With much fanfare, social commentator Dhruv Rathee posted on his video, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day in India, which attracted great attention online quite quickly.
In a jubilant celebration of Independence Day, Rathee wakesurfs with great pomp while holding the Indian national flag. Fans quickly caught on to the subtle reference to wakesurfing that Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg had done on American Independence Day.
While Zuckerberg has made headlines for wakesurfing in a tuxedo while sipping on beer, Rathee was dressed in an Indian kurta-pyjama, replaced the American flag with India’s tricolor, and made everything completely patriotic. The trending video showcased national pride while injecting loads of fun into the celebrations for Independence Day.
A Symbolic Message Behind the Waves
Along with the video, Rathee took to placing a pointed political message. He instigated the public to defend the democratic values that were being fought for by India’s freedom fighters and brought allegations of “vote chori” against the existing government. As his caption reads, “Happy Independence Day! We must protect the freedom and democracy that our freedom fighters fought so hard for. Speak up against Vote Chori! Speak up for the Nation! Jai Hind!”
Thus Rathee’s video was more than just a festivity; it was a creative media attempt to create consciousness on pressing political issues.
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Opposition Allegations and Nationwide Campaigns
The “vote chori” issue led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been the talk of the town politically. Intervening on August 7, Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission was conspiring in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in favor of the ruling party, claiming that the BJP seemed “immune to anti-incumbency”.
Responding to the accusations, the Congress party and its allies organized protests and campaigns across the nation. On August 11, Gandhi and other leaders were detained while marching to Election Commission office in Delhi. Parallel to this, regional party members from Karnataka, Telangana and Chandigarh held marches, filed complaints, and organized signature campaigns to generate awareness. The Indian Youth Congress actively protested outside the EC’s Delhi office to keep the issue alive.
ALSO READ: Karnataka CEO Challenges Rahul Gandhi to Prove Voter Fraud Claim
Merging Patriotism with Political Commentary
Melding a striking gesture for Independence Day with a political statement, Dhruv Rathee exemplified the use of social media as a powerful tool for activism. The video served not only as an entertaining and playful tribute to global icons, but it also addressed the importance of civil vigilance in protecting democracy.
In a day and age where creativity meets activism, Rathee’s display of wakesurfing stands as a symbol of national pride conjugated with civic responsibility.
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