New Delhi: A controversial Facebook page that rose to fame by way of satirising and parodying right-wing fundamentalists (particularly Hindu right-wing fundamentalists) has been forced to shut down after its creator apparently received death threats.
‘Humans of Hindutva’ as the page was called, was created loosely on the lines of ‘Humans of New York’ and focused primarily on spinning a satirical angle on otherwise serious issues like gau rakshaks, moral policing et al, typically engaged and espoused by the hardcore right-wing fundamentalists.
However, some people took offence to the satirisation of issues that they held dear to their hearts and ideologies and started issuing death threats to the page’s creator, who for fear of his life, decided to close the page down.
In a message on the soon-to-be-deleted website (http://archive.is/td78b), the creator put up the following message:
‘I’m quitting out of my own accord. I’ve not been banned or mass reported. I have recently received some threats to my life which I can’t take lightly. I am outnumbered, live in a BJP state and come from a middle-class family with no political or police connections. I have no desire to end up like Gauri Lankesh or Afrazul Khan. Actually, more than myself I worry for the safety of my family. I hope those who threatened me consider this as a victory and leave us alone. I have deleted the HOH page and will delete this website soon. Congratulations to Hindutva on winning this David vs. Goliath fight.
As for those who were kind enough to lend me their ears for the last eight months, I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year. Cheers and alvida. Thanks for giving me some of your time.’
The website also has a number of pieces the creator carried, which mocked the present government and the right-wing with an abject lack of self-preservation. While the page has been deleted, some of the contents remain on the still-active website.
Jairaj Singh, editor at DailyO, said that his friend who runs the page started receiving the threats after his mobile number got leaked somehow, adding that the nation can’t take a joke.
@JairajSinghR
Had a brief chat with my friend who runs the Humans of Hindutva page. He told me that trolls have got a hold of his phone number and they’re sending him death threats. He’s scared for his wife and children, so he’s shut the page for now. The nation can’t take a joke.
Ironically, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted that satire and humour is needed in the world, and that humour is the best healer.
@PMOIndia
I think we need more satire and humour. Humour brings happiness in our lives. Humour is the best healer: PM @narendramodi
Agencies
