It was not the easiest book launch to attend in Kolkata on Tuesday. The air of celebration that is usual on such events was conspicuous by its absence. Normally, pride dominates all other emotions on stage but this time it was a sense of relief that stood out as Boria Majumdar launched Banned: A Social Media Trial.
The book is an account of the impact of a social media trial that he was subject to in 2022 in the wake of a cricketer’s post on Twitter (now X) that suggested that a journalist had bullied and threatened him. That post was enough to ignite a fire that raged for days on end – and shockingly dragged Boria Majumdar’s family in to it.
It is not an easy read. In fact, Banned: A Social Media Trial is a disturbing read. It would not have been an easy book to write, especially when it is apparent that closure can never be achieved in the real sense of the term. If at some point in their lives, their paths cross, Boria Majumdar and The Cricketer, they will most likely look through one another.
Before I go further, a disclaimer would be in place, lest you think this is commissioned piece. Yes, I have been a consultant with Revsportz since February 2023, but I have retained my independence as a sports communication professional and continue to do a range of work beyond writing on the digital platform that he has created to further Indian sport.
It takes different kind of courage to write a book of this nature. Social Media posts can be deleted (though many save screenshots), YouTube videos can be edited or deleted, but a book is permanent testament of what the author has to say about a subject. Boria Majumdar did post a video in his defence on March 5, 2022, but the fire was not doused.
Besides presenting Boria Majumdar’s side of the story, the book offers sharp insights into how the endless frenzy whipped up on social media does not consider pausing for a moment to see if all sides of a story are presented. The mostly nameless and faceless trolls, driven by a herd mentality, indulge in mudslinging and slut-shaming families, scarring them for life.
Of course, each human mind reacts or responds differently to a social media trial. Banned: A Social Media Trial tells the reader of the impact of the blitz on Boria Majumdar and his family since early 2022. The dark thoughts that stormed his mind, the ostracisation that followed; and the withdrawal of a sponsor from one his projects in the wake of the controversy are some that he shares.
It also lets the reader get a glimpse of the coping mechanism, with the support of his wife Sharmistha Gooptu. The conversations with Pullela Gopichand and Abhinav Bindra, the strength provided by Debasis Sen and Trisha Ghosal, the launch of Maverick Commissioner, a book on Lalit Modi, the rise of Revsportz as a digital sports media leader find generous mention.
There is one critical chain of thought that the reading of the book sparks. Of course, at the micro level, society must make available support systems, especially on the mental health side, to those being trolled. And at the macro level, there is a need for society to evolve to such an extent that social media remains social.
Given that it is a fairly recent phenomenon – and one that has grown without any immunisation against the toxicity that it unleashes with a gale force – there is a great need for society to evolve with maturity. Indeed our education system must empower the literate to embrace responsibility with as much intensity as they exercise the right to express themselves on social media.
Society must find some way to make people lower a gear when they are driven by an urge to rush to sit in judgement. It must ingrain an ability in its people to take in all sides of a story before forming an opinion, let alone expressing it in public without feeling responsible. Perhaps this is the greatest challenge facing civil society today.
While it is true that people in public life open themselves up to criticism as much as appreciation, their families must not be dragged into controversies. It is the worst spinoff, one that spirals beyond anyone’s control. But averting that calls for an immense effort from everyone who is using social media for whatever purpose.
Banned: A Social Media Trial, Boria Majumdar, Simon & Schuster India, 205 pages, hardbound, Rs 699.
