This week two student activists ruled the Internet. Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita.
The JNU students, who have been charged under the anti-terror law UAPA, were released on bail Thursday evening from Tihar jail after 13 months of incarceration.
It’s a classic David vs Goliath story.
Two twenty-somethings versus the might of the Indian State.
After a little bit of sloganeering and singing after stepping out of the prison, Natasha and Devangana interacted with the media. Only a few TV channels interviewed them, the one with Rajdeep Sardesai stood out.
The 15 minutes they were on the screen told us a lot about them.
They were not the Angry Young Women they were expected to be.
They were laughing away.
They did not look bitter.
They didn’t shout threats.
They didn’t shout threats.
They didn’t preach.
One of them loves fish curry and didn’t get it the entire year.
Their demeanor was endearing.
They were anything but the terrorists they are made out to be by the Narendra Modi govt.
They were the girls next door.
Natasha and Devangana are the Deepti Navals of activism.
That is why such interviews trouble the middle class. Most turn their faces away from the screen. They don’t want to face the truth.
It could well be one of theirs tomorrow.
They got a taste during the farmer toolkit controversy when Disha Ravi was arrested for alleged sedition after she shared a tweet or what was it. Sedition, mind you, nothing less.
In our days college students would do a few uthak-baithaks in the police station if they were picked up for holding protests. Natasha and Devangana spent a year in jail and could face many more for doing that.
Kesavan Mamas, remember this when you go to sleep every night.
