iWorld
Awkward silence as Awkward Goat’s X account gets pulled down
MUMBAI: When the influencer known as Awkward Goat disappeared from X this week, it set off a storm of speculation. Her real name is Divija Bhasin, a counselling psychologist-turned-content creator and while the exact reason for her suspension remains unconfirmed, the timing coincides with a heated controversy around her recent “Proud R-word” campaign.
Bhasin’s campaign sought to reclaim the slur “randi” (a word historically used to degrade women, including sex workers) by calling herself “a proud randi,” a move that sparked widespread backlash. Critics argued that her reclamation effort trivialises the word’s painful history.
At least one complainant has filed a First Information Report (FIR), alleging that Bhasin’s campaign influenced minors to adopt the slur in their social media bios.
Bhasin responded defiantly: “If I go to jail … I’ll happily go if it means people will finally start taking verbal abuse against women seriously.”
Though she’s built a significant following as a mental health advocate Forbes India ranked her among its top digital creators. Bhasin has also drawn criticism over whether she is sufficiently qualified. Some social media users have challenged her use of the title “psychologist,” alleging she misrepresents her credentials.
She’s also been accused of blocking critics, including those who say she spreads “inaccuracy and misinformation” in her psychology-related content.
This isn’t Bhasin’s first run-in with public outrage. Earlier, she floated unconventional views on marriage refusing to wear sindoor or mangalsutra, not taking her husband’s surname, and describing her relationship on her own terms.
That video too drew both praise and criticism, with some lauding her modern take and others rebuking her for what they saw as an intentional provocation.
While X (formerly Twitter) has not confirmed the reason behind the suspension, some observers link it to the backlash surrounding her “Proud R-word” activism. The legal complaints, especially relating to minors and a sensitive slur, align with a volatile moment in her public journey. Others speculate it could be a content moderation move, or even linked to mass reporting campaigns.
Why It Matters
. Influencer accountability: Bhasin’s story raises bigger questions about influencers reclaiming controversial language, and where the line lies between empowerment and harm.
. Platform responsibility: Whether the suspension is for policy violations or reputational damage, it highlights how platforms like X handle creator conduct amid public outcry.
. Mental health discourse: As a self-identified psychologist, Bhasin’s run-ins reflect the tension between influencer content and professional responsibility. Critics argue that her provocative style undermines trust in mental health advice.
. Social activism vs. backlash: The episode demonstrates how social movements can erupt but also combust when rooted in reclaimed words that carry deep historical trauma.
For now, Divija Bhasin has not publicly confirmed why her X account was suspended. Whether the “Proud R-word” controversy is directly linked remains unverified, but the convergence of backlash, legal pressure, and platform penalties has made this one of the most widely watched influencer controversies in recent months.
Broadband
Airtel and Jio surge ahead as Vodafone Idea and BSNL lose subscribers in December
India’s mobile base rises in December, but gains skewed towards the top two operators
NEW DELHI: India’s telecom market ended 2025 with a familiar split: the leaders sprinting ahead, the laggards slipping further. Fresh data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) show Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio adding millions of wireless users in December, while Vodafone Idea and state-run BSNL continued to bleed subscribers.
India’s overall telephone subscriber base, wireless and wireline, climbed to 1.306 billion in December 2025, a monthly rise of 0.66 per cent. Growth was driven largely by wireless, which accounted for the bulk of new additions.
Bharti Airtel added 5.42 million wireless subscribers during the month, the biggest net gain among operators. Reliance Jio followed with roughly 2.96 million additions. Their gains were spread across multiple licensed service areas, underscoring broad-based momentum.
The story was starkly different for their rivals. Vodafone Idea recorded a net loss of about 9.4 lakh wireless subscribers, extending a run of monthly erosion. BSNL also saw its base shrink by around 2.06 lakh users. Despite marginal gains in a few circles, the PSU’s overall wireless base continued to contract.
Taken together, net wireless (mobile) additions across operators stood at 7.23 million in December.
Wireless subscribers, including mobile and fixed wireless access (FWA), rose to 1.258 billion, a net monthly increase of 8.21 million. Wireless tele-density improved to 88.41 per cent, though the urban–rural divide remained wide: urban tele-density at 140.66 per cent versus 59.07 per cent in rural areas.
The wireline segment posted modest growth. Subscribers increased from 47.05 million in November to 47.37 million in December, a 0.68 per cent monthly rise. Urban areas continued to dominate, while rural wireline tele-density stayed low.
Broadband crossed a symbolic milestone, with total subscribers topping one billion to reach 1,007.35 million by December-end. Mobile wireless broadband remained the primary access mode. In fixed wireless access, 5G FWA subscribers grew 5.59 per cent month on month, signalling gradual uptake of next-generation services.
Yet churn remains high. TRAI noted that about 16.12 million subscribers submitted mobile number portability requests in December alone.
The scoreboard is clear: scale is breeding more scale at the top, while smaller players struggle to hold ground. In India’s brutally competitive telecom arena, December’s numbers show a market that is still growing, but not evenly—and momentum, for now, sits firmly with the frontrunners.
