‘Haters can’t kill my spirit’

Shara Ashraf Prayag

As India observed Janta Curfew on Sunday evening to curb the spread of the dreadful Covid19, one saw a unique show of unity and solidarity. People across the nation clapped, rang bells and blew conches to applaud the medical staff, police and others who are fearlessly carrying on the fight against the virus. Among those cheering was a spirited 36-year-old writer, Mansi Shah from Ghatkopar, Mumbai. As Shah beat a spoon against a thali, she shouted ‘Go Corona Go’ enthusiastically. Her mother-in-law shot the video from a distance, and shared it in one of her Whatsapp groups. And within minutes, the video went viral on social media.

Shah never imagined that she was going to be ruthlessly trolled and body shamed for her act. Appalled, she put up a post on Facebook, saying, “So I am that girl who went viral in that ‘Go Corona Go’ video. I was just being in my element because I was with people I love, trust and know. A unique problem has cropped up..the video is everywhere and the comments about my br**st and body are alarming. I am lying low because there is so much negativity out there.”

Shah faced a barrage of abusive comments on social media. “I never expected such hate, but I won’t give in to bullying. I had no idea that a woman is not allowed to be herself. I was stunned when I saw those vulgar comments. Such perversion, such derangement…I can’t share how hurt my family felt after this episode,” says Shah.

The writer says she will celebrate again, once we beat the coronavirus. “I was already maintaining social distancing. Through the video, I wanted to thank those who are risking their lives for us. It was my way of doing it. And I will do it again, I will dance and shout and celebrate and post a video once we defeat corona,” she says. Shah believes that unless we deal with the crisis with courage, we’ll fall into depression. “If the mind is strong, and we feel energetic from inside, we’ll fare better,” she says.

Our generation has never faced a crisis like this. We don’t know how long it will last. We must fight gloom by spreading cheer. We need to keep our spirits high.

MANSI SHAH WRITER