Indian Army Kargil war martyr’s daughter Gurmehar Kaur row over freedom of speech as well as her exhortation for peace between India and Pakistan through her exquisitely edited video in which she said ‘not Pakistan, war killed my father’ has taken India by storm. That she made it current by protesting against the RSS backed Delhi University students organisation ABVP by posting another picture saying she was ‘not afraid of the ABVP’ While she won a lot of support across India, there were many others who expressed outrage at her for nullifying her father’s supreme sacrifice. Her spectacular stand-off with those who are looking at putting curbs on personal liberties grabbed public attention and she was instantly catapulted to virtual stardom and a position as an icon. However, at that particular moment, when she could have cemented that position and powered her thoughts and beliefs onto a wider public canvas, Gurmehar Kaur stepped back and withdrew herself from her campaign. Period. No explanations, just plain withdrawal, saying, ‘Had enough. Leave me alone’.
India was transfixed at this 20-something girl managing to put herself in a position to dictate terms for the future course of public discourse and perhaps make a difference. The last time public saw this happen was during the Anna Hazare civil disobedience movement when again the country was moved to action by a man who looked to show India the way out of the morass that it had sunk to under the corrupt Congress-led government days. India had retaliated in kind by throwing the UPA out. The time was right for Gurmehar to make a strong point, but she did not do so. Why?
The Financial Express Online spoke to Gurmehar Kaur and asked her exactly that. While she was unwilling to make any statement per se, she refused to take any credit for her role in the movement. She said, “It’s not just my campaign, it’s a students’ campaign, I just happened to start it, people who believe in it will take it forward and are taking it forward.”
Indicating that the spotlight that is being directed at her is not welcome, she also added, “I want this (hype) to end.”