Photo: annavetticad / Twitter
Photo: annavetticad / Twitter

Playing your cards wrong

On Twitter’s tepid encounter with caste patriarchy.

Chhetria Patrakar is Himal's roving media critic.

Published on

Jack Dorsey's India visit ended on a real Twitter moment.

As the photograph of the company's co-founder and chief executive – who was standing with writers, journalists and activists in New Delhi holding a placard given to him that read "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy" – made rounds on the internet, Twitter's limitations were on full display. The man with the sign did not seem to understand its powerful message, and the people responding angrily to it seemed to understand it even less, predictably and indignantly conflating Brahminism with Brahmins. Added to the muddle was the apology from a Twitter official, who regretted that a private moment had been made public, distancing itself from the placard's message.

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