Swara Bhasker expresses anger over Muslim pupil being abused by teacher in India

Indian film actor Swara Bhasker took to Twitter to express her anger in the wake of a viral video clip showing a public school teacher in India encouraging students to abuse a Muslim classmate physically. While many Indian social media users reacted with shock and horror to the video, Swara was quick to point out the hypocrisy of Indians who have perpetuated inter-faith violence through their political choices and have previously turned a blind eye to the rapid spread of Islamophobia in their country.

In the tweet, Swara wrote: “Dear ‘shocked’ fellow Hindu, If you have voted for BJP, tried to be ‘objective’ or ‘neutral’ in the face of rank bigotry and hate, claimed to see ‘both sides’, remained silent in the face of all that has happened in the last decade, then take your shock and stuff it up someplace in the rear. You don’t get to virtue signal today! #ArrestTriptaTyagi #ArrestTriptaTayagi.”

While calling out her countrymen for their hypocrisy and virtue signalling, the Veere Di Wedding actor also called for the arrest of the school teacher Trapta Tyagi, who could clearly be seen in the video commanding her students to slap their classmate one by one. Swara very fearlessly name-called India’s dominating political party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), pointing to its fascist ideology and its strong role in promoting Islamophobia and violence against Muslims in India ever since it rose to power.  

On this side of the border, Pakistani celebrity Ushna Shah posted about the incident across the border on her Twitter profile, writing, “Absolutely infuriated by the viral video of a Muslim child in India tormented by classmates on a teacher's command. The sheer lack of morality and humanity displayed is unfathomable. This isn't education—it's indoctrination of hate!#ZeroToleranceForHate #JusticeForTheInnocent #WhereIsOurHumanity.”

Both Swara and Ushna are known to be very vocal about their opinions and have a reputation of raising their voice on social media in the face of injustice and violence. 

Swara married Indian-Muslim activist Fahad Ahmad in 2023, and they recently shared that they are expecting their first child together. In addition to being a humanitarian at heart, Swara’s empathy for Muslims facing hardships, hate, and violence in India is also due to her close connection to the Muslim community via her husband.