Gujarat aur Garba
Ek gazab ka rishta…
Unstoppable pic.twitter.com/woqa6rcPvx
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 31, 2024
Known for his engaging online presence, Mahindra shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) featuring people dancing garba in the midst of floodwaters in Gujarat. This state has recently experienced severe flooding, with at least 47 fatalities reported due to the intense rains and related incidents.
The video, which shows individuals performing garba while standing in knee-deep water, was accompanied by Mahindra’s praise: “Gujarat aur Garba. Ek gazab ka rishta…Unstoppable.” He lauded the resilience of the people celebrating despite the severe waterlogging.
However, the post sparked a backlash from many social media users. Critics argued that Mahindra’s positive portrayal of the situation was insensitive given the ongoing infrastructure issues exacerbated by the floods. Some users accused the billionaire of romanticizing the deteriorating state of infrastructure, suggesting his post highlighted a disconnect between wealthy individuals and the real struggles faced by ordinary citizens. One X user commented, “This is how billionaires make Indians feel they are one of them: Romanticize crippled infra of the country.”
Another user parodied Mahindra’s post with a mocking version: “Gujarat model aur corruption Ek gazab ka rishta… Unstoppable,” further fueling the debate over the appropriateness of the original video.
Moreover, there was concern about the safety risks depicted in the video. Social media commentators pointed out that dancing in such conditions could be dangerous, particularly with the risk of electrocution from submerged electrical wires. “This is actually plain stupidity from citizens. Imagine a loose livewire getting in the water,” warned one user, reflecting on recent incidents of electrocution during the floods.
Despite the criticism, some applauded the spirit of the people in the video for their perseverance during natural calamities.