India Stands Against Hate With #MyNameInUrdu, Pakistan Reciprocates With #MyNameInHindi

The internet is an interesting place. You can find information on just about anything, stay in touch with friends, earn money, buy stuff and even spend hours looking at cat videos. But every once in a while, it turns into a medium for social change. And it is times like these, that I feel lucky to be a part of this internet generation.

Prabha Raj recently found herself fascinated by the Urdu script. Enamoured by its beauty she decided to make use of it in her Twitter handle name. What she hadn’t expected though, was to start an entire movement against hate. She did receive a lot of negative comments but largely, netizens supported her wholeheartedly.

#MyNameInUrdu gained momentum pretty quickly

Let me do the same now. Solidarity, sister. 👊

— corona worrier (@YoursLegallyy) January 5, 2019

#MyNameInUrdu
ڈیوش گار
My name in Urdu.
It might look weird to some, it might look somewhat fascinating to some. But it can never draw hate!
This is what is to be an Indian!
Was aloof of the writings of the greats before I myself started writing poetry in Urdu! Thank u @Rekhta

— Divesh Garg (@DiveshSpeaks) January 7, 2019

https://twitter.com/shahnawazk/status/1081885654273806336

https://twitter.com/Advo_Amardeep/status/1081956081390231553

In an article for The Wire, Prabha said, “This is not my movement, this is our movement. Together, as Indians, we are standing up against hate. If a single tweet can start a storm of love, I am happy to have been the catalyst. What is more important is for people to learn to be sensitive towards fellow humans.”

Soon, people from across the border allied themselves to the cause and started #MyNameInHindi. People helped each other in translations and sent messages of positivity and brotherhood. Many recounted stories of discrimination or prejudice they faced due to religion or language. But everyone agreed this is a small (but significant) step towards conquering cultural hostility.

Here’s how our neighbours joined the movement

such a beautiful thing. we stereotype our hate in small but significant ways, & @YoursLegallyy, @deepsealioness & so many others in India have begun a movement to deflect the hate minorities face online, on to themselves. hope we can have a similar show of solidarity here 💗🙏🏽 https://t.co/lNHJMvFgPD

— Mehar (@curlistani) January 6, 2019

My name is Azfar. I am a #Pakistani. I support @deepsealioness & reject #hate.

Using a bit of online translation :/

मेरा नाम अज़फर है। मैं एक पाकिस्तानी हूं।. मैं खड़ा हूं @deepsealionessके साथ
. और मैं घृणा को अस्वीकार करता हूं।#Hindu #Muslim #MyNameInUrdu #MyNameInHindi

— Azfar Rizvi | اظفر رضوی (@AzfarRizvi) January 8, 2019

नायला इनायत#MyNameInHindi

— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) January 9, 2019

वक़ास मेहमूद अली डोगर#MyNameInHindi

— Waqas Mahmood Dogar (@WaqasMahmoodAli) January 10, 2019

https://twitter.com/Hanzalah_13/status/1083256825020104705

Best of both worlds

Wrote my first name in Urdu (ساحل) and last name in Hindi (यादव) to give a message of inclusivity. We all are Indians. #MyNameInUrdu #MyNameInHindi

— ساحلSahil Yadav यादव (@yadav93sahil) January 7, 2019

This is the most beautiful thing I’ve seen today. Would you change your name to a different language? Which one would it be?