A small move that turned into a ‘movement’ in India and Pakistan

New Delhi: Twitter users are making the most of social media by using it as an effective medium to combat racism and hatred prevalent on social media these days.

Indians are adding their Twitter handle names in Urdu as a sign of solidarity on social platform. Pakistanis too joined the exemplary movement by adding their user names in Hindi as a sign of mutual love and cooperation for each other.

The hashtag movement was started by Prabha Raj whose Twitter handle is @deepsealioness where she wrote her profile name in Urdu, after which people started hurling abuses at her thinking that she had converted to Islam.

Prabha however didn’t get affected by the trolling and retained her user name in Urdu script.

Sexually graphic abusive memes & being called sister or mother f*cker is what am subjected to in last few days bcos I’m using my “Hindu” name in Urdu. It doesn’t matter who you are,if your name is assumed to be a Muslim,you get the worst trolls

Not changing the name, FU trolls

— ‏ پر بھا (@deepsealioness) January 5, 2019

#MyNameInUrdu is needed because of this kind of hate. Say no to hate. https://t.co/jwHJL1UcHs

— ‏ پر بھا (@deepsealioness) January 7, 2019

Backing her move, many people started pouring their comments on how they had to face racism because of their religion. They changed their user names in Urdu script with hashtag #MyNameInUrdu and came in support of Prabha.

#MyNameInUrdu
ڈیوش گار
My name in Urdu.
It might look weird to some, it might look somewhat fascinating to some. But it can never draw hate!
This is what is to be an Indian!
Was aloof of the writings of the greats before I myself started writing poetry in Urdu! Thank u @Rekhta

— Divesh Garg | دیویش گرگ (@DiveshSpeaks) January 7, 2019

#MyNameInUrdu is today's No. 1 organic trend! Love trumps hate ❤ Congratulations @deepsealioness for starting this beautiful trend! I've just added mine 🙂 Lovely addition to bio page.

— Shehla Rashid شہلا رشید (@Shehla_Rashid) January 6, 2019

After three days of its initiation, the move changed into a small movement where comments poured in from a lot of people who shared their experience of changing their user names and including it in Urdu. Around 20000 people changed their user names in Urdu script. The movement also hit Pakistan where Pakistanis too, started writing their Twitter handle names in Hindi as #MyNameInHindi and extended their support to the cause.

A Pakistani writer and reporter also changed her Twitter name to Hindi. The trend has been largely positive and full of love.

such a beautiful thing. we stereotype our hate in small but significant ways, & @YoursLegallyy, @deepsealioness & so many others in India have begun a movement to deflect the hate minorities face online, on to themselves. hope we can have a similar show of solidarity here 💗🙏🏽 https://t.co/lNHJMvFgPD

— मेहर (@curlistani) January 6, 2019

Indians acknowledged this move of Pakistani citizens by calling it a lovely initiative.

My heart is so full. @curlistani wrote her name in Hindi, you guys, just to show solidarity with us from across the border ❤️❤️
This is what love does. Erase boundaries.💕 @deepsealioness#MyNameInUrdu

— सुनंदा (سنندا) (@YoursLegallyy) January 6, 2019

The move has brought about a positive change and negated the constant accusation of spreading hatred and racism on social media. The celebrity mouthpiece however, hasn’t attracted the attention of renowned personalities yet and is limited to just commoners till now.