Delhi University student Gurmehar Kaur has been referred to as a “Free-Speech Warrior” by the Time magazine and named as one of the Next Generation Leaders. The 20-year-old came into prominence after raising her voice against campus violence at Delhi University in February.
“I noticed that people listen to what I say and why should I keep mum if I am saying something positive,” Kaur told Time Magazine.
Earlier this year, she was all over the news after she took to social media to post a picture of herself, holding a placard that read,” Pakistan did not kill my father, war killed him.” As per reports, she did this to promote peace between India and Pakistan.
After this photo went viral, Kaur had received death and rape threats and she became a topic of debate.
Before this picture, she had posted another photo of herself on social media against ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad). Her placard in this picture read,” I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone.”
She shared the news on social media today and wrote, “Humbled and honoured to be mentioned alongside people I’ve always looked up to and admired, as one of Time’s Next Generation Leaders and as the first Indian woman to do so. You don’t know the amount of strength and resilience you’re capable of till you are put to test. Peace and love for the win, always!”
Meanwhile, popular publishing house Penguin Random House India is all set to publish Gurmehar Kaur’s ‘personal work of nonfiction’ titled Small Acts of Freedom. “When people ask me where I gather strength from, I cannot just point at one incident. My story does not start with me,” Kaur stated.
