Hounding of Dangal star

A teenaged celebrity, Zaira Wasim, met the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after receiving critical acclaim for playing the role of young Geeta Phogat in the much-appreciated film, Dangal, and posted a picture of the meeting on social media. The storm that followed was a nightmare the 16-year-old did not know how to handle except by offering an apology. She was trolled for the simple act of meeting the Chief Minister. A state that harps on the leitmotif of azadi, such usurpation of a teenager's freedom by some people is condemnable. While the massive pouring of support, particularly from her film fraternity, must be heart-warming for Zaira Wasim, the Valley itself must stand up for one of its own who has become an inspiring role model for young girls across the country.   

Trolling does not find any justification in the persecution the agitators in the Valley keep reiterating at the drop of a hat. Such hounding of the young actress may turn away other Kashmiri teenagers from creative pursuits. It also reflects the larger malaise in our society. The anonymity offered by social media brings out the worst in people, who do not mind trespassing other people's space and targeting people of eminence. A severe backlash followed on Twitter when Nobel laureate Amartya Sen criticised the government’s interference in academia. Actor Shruti Seth was trolled for questioning the relevance of a selfie campaign for saving daughters. 

Almost all celebrities voicing their independent opinion have suffered trolling by faceless people of no substance. Anyone who dares to question or oppose one kind of thinking lands in trouble, and not just on social media. In a democracy the space for debate and free exchange of views should not be allowed to shrink. Freedom misused is freedom curtailed. The stringent cyber laws followed in the UAE offer a way out. Indian laws governing cyber space do not include laws specific to the use of social media, making it susceptible to misuse. It’s time teenagers like Zaira are protected.