross sexual misconduct. Within 24 hours, almost 50 lakh people (mostly women) became a part of the online campaign as they poured out their personal experiences of sexual abuse and assault. 

3. #GauriLankesh

If last year dissent was smothered with black ink, this year, it was bullets that tried to silence it. The journalist was killed, making the press fraternity question its relevance and freedom across the country. Protests were held — against intimidation and for dissent. Were they effective? Not really, we still don't know who killed Gauri Lankesh. 

4. #Saffron

The colour of the last three seasons saw its canvas expand from buses to buildings in Uttar Pradesh. Amit Jani, leader of the Uttar Pradesh Navnirman Sena went a step ahead and posted a modified picture of the Taj Mahal with saffron flags atop it. He was later arrested. It was like a competition of who loves the colour more. CM Yogi Adityanath scored with his saffron car seat. 

5. #HardikPatel

The leader of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti predicted the release of a sex CD just before the elections and he wasn't disappointed. It came and created a furore, almost denting his image but the 24 year old defiantly hit back saying, “I am yet to marry and I am not impotent.”

6. #NotInMyName

The virtual halos of cows gained circumference. And to claim their little-left-lost position, people gathered in 16 cities across India to raise placards of Not In My Name urging vigilantes to “shed hate, not blood.” The campaign was a reaction to 15-year-old Junaid Khan's killing by a mob on a train. 

7. #AntiRomeoSquads

It found mention in the Uttar Pradesh election-manifesto and were explained as teams that would check eve-teasing near colleges. But Anti-Romeo soon began to resemble Brutus and took upon itself the responsibility of moral police. The squads questioned almost 7.5 lakh people and warnings were issued to nearly 3 lakh. The biggest victim was love as couples were harassed. 

8. #CondomBan

While Sunny Leone's ranking in Google Search refuses to drop even by a position, she wasn’t taken to kindly on the posters of Navaratras condom ad. A Surat-based group wasn’t amused and threatened action if those weren’t removed. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting too expressed concern over the ‘mental’ safety of children and banned condom ads from 6 am to 10 pm. Meanwhile, a rather explicit deodorant advertisement played after every over during the India-Sri Lanka cricket matches. 

9. #BlueWhale

The addictive, self-destructive game claimed more than 10 lives across India this year. The government asked social media sites to ban links to the game. It later found mention in PM Modi's speech, as he said at an election rally in Gujarat that “Congress is entrapped in Blue Whale game and the final episode of the game will be played on December 18.”

10. #Primetime

As there were no alarming incidents, TV channels struggled to fill the primetime slot with substance. Thankfully, Hrithik Roshan and Kangana Ranaut feud came to the rescue of a couple of channels. These also went hysterical over Mani Shankar Aiyar's 'neech' remark while a man was hacked to death in Rajasthan. A channel took serious offence over Rahul Gandhi watching a movie after losing Gujarat Assembly elections.

11. #MaxHospital

The Delhi hospital’s licence was revoked after doctors declared an alive baby dead, and even handed it over to parents in a plastic bag. Following an enquiry, the Delhi Government took stern action, though later it did resume its operations. Unfortunately, the baby did not survive.

12. #RavindraGaekwad

If leaders lead by example, then what should be learnt from the Shiv Sena MP, who took off his slipper to hit a 60-year-old staffer of Air India. The MP refused to apologise. An FIR was registered and he was barred from flying any airline. Air India buckled under pressure and soon lifted the ban — a lesson learnt that politicians are true-blue VIPs in India. 

13. #AintNoCinderella

The fairy-tale character had to return home by midnight but not women of today. When the Haryana BJP vice president Ramveer Bhatti tried to impart the ancient lesson, women started clicking and posting selfies at midnight. This also came in support of Varnika Kundu, who was stalked by Haryana BJP chief’s son, Vikas Barala.

14. #Virushka

Look how far have we come from Brangelina to Safeena to Virushka. After a month of speculations of will they or won't they, the celebrity couple tied the knot in Italy and announced it to the world through their social media accounts. From what Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma wore to their honeymoon destination, everything made news. 

15.# ManushiChillar

The Haryana medical student became the sixth Indian woman to win the Miss World title. She brought back the crown after 17 years. While good wishes poured in, Shashi Tharoor with a pun intact tweeted, “even our Chhillar has become Miss World!” only to issue an apology later. 

16. #Mersal

Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundrajan took an offense to actor Vijay mocking at the implementation of GST and Digital India schemes in his film Mersal. His religion was dragged into the controversy and it was conveniently claimed that he has hurt the sentiments of Hindus. The audience without showing their religion card gave thumbs up to the film, which grossed more than Rs 250 crore. 

17. #JustinBieberMumbai

Some Rs 76,000 on the ticket plus other miscellaneous expenses were incurred by Beliebers (believer+ Bieber) to listen to a lip sync gone awfully wrong. While his track Sorry played in the background, the singer, failing to lip sync, could only manage to say the F word multiple times. But then, Beliebers don’t mind that too — the reason they are called so.