Namita Thapar hits back after being trolled for reel on health benefits of namaz
Namita Thapar has hit back with a strongly worded video after facing online trolling and abuse over her Instagram reel on the health benefits of namaz.
Entrepreneur Namita Thapar hit back at trolls with a strongly worded video, invoking karma, after facing backlash over an Instagram reel on the health benefits of namaz.
Thapar, a judge on the popular show Shark Tank India, shared the reel on March 25, shortly after Eid. In a new video, the 49-year-old alleged that several sections of the internet had been calling her and her mother names "non-stop" over the past three weeks because of the reel.
In the Instagram reel, Thapar described Eid as one of “gratitude, giving, togetherness and oneness” and thanked a friend for explaining how namaz could also incur health benefits. In the video, she also mentioned that one of her friends had asked her whether she knew about the health benefits of namaz. Calling it “truly incredible”, she described namaz as a form of full-body exercise that improves flexibility and blood circulation.
Addressing the criticism in her new video, Thapar – who identified herself as a healthcare professional - pointed out that she had previously created content on multiple faiths without any controversy. “Maine itne saare Hindu religion pe reels banayi hai. Unke health benefits pe. Har Yoga Day pe asanas, especially Surya Namaskar ke reels banati hoon, tab toh kisi ne kuch nahi kahaa (I have made several reels on Hindu religious practices and their health benefits. Every Yoga Day, I share videos on asanas, especially Surya Namaskar, but no one said anything then),” she said in the video.
Calling for mutual respect across religions, Thapar said, “Mujhe sikhaaya gaya hai, R for religion means R for respect. And is this how you respect? Especially two women (I was taught that ‘R for religion’ means ‘R for respect’. And this is how you show respect? Especially towards two women).”
In a seeming reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s apology to the nation's mothers and daughters on Saturday following the defeat of an amendment to push the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament, Thapar also questioned the silence around online abuse against women. “Women’s Reservation Bill pass nahi hua, toh sab bolte hain. Lekin, jab do women ki aisi disrespect hoti hai, toh phir silence kyun (People speak up when the Women’s Reservation Bill is not passed, but when two women are disrespected like this, why the silence)?”
Saying she has learnt to stand up for herself, Thapar added, “Aapke liye koi nahi bolega (Nobody will speak up for you). You have to speak up for yourself.” She warned her detractors against their actions, invoking the idea of karma - the belief that one’s actions ultimately bring corresponding consequences. “Hinduism has a concept called Karma. God is watching,” she said.
Urging those who believe in respect across faiths to amplify her message instead of negative content, she concluded, “Negative reels meri bohat viral ho gayi hain. Ab yeh waali, viral karke dikhaaiyye (My negative reels have gone viral. Now make this one go viral).”
Her reel on ‘health benefits of namaz’ had triggered backlash, with some users posting critical and sarcastic comments.
“I am glad I never followed her," one user said, while another said, “Do you know about Surya Namaskar?”
Yet another user posted this: “You should start wearing Hijab and Burkha - don't miss out on the health benefits of being covered."
Watch the controversial video here:
Namita Thapar is the executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals and a prominent voice in India’s healthcare and startup ecosystem