‘Murphy’s Law has always been against me’

This firsthand information about guidelines, protocols, and safety measures that Balram kept sharing with his followers not only educated them about things they needed to do in times of emergency but also prompted him—and the tone of his page—to become more opinionated, liberal and vociferous. When asked whether putting out COVID related information was the first step that marked the change of tonality for the page, he said: “My page has always been outspoken and I’ve made so many enemies because of it…but it was only after COVID that I thought that I am not going to put any kind of filters in what I want to say. At the end of the day, AndheriWestShitPosting is my space and is a page that I have created—so I can definitely speak from my point-of-view on my space.”

Both of Balram’s sisters, as well as his mother, tested positive for the virus as well. Once he had recovered, Balram went back to the CC2 facility and volunteered to counsel patients going through anxiety and stress. “I just wanted to do my bit,” he said. “I wanted to give back.” And after almost an entire year since it underwent its initial transformation, AndheriWestShitPosting—although a hyperlocal meme page at heart—today discusses (in its own unique style) issues that are varied as politics, farm laws, gender bias, and hate crimes. “I have always been an informed voter—but I never wanted to be preachy. Earlier, I was of the opinion that this is a shitposting page and people should expect less from it. But then this has changed after COVID-19 because I have realised that if I don’t speak my voice and opinions and do not share information with my followers and others, then somebody else will.”

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