The other day there was one of those unsolicited messages in one of those unsolicited groups. Yes, with time, I have started attending WhatsApp University. And with time, I have stopped exiting groups; I attend these classes as a passive, mute student of unlearning – though my attendance would be considered insufficient. Many may call me a watcher or even a voyeur. However, I yearn to unlearn a lot – especially from groups that proudly exhibit the term Media or Journalist. So I do occasionally glance through the sundry post when I need to unlearn or get winded. In the message, one of these media specialists targeted a certain “infamous” communist leader, raising questions over his source of income in supporting his livelihood (even if frugal) or funding an election campaign. Left is just a four-letter word today. And now that it has been rendered politically and economically irrelevant, I find it amusing that some people still find it worth flogging a dead horse. And I LoL when someo...

Perhaps the biggest leap taken by mankind in recent time on social media or a messaging platform was with the invention of WhatsApp. It is free (almost), it is convenient, and it is ubiquitous! But armchair warriors have turned this boon into a bane! With several hate messages going viral on WhatsApp following north-east Delhi riots, @DelhiPolice tweeted on March 3: “Hey guys! Not done. You have taken the job of spreading नफ़रत so brazenly. Rest assured, we are watching you all, and mighty well. While we know some of these are fake IDs, be sure of our capabilities to hunt you down  😎 . Take this as a sweet warning! #DelhiPoliceNailsFake” An idea that was meant to unite is being used by bigots and zealots to divide. They are spreading falsehood and – through it – also hatred. There is a term that is being widely used for messages that have no basis, only bias – WhatsApp University. Again, this is how a senior police officer in India, @IPSMadhurVerma, m...