Abusing not cool: Dhaakad Manu Bhaker shoots straight amid row over Gen Z using cuss words
India's youngest Olympic shooting medallist, Manu Bhaker, has weighed in on the growing normalisation of abusive language among young people, saying that "using bad language
India's youngest Olympic shooting medallist, Manu Bhaker, has weighed in on the growing normalisation of abusive language among young people, saying that "using bad language is not cool" and urging people to choose their words wisely. Bhaker's remarks come days after videos from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar showed sections of protesters using profane slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sparking a wider debate over the limits of political expression and public discourse. Read Full Story Prominent people have taken diverse stands on the issue and actors Anupam Kher and Ashutosh Rana separately joined in the debate. Manu Bhaker, a two-time Olympic medallist, on Sunday (August 2) cautioned against the increasing acceptance of abusive language in everyday conversations, saying that the words people choose ultimately shape their personality and character. "The language we choose reflects our personality and the kind of person we are. Choose your words wisely, because over time, you become what you think, what you speak, and what you practice," Bhaker wrote in a post on X. She stressed that profanity should not be mistaken for confidence or modernity. "Using bad language is not cool. Abusing is not cool," she wrote. Bhaker further said that true "coolness" lies in values rather than vocabulary. "Let's keep the definition of cool simple: being hardworking, kind, respectful towards others and yourself, striving to be successful through honesty, and making your parents and your country proud.
That's cool," she added. MANU BHAKER EXPLAINS WHY SHE SPOKE ON LANGUAGE ISSUE Explaining why she chose to speak on the issue, the Olympian said abusive language had gradually become normalised, especially among the younger generation. "I'm speaking about this because, over the past few years, the way we perceive abusive language has changed. For many, using such words has become so normal that it's even considered 'cool'. Without realising it, people casually use degrading and disrespectful language in everyday conversations," Bhaker said. While Bhaker did not mention any specific incident, her remarks came less than a week after the CJP agitation at Jantar Mantar concluded following Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union education minister on July 25. During the agitation, several videos circulated on social media showing younger participants using profane slogans directed at PM Modi. PM Modi on Friday (July 31) shared a new video message on Instagram, saying he had forgiven the students who abused him during a recent protest at Jantar Mantar and urging society to guide them instead of seeking punishment. "Children make mistakes, and childhood is also the time when they should be given a chance to correct those mistakes. I want to forgive those who abused me. I request society to accept my decision," PM Modi said in the two-minute-long video message. The debate over the language used during the protests has drawn reactions from several public figures. ANUPAM KHER BACKS STUDENTS, CONDEMNS ABUSIVE LANGUAGE Veteran actor Anupam Kher, while congratulating students on achieving their objective through the protest, said he was deeply disturbed by the abusive language directed at the Prime Minister.
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