04/02/2024
In the land of five rivers, where the stories of valor and rebellion are born with the soil, a new saga unfolds. It's not the ballads of old, sung by the bards, but the tweets and reels of the new-age warriors - the social media influencers. These digital reel dabangs, armed with smartphones and the might of a thousand to millions likes, have taken upon themselves the noble task of enforcing law and order, one viral video at a time. And as they march forth, filters on and hashtags ready, the echoes of their bravery fill the virtual halls of Instagram and Twitter, leaving the actual halls of justice oddly silent.
Enter the scene: the AAP government, riding high on a wave of unprecedented public mandate. A beacon of hope for many, promising change, transparency, and a governance that listens to its people. Yet, as the plot thickens, this beacon seems to flicker and fade, turning against the very populace that once championed its cause. The irony? A government elected to serve and protect, now spectating as the influencers turn into self-appointed guardians of the realm. The people's representatives, it seems, have left the chat, leaving governance to those who govern the trends.
This unfolding tragedy - or should we say, comedy? - of errors and ego, where governance is outsourced to the influencers, and the elected turn into spectators, is a plot twist not even Shakespeare could have envisioned. In Punjab, where once revolutions were born from the ashes of oppression, the revolution now is live-streamed, hashtagged, and shared, for a fleeting moment of fame in the digital colosseum.
As the lines between reality and virtuality blur, one can't help but wonder: if an influencer breaks the law in the forest of social media, and there's no government around to hear it, do they make a sound? Or do they simply add a soundtrack, edit it for dramatic effect, and wait for the likes to roll in?
So here's to Punjab, where the digital and the political collide, creating a spectacle so surreal, it can only be true in the age of social media. A tale of irony, sarcasm, and wit, unfolding in the palm of your hand. Swipe up to continue watching the tragedy... or is it a comedy? Only time, perhaps the next viral post and arrest, will tell.
