Times When Social Media Took A Stand For The Right Issues!

Social media has become a platform for trials, welcoming everything on board, and people have shared their unfiltered views and opinions. From Twitter threads to Facebook comments citizens do not leave any stone unturned while pouring out their thoughts, take a look at the recent controversies that swing around the nation!

Haldirams

Popularly known for its namkeen range, this brand has also spread its wings to the food catering section exploring Indian street food items like Pav Bhajji, Kulcha Matar and so much more!

The controversy went viral when a video was surfacing through social media platforms wherein a reporter could be seen harassing a store manager over the use of Arabic language as one of the three languages in the medium of instructions over the packaging of a product. Though the reporter went on calling the language Urdu, it was Arabic in fact.

While the product is a popular snack that is mostly consumed during the Navrati festival in India, there seems to be a little issue with the usage of a third language over the packaging with its daily consumers.

While the netizens praised the manager of the store to have handled the situation very well, Arabic language usage has been a topic of conversation.

The usage of a third language on their packaging is due to their major export business to the Middle-Eastern countries like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other Emirate countries, where Arabic is a locally used language.

Manyavar

Manyavar is an Indian ethnic brand that has been catering to our needs ever since 1999. Known for its diverse range of traditional wear, has had its fair share of bad publicity for being overly insensitive toward the social evils of the nation.

In an advertisement, Alia Bhatt is the main face of it was seen having a point of view on a ritual that is carried out at every Indian wedding, popularly known as ‘Kanyadaan’. In the advertisement, the actress is seen questioning the practice of giving away the girl, which shouldn’t be continued in today’s time. While some may consider a girl to be a burden, Alia is seen justifying how the daughter is not property that should be given away, the groom and his family are seen joining in on the ceremony as they celebrate ‘Kanya-maan’.

As the advertisement focussed on bringing a change in society, netizens were not happy. Many took it to social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to share their opinions on the same, while the hashtag #BoycottManyavar was trending for a span of two days.

A Twitter user went on tweeting saying ‘As per Sanatan culture, the parents of a girl, who get an opportunity of ‘Kanyadaan’, are considered to be fortunate. #Boycott_Manyavar’ while somebody else tweeted ‘#Boycott_Manyavar Dear @Manyavar_ Once contact TanishqJewelry and ask them what is a boycott...! Never play with the feelings of Hindus, it will be very expensive! I repeat never’ bring another brand that had previously faced backlash for being highly insensitive!

Social media users took onto their specific platforms to let the brand know their religious beliefs and how important it was to not mock them in the first place, regardless of a portion of the society moving ahead!

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Fab India

Fab India has been another brand that has always been a go-to stop for your ethnic, traditional needs, throughout the nation. Known for its daily wear kurta range for the working class of the society, the brand received backlash for its Diwali-themed advertisement for a range of clothing collections as they named it ‘Jashn-e-Riwaaz’.

The brand was accused of disrespecting the Hindu festival of Diwali and naming its collection 'Jashn-e-Riwaaz'. Many criticized the brand for the unnecessary inclusion of secularism and Muslim ideologies in a Hindu festival. There were several tweets made termed as “culturally inappropriate”.

BJP leader Tejaswi Surya also slammed the brand for a ‘deliberate attempt of Abrahamisation of Hindu festivals' while many others pointed out the inappropriate clothing of the models, terming them to be in 'Indian traditional' clothing.

Dabur

Dabur has been a popular household brand for everything ranging from toothpaste to honey. Being known for about 38 years now, the brand has always been on the top of its game. While trying to ace its brand image always, Dabur has faced many challenges on its way.

On the occasion of Karwa Chauth, the brand put out an advertisement in an attempt to localize the concept of the LGBTQ+ community. While Karwa Chauth has been an ongoing tradition wherein a married woman observes a day of fasting for a potentially long life for her dear husband, it is also observed by unmarried women in hope of securing a desired life partner.

As the community revolutionizes, the brand went on advertising the concept of two lesbians celebrating the same tradition, wherein the two of them were seen breaking the fast according to the Indian traditional system.

The advertisement caught a lot of attention while it had been criticized as offensive for using same-sex representation. "I consider this a serious matter. More so because such advertisements and clippings are made on the rituals of Hindu festivals only. They (the advertisement) showed lesbians celebrating Karva Chauth and seeing each other through a sieve. In the future, they will show two men taking 'feras' (marrying each other according to Hindu rituals). This is objectionable," Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters.

Post a lot of criticism, the advertisement was then taken down and an apology was issued as per the brand rules and regulations.

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Tanishq

Jewelry has been an integral part of our Indian culture. With gold being a massive steal, Tanishq has made its mark in society by offering us the best quality of gold, diamonds, and any other jewelry item you can possibly think of.

The brand went on going about this advertisement that created a gap between them and its consumer market. The advertisement was focused on the inter-faith system between a bride and her mother-in-law as the children were to get married.

#BoycottTanshiq went viral, claiming the advertisement to have been 'promoting Love Jihad'. Bollywood celebrities like Kangana Ranaut also came forward claiming to have been offended by the advertisement after which the advertisement was pulled down.

Regardless of the criticism, there was yet a side of our Indian community that believed nothing to have been wrong with the advertisement in the first place. Celebrities like Shashi Tharur came forward tweeting ‘So Hindutva bigots have called for a boycott of ⁦@TanishqJewelry for highlighting Hindu-Muslim unity through this beautiful ad. If Hindu-Muslim “ekatvam” irks them so much, why don’t they boycott the longest surviving symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity in the world -- India?’

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