NEW DELHI: Giving her the title of “free speech warrior”, Time Magazine has selected Gurmehar Kaur in its list of Next Generation Leaders for 2017.
The Kargil martyr’s daughter is placed at the second spot in an impressive list with the likes of Richard Casper, an American Iraq war veteran, Star Wars actor John Boyega, South African Comedian Trevor Noah and YouTube sensation Lilly Singh.
The 20-year-old student of Lady Shri Ram College rose to fame after she protested against the violence by members Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) after violence at Rajhans College in Delhi.
Kaur had taken on the ABVP on Facebook and Twitter and launched a social media campaign against the RSS student wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) only to face death and rape threats.
She posted a picture of herself holding up a placard with words, “I am a student from Delhi University. I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of India is with me. #StudentsAgainstABVP.”
Another video of her holding the placard that read, “My mother made me understand that Pakistanis did not kill my dad. War killed him. Today I’m a soldier too, just like my dad. I fight for peace between India and Pakistan.
Because if there was no war between us, my father would still be here today.” also went viral on social media.
She was even criticised by celebrities such as actor Randeep Hooda and former cricketer Virender Sehwag.