The abrupt death of Assamese music star Zubeen Garg has put Assam in a state of collective sorrow. The emotional release of affection and admiration to the dead singer is evidence of the huge cultural influence. But this is the moment one student of Guwahati chose to use to earn what many are terming as cheap publicity.
The student was caught on camera in a video that went viral which showed him making derogatory statements and laughing at the masses mourning causing a great wave of reaction on the social media pages. The event not just has been a shame to the involved person but has also created an important discussion on the boundaries of free speech and being morally obligated to find empathy when we all have experienced grief.
The Viral Backlash
The offending video of the student Shivangi Bhattacherjee became viral and was condemned by everyone in the state. Great personalities, other students and common citizens were outraged by the act and termed it as a ghast display of insensitivity. Many viewers found the remarks of the students he was heartbroken at, and it was a direct insult to the memory of Zubeen Garg and the grieving of the people of the Assamese community, who had a strong attachment to it.
The speed at which the video went viral shows how effective social media is when it comes to shaping the mind of the masses and even blaming people in their actions, particularly when they can be seen to be offending certain cultural phenomena.
A Lesson in Public Decorum
The case is a stark wake up call to the fact that as much as the internet provides a platform of self-expression, it does not provide protection against the searching glare of the public or the ramifications of speech. The move by the student to create some form of cheap publicity has instead caused a lot of criticism and lost image.
In a world where people are becoming more and more interconnected, the incident underscores the need to be empathetic and respectful and understanding, more so when handling such delicate matters as death and collective grief. It further facilitates the viewpoint that one can be supreme by keeping it real rather than spectacular to the people.
A recent media graduate, Bhumi Vashisht is currently making a significant contribution as a committed content writer. She brings new ideas to the media sector and is an expert at creating strategic content and captivating tales, having working in the field from past four months.
