Everyone has role models they look up to and aspire to become. Most often than not, they are real people who have shown determination, grit, and excelled in their respective fields against all odds.
However, one newspaper advertisement by the Indore Institute of Law is facing flak online for comparing fictional characters Harvey Specter from the American TV show ‘Suits’ and Jagdishwar Mishra from the Bollywood movie ‘Jolly LLB 2’ and saying that potential students have a choice on who they want to become. Take a look.
Bro😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/bOxlWGLPIl
— wikileaks (@SatwikiDeshmukh) October 15, 2020
Some people poked fun at the advertisement calling it ridiculous and full of cringe.
How is Indore Institute of Law gonna make me a ridiculously good looking white man? 🤨 https://t.co/zbTeGEDCHN
— ऋतुजा 🇮🇳 (@HavaldarShinde) October 15, 2020
I didn't knew Harvey specter was Indore institute passout 😭
Why did they say it was harvard in the series?
Harvey Specter was #MadeInIndia https://t.co/5LwXpcfUZK
— Jay 🏹 (@atheistamarrahe) October 15, 2020
Govinda from “Kyoki mai jhuth nai bolta” is the real OG. Stop this. https://t.co/cFXC4CYxw1
— Ayush Mahiswar (@AyushMahiswar) October 15, 2020
the real joke here is that people think actual lawyers are like Harvey Specter https://t.co/YYvyWHezBL
— Rick at 🏡 (@RickterScale_) October 15, 2020
While others listed out all the problematic messaging inherent in it. Several lawyers called it out for the following reasons:
- Putting down Indian lawyers by implying that Harvey Specter is the clear winner.
- Violating Intellectual Property (IP) and using images without seeking permission.
- Showcasing fictional lawyers instead of their alumni or people practicing law in the real world which made it seem like an ad for an acting school.
- Absence of female lawyers altogether.
Why is this ad putting down Indian Lawyers ?? pic.twitter.com/R9n698oSAS
— SANYA TALWAR (@Talwarious) October 15, 2020
Corporate vs litigation, American vs Indian, fake vs reel, this raises more doubt regarding how private law institutions are misleading and destroying many young lives.
‘Suits’ doesn’t suit for a Law practice, atleast Jolly LLB had some truth. https://t.co/GN9wMMrDXE
— Jay Kholiya. (@JayyKholiya) October 15, 2020
It's kinda humiliating….Infact, choosing between two fictional character itself is off putting. https://t.co/xa2ptaj2Qz
— Aishwarya Hariharan (@aishwaryapvh) October 15, 2020
Well, if you wanna be proud of education at your institution tell us about your alumni.
And what kind of advertisment is this?
I am laughing and angry at the same time https://t.co/tWR0ok3xWP— Prakhar Raghuvanshi | प्रखर रघुवंशी (@the_fifth_force) October 15, 2020
An Ad going wrong is this! Law school is not even bothered about IPR, forget teaching their students about it. https://t.co/bV34PG5okp
— Alakananda (@Alakananda_Devi) October 16, 2020
Replying to @suruchisuri
They could not find one real Indian lawyer, a woman lawyer perhaps, for students to aspire to? Only fictional men?! What a sad comment on the general knowledge of the copy writer in the advertising company @timesofindia— Shomona Khanna (@alterlaw) October 15, 2020
There are not about Indian lawyers at all, it is only promoting foreign lawyers.
— Geddam (@KingGeddam) October 15, 2020
Looks like it’s acting school not a law college… pic.twitter.com/YcAL4eOS2E
— Bharath Raj (@BiriyaniBuff) October 16, 2020
Ye kaisi choice hai
— kookie (@IndifferentPoet) October 15, 2020
Is it a women not allowed Indore batch?
— Sabre_tongued (@sabre_tongued) October 15, 2020
3. Women don’t bother to apply.
4. If you want to be a civil rights lawyer or an environmental lawyer, don’t come to us.
Yukkkkk.
— Shomona Khanna (@alterlaw) October 15, 2020
Not at all SUITIng! Bad taste@akshaykumar pic.twitter.com/XYVKAhb0Yg
— Ajit (@ajit_pai_pr) October 15, 2020
Trust me, India mein Jagdishwar ki importance Harvey se zyada hai. 🙏#GreenbackBoogie pic.twitter.com/KW8HQf3nYx
— Aishwarya Mudgil (@AishwaryaMudgi1) October 15, 2020
Is this promotion of white supremacy and brahminical patriarchy in one ad? *runs away*
— Yashwanth C (@YCshekhar) October 15, 2020
Is it a law school or gives degree in Drama?
— CHAMAR (@Liberal51601607) October 15, 2020
Journalist Sanya Talwar later tweeted that the institute had issued an unconditional apology saying that there was no intention to demean or offend anyone. Their ad was to “reflect two different personalities” in corporate and litigation law.
Apologies are good. pic.twitter.com/RfKx7O90Fx
— SANYA TALWAR (@Talwarious) October 15, 2020
What do you think of this ad? Tell us!