>Fylindfotberserk at 20:36, 15 February 2021

2021-02-15T20:36:10Z

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{{Short description|Indian student activist and author}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Gurmehar Kaur
|image = Gurmehar Kaur and Happymon Jacob at a book launch in New Delhi with the author.jpg
|caption = Kaur with the author Happymon Jacob at the book launch of ''The Line of Control: Travelling with the Indian and Pakistani Armies''
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|09|24|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite tweet|user=mehartweets |number=911810027685646336|title=Raising hell for peace-Writer-@TIME‘Next Gen Leader’-@UniOfOxford Specialising in South Asian Studies|date=24 September 2017|accessdate=17 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gurmehar Kaur on Instagram: "I don't know about you but I'm not feeling 22 🎵 Here's to turning 23 in one of the oldest most beautiful libraries in the world surrounded…" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B21Sa3HgqJ2/?igshid=qilh20c3658c |website=Instagram |access-date=17 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress.com"/>
|birth_place = [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab, India]]
|nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
|education = B.A. (Hons.) in English Literature at [[Lady Shri Ram College for Women]], [[University of Delhi]]
| alma_mater = [[Somerville College, Oxford]]
|occupation =
|organization =
}}

'''Gurmehar Kaur''' (born 24 September 1996) is an [[India]]n [[student activist]] and [[author]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-is-gurmehar-kaur/article17410287.ece|title=Who is Gurmehar Kaur?|work=The Hindu|access-date=11 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> As of 2019, she is pursuing her masters from [[Somerville College, Oxford|Somerville College]], Oxford University. Kaur is also an ambassador for Postcards for Peace, a [[United Kingdom|UK]]-based charitable organisation that helps eliminate any form of discrimination.<ref name="indianexpress">{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/who-is-gulmehar-kaur-whats-the-ongoing-savedu-campaign-all-about-all-your-questions-answered-4547653/|title=Who is Gurmehar Kaur? What's the ongoing #SaveDU campaign all about? All your questions answered|date=28 February 2017|work=The Indian Express|access-date=1 March 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Gurmehar Kaur came in the limelight as she was a part of the ‘Save DU campaign’ following the February 2017 clashes at [[Ramjas College]] between members of the [[Students Federation of India]] (SFI) and the [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] (ABVP) when [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|JNU]] students [[Umar Khalid]] and [[Shehla Rashid Shora]] were invited for a campus seminar. Earlier, she was in the news due to a video she released.

In October 2017, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]]'' used the phrase "free speech warrior" in expressing their opinion of Kaur and included her in their "10 Next Generation Leaders" list for 2017.<ref>Sources:
*{{Cite news|url=http://time.com/collection-post/4971516/gurmehar-kaur-head-next-generation-leaders/|title=Free-Speech Warrior|last=Kumar|first=Nikhil|date=12 October 2017|work=Time|access-date=30 May 2019}}
*{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/chandigarh/surprised-happy-says-gurmehar-kaur-on-making-it-to-the-times-magazine-list-of-10-next-generation-leaders-4889380/|title=Surprised & happy, says Gurmehar Kaur on making it to the Times Magazine list of 10 next generation leaders|date=14 October 2017|work=The Indian Express|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en-US}}
*{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gurmehar-kaur-named-next-generation-leader-by-time-magazine/articleshow/61066899.cms|title=Gurmehar Kaur named Next Generation leader by Time magazine - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=16 October 2017}}
*{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/free-speech-warrior-gurmehar-is-one-of-time-magazine-s-next-gen-leaders/story-ojbFeup02FrmsLBuBFVecJ.html|title='Free speech warrior' Gurmehar Kaur among Time's top 10 Next Gen leaders|date=13 October 2017|work=hindustan times|access-date=16 October 2017|language=en}}</ref> She has authored a book, a memoir, called ''[[Small Acts of Freedom]]'' which was published in January 2018 by [[Penguin Random House]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/small-acts-of-freedom-review-memories-and-reality/article22480341.ece|title=Small Acts of Freedom review: Memories and reality|last=Santhanam|first=Radhika|date=20 January 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=10 February 2018|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/gurmehar-kaurs-small-acts-of-freedom-to-be-published-soon/articleshow/58750986.cms|title=Gurmehar Kaur's 'Small Acts of Freedom' to be published soon - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=16 October 2017}}</ref> She was also a speaker at the [[Harvard University|Harvard]] US India Initiative held in New Delhi in January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://huii.in/|title=Home - Harvard US India Initiative|website=HUII|language=en-US|access-date=10 February 2018}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Gurmehar Kaur was born to Rajvinder Kaur and Captain Mandeep Singh in Jalandhar.<ref name="indianexpress"/> She completed her education at Harvest International School, Ludhiana. Her father, Mandeep Singh, was one of the seven [[Indian Army]] personnel martyred at 1:15 am IST after a [[Rashtriya Rifles|Rashtriya Rifle]] camp was attacked by terrorists in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] on 6 August 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.indiatoday.in/story/gurmehar-kaur-captain-mandeep-singh-ramjas-college-delhi-university-abvp-operation-rakshak/1/894406.html|title=All about Gutmehar Kaur's Father Captain Mandeep Singh|last=Sehgal|first=Manjeet|website=M.indiatoday.in}}</ref> Kaur holds a degree in Literature from Lady Shri Ram College for Women.

In September 2019 she joined [[Somerville College, Oxford|Somerville College]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]], and is pursuing her MSc in Modern South Asian Studies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/books/310719/young-restless-and-bold.html|title=Young, restless and bold|last=Yerasala|first=Ikyatha|date=31 July 2019|website=The Asian Age|access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://whtrust.org/author/gurmehar-kaur/|title=Gurmehar Kaur, Author at Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust|website=Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust|language=en-GB|access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
=== Indo-Pak peace message video ===
[[File:Gurmehar Kaur (left) at an Amnesty event in New Delhi. Shehla Rashid (right) also pictured.jpg|left|thumb|Gurmehar Kaur (left) at an [[Amnesty International]] event, Conversations 18', in New Delhi. [[Shehla Rashid Shora|Shehla Rashid]] (right) also pictured.]]
On 28 April 2016, a video was uploaded to Facebook by Voice of Ram (Ram Subramanian), featuring Gurmehar Kaur.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/voiceoframdotcom/videos/1280502295312412/|title=Log in or Sign Up to View|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> The video was also uploaded to YouTube by Voice of Ram.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97yJsfddi4w|title=Gurmehar kaur Soldier of peace|last=Voice Of Ram|date=28 April 2016|via=YouTube}}</ref> Gurmehar Kaur launched the #ProfileForPeace campaign in April 2016, questioning the calibre of leadership of India and Pakistan in the video, and advocating "peace" between India and Pakistan. She styled herself as a "soldier for peace" fighting against war.

The video went viral<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inuth.com/entertainment/bollywood/anurag-kashyap-speaks-on-gurmehar-kaur-row-says-social-media-is-being-used-for-political-polarisation/|title=Anurag Kashyap speaks on Gurmehar Kaur row, says social media is being used for political polarisation|date=1 March 2017|website=Inuth.com|access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref> in February 2017, after Gurmehar came forward with a social media message against ABVP at [[Delhi University]], a student federation belonging to the [[Sangh Parivar]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/meet-gurmehar-kaur-the-du-student-and-martyr-s-daughter-who-took-on-abvp/story-dScVooYNLGnhZiC4s3lE0H.html |title=Meet Gurmehar Kaur, the DU student and martyr's daughter who took on ABVP | delhi |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/virender-sehwag-calls-his-reaction-to-gurmehar-kaurs-post-facetious-1664819 |title=Virender Sehwag Defends Himself Over Gurmehar Kaur Issue in 3 Tweets – NDTV Sports |website=Sports.ndtv.com |date=1 March 2017 |access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref> It attracted much controversy and ridicule, particularly a statement: "Pakistan did not kill my dad, war killed him."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesnow.tv/india/article/who-is-the-indian-medias-latest-student-muse-gurmehar-kaur/56751|title=Who Is The Indian Media's Latest Student Muse Gurmehar Kaur?|date=27 February 2017|website=Timesnow.tv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/gurmehar-kaurs-father-died-defending-company-hq/|title=Gurmehar Kaur's father died defending company HQ|date=28 February 2017|website=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/gurmehar-kaurs-father-not-kargil-war-hero-he-hero-nonetheless-717623|title=Gurmehar Kaur's father is NOT a Kargil War hero... but he is a hero nonetheless|website=International Business Times, India Edition|language=en|last1=Ghoshal|first1=Arkadev|date=28 February 2017|access-date=2 March 2017}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline |date=December 2018}}

In 2017, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs of India [[Kiren Rijiju]] commented on her video that 'Some Political forces are behind her statements (Spoiling the minds of the students)'.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/why-gurmehar-kaur-is-wrong-and-why-its-dangerous-to-tag-everyone-who-disagrees-with-her-a-troll-3306968.html|title=Why Gurmehar Kaur is wrong and why it's dangerous to tag everyone who disagrees with her a 'troll'|date=28 February 2017|work=Firstpost|access-date=1 March 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> Former cricketer [[Virender Sehwag]] posted an image saying, "I didn't score triple centuries, my bat did".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gurmehar-kaur-abvp-kargil-virender-sehwag-indian-army-ramjas/1/892979.html|title=Gurmehar Kaur straight bats Sehwag, asks if its ok to make fun of a fathers death|website=Indiatoday.intoday.in|access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref> [[Javed Akhtar]] also commented on this issue as he counterattacked on all those who were against Gurmehar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/javed-akhtar-says-gurmehar-kaur-trolled-by-hardly-literate-player-wrestler-1664575|title=Javed Akhtar Says Gurmehar Kaur Trolled By 'Hardly Literate Player, Wrestler'|last=Akhtar|first=Javed|date=1 March 2017|website=NDTV India|archive-date=1 March 2017|access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref>

Gurmehar's mother showed support for her daughter clarifying that "Her message in the video should be seen in a larger perspective. What she actually wanted to say was that war always brings destruction. I never wanted her to look at people of Pakistan or any other country with hatred. Situations make people kill each other during a war."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gurmehar-kaur-mother-rajvinder-kaur-ramjas-college-delhi-university/1/894254.html |title=Gurmehar Kaur's mother to India Today: It pains when she's called anti-national, proud of what she did : India, News - India Today |website=Indiatoday.intoday.in |date=1 March 2017 |access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>

=== Save DU Campaign ===
She started Save DU campaign against ABVP in February 2017 in which she opposed the violence that erupted at the Ramjas College Campus after the lectures of [[Umar Khalid]] and [[Shehla Rashid Shora]] were cancelled due to ABVP's protest.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gurmehar-kaur-rape-threat-accused-not-identified/1/896516.html|title=Delhi Police fails to identify suspects who threatened Gurmehar Kaur|website=Indiatoday.intoday.in|access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref> She received death and rape threats for starting this campaign and later on she left the campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/rape-threats-cops-yet-to-identify-suspects/article17404546.ece|title=Rape threats: cops yet to identify suspects|work=The Hindu|access-date=5 March 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/who-is-gulmehar-kaur-whats-the-ongoing-savedu-campaign-all-about-all-your-questions-answered-4547653/|title=Who is Gurmehar Kaur? What's the ongoing #SaveDU campaign all about? All your questions answered|date=28 February 2017}}</ref>

== Books ==
* ''[[Small Acts of Freedom]]'' (2018), Penguin Random House
* ''The Young and the Restless (Youth and Politics in India)'' (2019), Penguin Books

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://penguin.co.in/book_author/gurmehar-kaur/ Gurmehar Kaur] at [[Penguin India]]
* [https://www.ted.com/talks/gurmehar_kaur_the_power_and_the_risk_of_raising_your_voice Gurmehar Kaur - Ted Talk - The Power and the Risk of raising your voice.], [[Ted.com]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaur, Gurmehar}}
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Indian women writers]]
[[Category:Lady Shri Ram College alumni]]
[[Category:People from Jalandhar]]
[[Category:Alumni of Somerville College, Oxford]]

Gurmehar Kaur - Revision history

>Fylindfotberserk at 20:36, 15 February 2021