KL Rahul put it well. No matter who you are, or how accomplished, it is often very difficult to stay insulated from vicious social-media trolling. Rahul has been the subject of incessant abuse over the last few months, and tried to put things in context by saying that no one plays to lose. But to be abused or trolled the way they are, it is tough on the person and their family.
We saw even Mahendra Singh Dhoni being trolled in India last year. His wife and young daughter too were dragged into it. Their fault? That Dhoni had not been able to do what he usually did – win games for the Chennai Super Kings. How dare he, the man with the Midas touch and multiple IPL titles, not win games?
Every cricketer has faced the wrath of these social-media vigilantes for not doing well. Rahul’s is just an extreme case where the viciousness has been hard to ignore. Let’s take another example. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the breakout star of the ongoing season, was viciously trolled last year because he wasn’t able to accelerate and win games for the Rajasthan Royals, while facing the likes of Kagiso Rabada.
Forget the fact that we are talking about one of the greatest bowlers of our era, one who has won South Africa countless matches. All we need to ask those trolling Jaiswal is this: what were you doing at 19? Did you win India an Under-19 World Cup, or achieve anything close to what he already has?
Also Read: Sometimes trolling affects me: Rahul
As for Rahul, why is it that families are dragged into this? What right do people have to abuse their wives and daughters? It is time to act, and stop this once and for all. Peddling hate has nothing to do with the idea of India that we stand for. It is not something we should tolerate as a society. A cricket match will always have a winner and a loser. It has nothing to do with someone’s parents, partner or daughter. Anyone incapable of understanding this deserves the highest punishment. Such people are delusional and not fit for civilised society.
In March 2022, Justin Lee Price, a 19 year old Worcester in the United Kingdom, was jailed for six weeks for racially abusing Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United and England striker, after the final of Euro 2020, where England lost on penalties to Italy. “Those who racially abuse footballers ruin the game for all,” said the senior prosecutor at the time. “I hope this case sends out the message that we will not tolerate racism and offenders will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
We are seeing a dangerous trend where people feel they are entitled to saying whatever they want, and get away with it. After all, social media is often faceless. With time, it has become a domain of unchecked abuse. Sachin Tendulkar was trolled for donating less than Suresh Raina at the start of the Covid pandemic, while Ajinkya Rahane was trashed on the basis of the amount he donated. It’s another matter altogether that so much of the charitable work that cricketers do is away from the public eye.
While outrageous and vulgar on one level, such behaviour is alarming on another. It shows the deep-rooted resentment and anger that some feel towards the successful. And if that person doesn’t do what the social media mob expects of them, they’re fair game for any kind of abuse. Our social-media discourse is a reflection of the society we have become.
Some say this is an aberration, and we should let it pass. But it is not. Others say that 99 per cent of Indians stand for what is right, so why give importance to a delusional minority. Frankly, in a population of 1.3 billion, even one percent is s sizeable number that can’t be ignored. We must take on these hate merchants, book them for cyber-crimes and teach them a lesson. They deserve to be named and shamed, and not allowed to hide behind the anonymity that their handles provide.
Each of these acts is a stain on humanity. Such trolls go against the grain of what we stand for – the idea of a pluralistic India. Whether it’s Rahul or Jaiswal or anyone else, no one should have to endure such public humiliation and vitriol. We must protect their basic human rights, and throw the book at those who cannot understand the norms of civilised behaviour.