It is a regular photograph showing weightlifter Mirabai Chanu enjoying a simple meal with her family, after returning from Tokyo Olympics with a silver medal. But it kicked up a storm on Wednesday with words like poverty, religion, anti-national and Communists being lobbed around.
Watch: The lift that won Mirabai Chanu the silver medal
It all started with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s adviser Rajat Sethi tweeting a photo showing the 26-year-old Olympian sitting on the floor, in what looks like a kitchen, and enjoying a meal with two others. Sethi — an IIT, MIT, Harvard alumni — captioned the photo, “Poverty is never an excuse for achieving one’s dreams. India’s most loved Saikhom Mirabai Chanu at her humble home in Manipur after winning Silver Medal in the Tokyo Olympics.”
This opened floodgates of comments, many critical. While several users thought the photograph was doctored or old, others said that the CM adviser’s comment was ‘condescending’. Sethi hit back with a strong comment.
“You have an idea of what she used to do for a living? Poverty is NOT an excuse for anyone. It’s the biggest struggle for a human and only one in a million is able to challenge it,” wrote a user. “Wow. Such a condescending tweet. It’s a typical northeast kitchen. Also it’s a very intrusive pic,” said another.
“She is an icon n deserves all the accolades ..however its a stupid pic with an overloaded hyped emotional comment….I dont know of any poor families who drink mineral water…” commented a user.
A Twitter user thought the photo was doctored and wrote, “This is a very weird pic. What is she trying to do with her hovering feet over the plate?” Yet another commented, “Very weird picture, must be clicked in rush or older image.”
Bringing in religion, a user commented, “That’s how most tribals societies live in the NE. Going by her name she must be a Meitei. Because of weather and design of houses it’s quite natural, especially in rural areas. It is a typical life style and nothing to do with poverty or culture. Influence of Christianity also.”
After a flood of comments, Rajat Sethi hit back, saying, “Communists have a special skill – they can interpret a simple tweet in the most obnoxiously cynical way! What twisted minds these are. These morons live life in luxury and tutor the world on how to talk about poverty. Get lost from my TL and get a job.”
Chanu has spoken about missing food cooked by her mother and after winning the Olympic silver said she was craving for mom’s fish and rice. “I have been home only for 5 days in the last 5 years. I will go home and eat mom-made food. My mother didn’t eat anything until the competition was over,” she said, adding she cannot wait to savour the fish and rice prepared by her mother.
On her return from Tokyo, Chanu was treated to a pizza by union minister Kiren Rijiju. “She was withholding her desire to eat Pizza to maintain her weight in 49 kg Weightlifting for the Olympics! Now, Mirabai Chanu has the freedom to fully enjoy pizza till she starts her training for the next Championship,” the minister tweeted.
