“Today I am a soldier like my dad, I fight for peace between India and Pakistan.”
Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of late Captain Mandeep Singh who was one of the seven personnel killed after a Rashtriya Rifle camp was attacked by militants in Jammu and Kashmir on 6 August 1999, when Gurmehar was two years old. The 20-year-old from Jalandhar who is studying English literature at Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi, had shot to national fame when she was trolled online for speaking up against violence allegedly by members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), student affiliate of ruling BJP, at Delhi University’s Ramjas College in February.
Gurmehar was trolled and branded as an “anti-national”for her video in which she was seen holding a placard with text written over it, which read ” Pakistan Did Not Killed My Dad War Killed Him“. After that she was threatened with rape and murder by internet goons to the extent that she had to leave Delhi for a while. Despite being at the center of the controversy, she refused to be silent. US-based magazine Time has selected student and peace activist Gurmehar Kaur as one of its 10 ‘Next Generation Leaders’ for 2017, hailing her as a “free-speech warrior”. Let’s know more about this pure fighter soul in the interview down below.
In conversation with Gurmehar Kaur:
1. First major question, tell us about your views regarding the ‘anti-nationalist ‘ tag that had been added to your name after your most viral video “soldier of peace “!
2. Do you feel that our society still lags behind in “freedom of speech “?
3. According to the media you had received various death and rape threats after the campaign, is it true? If yes, did you regret taking such a bold step or did these threats made stronger to go further?
The threats were on social media for the world to see, so yes it’s true. I don’t regret it, what I really regretted was sitting in my bed 6 months later going through all the horrible news that there is, of violence, of lynching and then feeling guilty for not speaking up when I should have. The guilt would’ve been much worse than any threat.
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4. After all the trouble you’ve been through how does it feel to be selected as one of Time magazine’s 10 ‘Next Generation Leaders’ for 2017, and receiving the title of a “free-speech warrior”?
5. Are you planning on getting into Indian politics anytime in future?
6. How are you planning to change the mentalities and removing the negativities from our society? Are you satisfied with the influence you are creating on people right now?
7. You are someone the present generation looks up to as an inspiration, what motivational message would you like to give to others?
The world will constantly judge you no matter what you do, stick to what you believe in and always have faith.
