Amidst the ongoing discussion, a glimmer of positivity arose! The official Twitter account of India’s government-citizen engagement platform, @MyGovIndia, joined the conversation with a clever twist. Using the same theme of “What’s wrong with India?”, the handle shared images of four news reports showcasing the country’s accomplishments in recent years, adding a hint of sarcasm to challenge the prevailing negativity.
No one is flawless, and nations are no exception. So, when criticism from overseas began targeting India for its recent setbacks, Desis didn’t simply accept it without a response. Oh no, they weren’t willing to accept that narrative without pushing back. It all started when certain posts gained traction, portraying India in an overly negative light under the banner of ‘What’s wrong with India?’ But Desis wasn’t passive. They swiftly organized themselves, countering the critics on ‘X’ and the platform head, Elon Musk, accusing them of promoting negativity with an allegedly “biased algorithm.”
These excerpts celebrated India’s achievements: eliminating extreme poverty, successfully reaching the moon’s South Pole, receiving praise from the IMF for its economic progress, and spearheading advancements in digital infrastructure. The government’s reaction sought to portray India positively amid the flood of posts focusing on concerns such as women’s safety, crime, sanitation, and corruption.
However, this marked just the initial phase. Numerous users on ‘X’ rallied behind the government, inundating the feed with images and videos depicting similar incidents from other countries, all under the theme of ‘What’s wrong with India?’. From individuals sleeping on sidewalks in Philadelphia to instances of daytime harassment and peculiar subway behaviours in New York, Desis effectively reversed the narrative on foreign critics, demonstrating that no nation is exempt from such challenges. It became a collective critique of the purportedly biased algorithm that led to widespread mockery of India.