Image source: Good Housekeeping
Sylvia Karpagam
Keywords: bullying, harassment, reservation, affirmative action, discrimination
Published in medico friend circle bulletin 381, Caste, Tribe and Religion:
Institutionalized discrimination in health, March 2023, 35
While some view social media as a “catalyst for protest mobilisation’[i], others consider it as a ‘weapon against the oppressed in the hands of the oppressor’[ii]; an alternative to mainstream media which is often considered corrupted by, dependent on and uncritical of the establishment [iii] ; or as a weapon to curb and discredit dissenting voices, muzzle data or monitor/ track/threaten activists[iv]. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Twitter became a space for sharing resources, sending SOS calls, connecting people and even reaching out to vulnerable individuals and communities across rigorous lockdowns. But it was also used to vilify, target and discriminate, specifically the Muslim community[v] [vi], leading to enormous consequence on lives, livelihoods and mental health.
This article looks at the (ab)use of the social media platform Twitter by Indian doctors in the context of reservation or affirmative action and in the context of the Covid pandemic and the Muslim community. Women and the LGBTQI from these two communities may be even more viciously targeted.
Casteism on Twitter – reservation as the target
Because of historical injustice against the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, the Indian Constitution[vii] gives the right to non-discrimination[viii] and of reserving access to government jobs, educational institutions and seats in Parliament to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes[ix]. Several myths and misconceptions around reservation are common and these have often been countered[x]
On Twitter, doctors oppose reservation, not with scientific or objective language, but abusive, offensive or casteist language.
“So now west bengal govt has given 40% seats to in-service candidates. Only 27% seats for Open Non-Service candidates.
“Fuck Merit and Celebrate Mediocrity” should be the slogan of Ministries of Health and Welfare of India and states as well.
#Fuck_Merit_Celebrate_Mediocrity”
Brijesh K Saini @_saini_brijesh October 30, 2021
“It is very easy to say “reservation toh hota hai, you study well”, when we have already passed that stage….but you really can’t feel what’s inside that young UG/PG aspirant’s mind….
Don’t fcuk with minds and say “JANAM SIDDH ADHIKAR” my foot…
#NEETPG #reservationfreeneetpg”
Surgeon Quotes @Nilperoral 16th March 2022
“Therez no racial hatred inside me..there is reservation hatred inside me…victim card holders will not understand…all my friends from reserved category know about it very well…
Here z a humane smile for u…😊”
Lazy Doc @samintensive October 28, 2021
Those opposing reservation or affirmative action on Twitter often label it as ‘anti-merit’ and as a form of discrimination against those who are not eligible for it. However, management quote seats, which are reserved for people who actually do not qualify the eligibility criteria, but willing to spend two to four times the actual fee of the college are not labelled as ‘anti-merit! It is considered as ‘direct admission process in colleges’[xi] where students pay anywhere between INR 2,11,000/- to INR 22,50,000/- annually for these ‘meritorious’ seats. With 200 marks, it is highly difficult for you to get admission in any of the private colleges. If you even get the fee would be really high in order to join MBBS course. [xi]
When doctors who oppose reservations are called out, they readily switch to the victim mode.
“He has quote tweeted my tweet calling me a casteist doctor. Do amplify this. It’s the need of the hour to expose such people who are NOT doctors and who think that after completing MBBS, reserved category doctors still require reservation.”
Pragya (unreserved) @PragyaBhargav15 29th October 2021
It is also common for doctors from oppressor caste groups to flaunt ‘general merit’ or ‘unreserved category’ on their social media profiles like some mark of pride, sending out a clear message that those who avail reservations are somehow less meritorious.
“Using reservation card repeatedly from MBBS entry to Faculty in superspeciality crushes open merit, decimates quality patient care,demoralises our already down-hearted youth, our state needs freedom from this unimpeachable class”
Dr Irfan Ahmad @Irfanbhatcardio 23rd February 2022
“BOYCOTT RESERVATION IN PG ENTRANCE EXAMS. ALL GRADUATES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED EQUAL”
scalpel_writes @DrAkanksha_1808 11th June 2020
“I am always against the SC/ST reservation quota. But, most of the Indian didn’t raising their voice against this non meritorious quota in social media or any other platforms. But, it’s important to protest against SC/ST reservation to save India.”
Drsallu @Drsallu1 May 3, 2021
The common taunt on Twitter is that patients check profiles of the doctors and refuse to go to those who have qualified through reservations. The SC/ST Atrocity Act[xii] which can be invoked in any instances which instigate social or economic boycotts can be applied to many of the tweets which openly call for boycott of doctors who come in through reservation.[1]
“Agar mbbs/bds karke Doctor banne k baad bhi uplift nhi ho rahe.
Toh PG karke bhi nhi honge!!!
Fir kehte hain ki hame neech bolke discrimination hota hai.
The discrimination is promoted by these governments policies and the judiciary that supports them!
#neetpg #Reservation”
(if you have not been uplifted by doing MBBS/BDS, then you will not be even after PG. Then you say that you are being discriminated when you are called inferior/low)
Dr.Karan @Delhidadentist 8th January 2022
“Buddha didn’t have reservation for himself. He was enlightened. So they had debate with him. Reservations ka Faida lenewale Buddha nahi buddhu hote hain. Ek vowel ka Farak hai bas. We’ll debate when you earn that vowel.”
(The one who takes advantage of reservation is a buddhu (fool) not a Buddha. It is just the difference of one vowel.)
#neetpg reservation
Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy @DrDeepakKrishn1 Oct 28, 2021
“Getting the seat and then treating the patients in India is based on your caste, not on your merit.
Nothing can be more ridiculous than this…”
Dr Divya Parwani @DIVYA___25 25th October 2021
“Sir unlogon ko ithna dimkah nahi logic samajh ne ke liye…all they know is irrespective of caste if someone is against reservation they brand us as UC… because they think everyone wants to beg like them for reservation”
Dr. Ganesh Srinivasa Prasad DNB (Nephrology) @thisis_drgsp October 28 2021
If one were to conflate these social media posts with the report “The Steady drumbeat of Institutional casteism: Recognise Respond Redress”[xiii], one can understand how language such as that used by these doctors on social media can have real life consequences on people from marginalized and vulnerable communities. Dr. Payal Tadvi, the first woman from her family to become a doctor and the first woman from the Adivasi Muslim Bhil community died by suicide in May 2019. Over the period of one years, she had been harassed with constant references to her caste and that she is from a backward community, an Adivasi and having been admitted to medicine through the reserved categories. The accused Hema Ahuja, Ankita Khandelwal and Bhakti Mehere continued to harass her in the hostel where she shared a room with them. They had also threatened her that they would not ‘allow’ her to complete her postgraduation. It is also to be noted that she had lodged complaints with support from her mother and husband, with different authorities. As per the statement of Dr. Snehal Shinde, her friend, she was asked “You are from the reserved category, right? And what rank did you get in NEET (entrance exam)?”. Bandewar[xiv] attributes these caste related suicides to ‘abysmal failure of policies, regulations and operational mechanisms to respond’, unwillingness to recognise the existence of caste-based discriminatory practices in Higher Educational Institutions, not treating casteist discriminatory practices, abuse and violence as constitutional violations, and the consequent design failure at operational levels. Shanmugavelan[xv] describes how ‘everyday’ and ‘normal’ caste- based hate is, how little space there is to even articulate these abuses, leave alone access some form of grievance redressal.
Islamophobia on Twitter
Islamophobia is an extreme fear of and hostility toward Islam and Muslims, often leading to hate speech and hate crimes, social and political discrimination. It is sweeping across the country and was very visible during the Covid pandemic. Following the Tablighi Jamaat (society of Preachers) gathering in India between March 13-15, 2020, there was an explosion of anti- Muslim sentiment. What is particularly concerning is how some doctors readily jumped onto this bandwagon, discarding ethics, scientific thinking and basic principles of medicine.
“Tablighi aka talibani jamaat ki tarah nurse and staff ki physical Harrsament nahi kr rhe, thuk nahi rahe doctors pr, thook jamat ki hospital mein chicken nahi mang rhe. Sale bhadwe quint 😂”
(Unlike the Tablighi aka talibani jamaat they are not physically harassing nurses and staff, they are not spitting on doctors and not demanding chicken in the hospital run by the spitting-community., quint is pimp)
Dr.Satish @dr_battisi 15th June 2021
“Tablighi Jamaatis Kicked plate filled with Food, demanded Biryani & Non-Vegetarian food : Dr Arti Lalchandani Dean of GSVM Medical College Kanpur.”
Dr. Vedika @vishkanyaaaa 26th April 2020
On March 21st 2020, an open letter, quoting John Snow[xvi], raised concerns about the “prejudiced choice of using the Tablighi Jamaat gathering as an epidemiological example.
The open letter quotes the Bombay High Court judgement[xvii] in August 2020 which upheld that holding the Tablighi Jamaat congregation responsible for the pandemic spread was propaganda and without any epidemiological relevance. The letter also criticises the ‘apology’ issued by the authors and the withdrawal of book by publishers as not have addressed the concerns raised.
“Although your letter claims that you did not want to hurt sentiments, it is saddening that your letter doesn’t acknowledge that it is incorrect from an epidemiological perspective to attribute the spread of the pandemic to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. Also, it fails to acknowledge that it was inappropriate to choose this example amongst all other similar gatherings/congregations and reflecting your own biases, knowingly or ‘inadvertently’ against the Muslim community.”
Dr Aqsa Shaikh is Associate Professor of Community Medicine and India’s first Transgender woman to head a Covid Vaccination center. She tweets on a wide range of issues ranging from LGBTQIA+ rights, Rights of Persons with Disability, Mental Health, Medical Ethics, Medical Humanities, and Medical Education Technology. She was one of the signatories critiquing the epidemiological example used in the Microbiology textbook.[xviii]
Social media responses by doctors to her were telling.
“If book says malaria is not prominent in some races because they have more sickle shape rbc..is that means that book is promoting racism…these ppl who sees religion in everything should stop reading science and should start following some fanatic”
Dr.chandra Shekhar @drshekhar2789 Mar 14, 2021
Another letter([xix]) signed by more than 200 citizens directly appealing to doctors to uphold medical ethics was in the context of Dr. Aaarti Lalchandani, a medical officer who was caught on camera making openly Islamophobic comments. The letter calls for statements to be put out by the professional bodies against any form of discrimination. Her sentiments have been echoed by several doctors. One doctor abused the then Chief Minister of Karnataka for not protecting doctors from the Tablighi.
“Yello iro Doctor ge Gaurava kottidakke ee reethi mecchuge kodobadlu illiro Doctors ge kallu hodiyodannu tadiri. Nachike aagbeku nimge. Obba Tablighi na arrest mado yogyathe illa🖕 Modlu illiro Doctors ge Tablighi galinda kallu hodiyodannu tadiri.
-Frustrated Doctor
(Instead of giving likes for doctors elsewhere being honoured, stop doctors here from being attacked by stones. You should be ashamed. You don’t have the capacity to arrest one Tablighi (middle finger emoji). First protect the doctors here from being attacked with stones by the Tablighi)
Dr. Varun S J @Dr_Varun_SJ (#HINDU_EXTREMIST) 22nd April 2020
Ironically Mohammed Zubair, who had tweeted about Dr. Aarti, now has FIRs filed against him for calling out hate
“Dr. Aarti Lalchandani refers COVID +ve Muslims as terrorists, Wants govt to send Jamatis to Jungle & Jail instead of exhausting resources. She is the same lady who’d earlier alleged that Jamatis were spitting, misbehaving & demanding Biryani. @DMKanpur”
Mohammed Zubair @zoo_bear 31st May 2020
Dr. Poonia, in expressing solidarity with Kashmiri pandits, displays his Islamophobia
“It’s not your story only, all killing done in the name of !slam is extremely brutal. Their hate for non Muslims is not instant or transient but taught from very childhood, motivated and consistent since 1400 years.🤫”
Dr. Poonia (MD,DM) @dramipoonia 11th March 2022
One doctor talks about lynching as an acceptable form of punishment for Muslims.
“Muslims cannot be lynched even if they’re rapists and murderers is the point these people want to make.”
Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy @DrDeepakKrishn1 2nd December 2019
The idea that Muslims do not belong to India is also rampant.
“Seriously 😳…so what is other muslim countries, Europe and US doing….we r not that rich to feed so many others…we have to take refugees based on religion because only India is there for Hindu’s and Sikhs…they don’t have other countries”
Dr. Ganesh Srinivasa Prasad DNB (Nephrology) @thisis_drgsp 17th August 2021
Social media is a tool whose performance is linked to how, when, where and by whom it is used [xx] It can be used to spread positive messages and health education or prejudices. These tweets give a snapshot of some of the prejudices among the medical community. There are several other social media sites that have similar hatred. The medical community has specifically taken an oath against non-discrimination. Ethics, unfortunately, isn’t something that one is born with and neither is it like a sanitiser spray, that one can pick from any corner and spray on one’s self. There is no escaping the fact that the medical community really needs to take a good hard look at itself and to ask ourselves how our prejudices affects patient care.
References
[1] SC/ST Atrocity Act ([1]) – imposing or threatening to impose ‘social or economic boycott upon a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or prevents from availing benefits of any public service which is due to him”
[i] Anita Breuer, Todd Landman and Dorothea Farquhar. 2015. “Social media and protest mobilization: evidence from the Tunisian revolution.” Democratization 22(4): 764-792. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13510347.2014.885505.
[ii] Radcliffe, Toni. 2015. The role of social media in countering oppression: revolutionary tool or weapon of the oppressor? DEVT90039 Civil Society, NGOs and the State University of Melbourne, Master of Environment. https://www.academia.edu/19626770/The_role_of_social_media_in_countering_oppression_revolutionary_tool_or_weapon_of_the_oppressor.
[iii] Holt, Kristoffer. 2019. “Key Dimensions of Alternative News Media.” Digital Journalism. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333603941_Key_Dimensions_of_Alternative_News_Media.
[iv] Langa, Mahesh. 2022. “Mohammed Zubair – The man who chased facts.” The Hindu. July 3. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mohammed-zubair-the-man-who-chased-facts/article65590897.ece?homepage=true.
[v] Mohit Chandra, Manvith Reddy, Shradha Sehgal, Saurabh Gupta, Arun Balaji Buduru, Ponnurangan Kumaraguru,. 2021. ““A Virus Has No Religion”: Analyzing Islamophobia on Twitter.” arxiv. https://arxiv.org/pdf/2107.05104.pdf.
[vi] Roy, Taniya. 2022. “Hindutva’s Circulation of Anti-Muslim Hate Aided by Digital Platforms, Finds Report.” The Wire, January 31. https://thewire.in/communalism/india-anti-muslim-hate-twitter-facebook-whatsapp-hindutva-modi-bjp.
[vii] India, Government of. 2020. The Constitution of India. Legislative department, Ministry of Law and Justice. https://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/COI.pdf.
[viii] [viii] The Constitution of India
Article 16 -Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment.—(1) There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State.
(2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State.
(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent Parliament from making any law prescribing, in regard to a class or classes of employment or appointment to an office
[ix] Part XVI Special provisions relating to certain classes 335. Claims of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts.—The claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a State.
[x] Sukhadeo Thorat, Nitin Tagade, Ajaya K Naik. 2016. “How and Why? Prejudice against Reservation Policies.” Economic and Political Weekly 51 (8). https://www.epw.in/journal/2016/8/special-articles/prejudice-against-reservation-policies.html.
[xi] Bell, George. n.d. “What is the meaning of management quota in medical college?” Medical College. https://mrmcw.org/medical/what-is-management-quota-seats-in-medical-colleges.html
[xii] “The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1980 No. 33 of 1989”, 11th September 1989 Chapter II, Offences of atrocities 3 Punishment for offences atrocities https://tribal.nic.in/actRules/preventionofAtricities.pdf
Whoever, not being a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe……
(r) “intentionally insults or intimidates with intent to humiliate a member of a Scheduled caste or a Scheduled Tribe in any place within public view” and
(s) “Abuses any member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe by caste name in any place within public view” and
(u) “By words either written or spoken or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise promotes or attempts to promote feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will against members of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes” and
(w ii) “uses words, acts or gestures of a sexual nature towards a woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled tribe knowing that she belongs to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe”
[xiii] 2021. “The Steady drumbeat of Institutional casteism: Recognise Respond Redress”. Forum Against Oppression of Women, Forum for Medical Ethics Society, Medico Friend Circle and Peoples’ Union of Civil Liberties, Maharashtra. . 2021.
[xiv] Bandewar, Sunita. 2021. “Ending caste-based oppression of students in educational institutions: An unfinished agenda.” Indian Journal of Medical Ethic 1 (Editorial): 6-9. https://ijme.in/articles/ending-caste-based-oppression-of-students-in-educational-institutions-an-unfinished-agenda/.
[xv] Shanmugavelan M (2021) “Caste-hate speech: Addressing hate-speech based on work and
descent” International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN). Edited by Wiesener K., and IDSN.
22nd March 2021 https://genderit.org/resources/caste-hate-speech-addressing-hate-speech-based-work-and-descent
[xvi] Tuthill K (2003) “ John Snow and the Broad Street pump-On the trail of an epidemic” Cricket 31(3), pp. 23-31, Nov. 2003 https://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/snowcricketarticle.html
[xvii] Desai M (2020) “ Bombay High Court defends Constitutional rights of Tablighi followers” The Leaflet. 23rd August 2020 https://theleaflet.in/bombay-high-court-defends-constitutional-rights-of-tablighi-followers/
[xviii] Unscientific Epidemiological example in Microbiology textbook promotes Islamophobia: Activists, doctors write open letter. NewsClick. 22 March 2021. Available from: https://www.newsclick.in/Unscientific-Epidemiological-Example-in-Microbiology-Textbook-Promotes-Islamophobia-Activists-Doctors-Write-Open-Letter
[xix] Campaign against Hate Speech (CAHS). (2020). “Statement Condemning abusive and communal hate speech by Dr. Aarti Lalchandani which violates principles of medical ethics and discriminates against Muslims” Hate Speech Beda, 6th June 2020
[xx] Ibid (ii)
Health and its social determinants 