We danced, we applauded, we cried, we smiled. We celebrated, we regretted, we shared, tweeted, insta-ed and snapchatted, all in a week. This week’s social media wrap will give you a power capsule of all that made the online firmament go berserk!
YouTube Virals
Nothing made actor Sunny Leone more popular in India than this 20-minute interview with CNN-IBN’s Political Editor, Bhupendra Chaubey. Leone’s poise in the face of Chaubey’s obnoxiously sexist questions was lauded by all. Watch this video to see for yourself.
Apple’s iOS operating system is incomplete without Siri (Speech Interpretation and Recognition Interface), a personal assistant program that has become more of a friend to iPhone users.
Siri was in the news when someone found out what she answers when asked, “What is zero divided by zero?”
Well, this happens: Siri gives a rude reply!
Twitter Trends
#RohithVemula
Rohith Vemula, a research scholar from the University of Hyderabad, committed suicide on January 17, a fortnight after he was expelled from his hostel with four other researchers. The five students had been expelled following a heated argument between two student groups – the Ambedkar Students’ Association and the ABVP. They were on protest against the university administration demanding that they take back those who were from backward socio-economic backgrounds.
Rohith Vemula’s death created a political storm. Students erupted in protest, demanding the resignation of HRD Minister Smriti Irani and state BJP leaders. Opposition leaders, most notably Rahul Gandhi, joined the protest and the issue snowballed into a Dalit rights movement.
#BachaKhanUniversity Attacks
A group of militants stormed a university in north-west Pakistan, killing at least 30 people and leaving dozens injured on January 20.
The gunmen entered Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, at about 9.30am, using the cover of thick morning fog, and opened fire on students and teachers in classrooms and accommodation blocks.
Pakistan’s former Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, has held India responsible for the attack. In a tweet, Malik implied that the attack was carried out by the Indian intelligence agency RAW and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
#JaipurLiteratureFestival 2016
As the literary circuit begins to warm itself to the winter chill, the Jaipur Literature Festival will help them on their way to a ‘literature-filled’ beginning to 2016. The festival is sprinkled with cultural activities and invigorating sessions. Needless to say that JLF’s footprint was deftly carved out by its lovers. Here’s how tweeple reported it.
Facebook Buzz
Facebook was abuzz with news of Twitter crashing for over 15 minutes in two days! To share the news, people Facebooked and before they could Insta it, Twitter was back and running.
Facebook also stood in solidarity with Rohith Vemula and condemned the Pakistan University attacks.
With the Republic Day parade around the corner, everybody is writing Letters to India to establish their vision for the country.