At a time when Nepal is reeling from widespread unrest with youth-led uprisings shaking the very foundations of law and order it is deeply concerning to see segments of the Indian leftist and Congress-aligned ecosystem expressing not just sympathy, but veiled admiration for the chaos. Disturbingly, some are even pushing for a similar breakdown in India’s comparatively stable and peaceful democratic setup.
One glaring example is social media influencer Aishwarya Subramanyam, who operates under the handle @otherwarya. Known for her woke, left-leaning takes, she recently shared an Instagram story that raised eyebrows and tempers. The story highlighted a news piece titled “Nepal ministers cling to army chopper ropes to escape Gen-Z protesters,” with the caption, “India when.”
This offhand remark, perceived as a call for similar violent uprisings in India, was quickly called out on social media. Critics accused her of normalizing political violence and romanticizing the destabilization of democratic institutions all under the garb of progressive commentary.
But this isn’t her first brush with controversy.
During heightened India–Pakistan tensions following the pahalgam terror attack, Aishwarya Subramanyam posted a series of Instagram stories that was glorifying a Pakistani Air Force officer while mocking India’s military.
The posts were as follows:
A Collage of the Pakistani Air Force Officer accompanied with a Love Song:
The central image edited using CapCut with decorative red roses — featured a man in Pakistani Air Force uniform – who was none other than their Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb. Overlaying the image was the caption and accompanied by old Hindi love song, “Hum Thumse Pyar Karte”
“Ye aesi nation se ap log larna chahte ho 😭😭😭 Sorry yaar 😭” (Translation: “You guys want to fight a nation like this 😭😭😭 Sorry, yaar😭”) The romantic filter, emojis, and tone were interpreted by many as infatuation or admiration, prompting anger from those who viewed it as disrespectful toward India’s armed forces.
The second story read: “Also, women (and men) have been thirsting over the airforce officer named Aurangazeb since he’s been in the press briefings .” @otherwarya responded with repeated “I SEE” texts, implying agreement with the sentiment.
In her third post, Aishwarya Subramanyam alludes to a claim that a female Indian Air Force officer had been captured by Pakistan. She backs this by referencing a cartoon-style advertisement released by a Pakistani soft drink company, which, according to her, indirectly confirmed the incident.
The advertisement in question draws on the real-life 2019 Balakot airstrike, when Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistan and famously served tea while in custody, a moment that became symbolic and politically charged. The new ad satirizes this event by replacing tea with the company’s energy drink and featuring a cartoon version of an Indian pilot calmly enjoying the beverage, implying a repeat scenario but with a female figure this time. The ad’s tagline, “No tea this time,” is seen as a deliberate jab, adding a layer of mockery to a deeply sensitive geopolitical issue.
Aishwarya’s caption reads: “Correct info hai. A local energy/color drink company even published a cartoonised ad yesterday of the captured female pilot having their drink instead of tea this time LOL,” followed by, “Wahhh show.” Her seemingly joking tone, combined with the mocking reference, sparked outrage among X users. Many perceived it as disrespectful to the Indian armed forces and inappropriate given the fraught history and current state of India-Pakistan relations.
This cavalier attitude toward such a sensitive geopolitical issue especially one involving the Indian armed forces sparked a wave of backlash. Netizens blasted her for her glib tone and for amplifying Pakistani propaganda at the expense of Indian military dignity.
The reaction to Aishwarya’s posts was swift and unforgiving. Social media users accused her of glorifying a hostile nation, mocking India’s military, and pushing a narrative that undermines national unity. Given the public’s respect for the armed forces, particularly in the wake of real sacrifices made during the India-Pakistan conflict, her posts were seen as not just provocative but anti-national in spirit. Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, whom she indirectly praised, has reportedly made statements critical of India, adding further fuel to the outrage.
Aishwarya Subramanyam’s posts aren’t isolated incidents. They reflect a broader trend among certain sections of the online “woke” crowd who, in their performative activism and contrarianism, often end up romanticizing chaos abroad while belittling institutions at home.
At a time when responsible civic discourse is more crucial than ever, such narratives do little more than stir division and worse, embolden hostility.
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