Twinkle Khanna is known for her quick wit and amazing sense of humour. She has not only written interesting and entertaining columns for top publications but has also voiced her opinions on subjects of public interest in her own unique way. This time, the former actress turned author flipped through her school album to stress upon the importance of girl child education.
Popularly known as ‘Mrs Funny Bones’, she took to Instagram to share a class photograph from her school album, captioned, “Growing up, as you can see not only did I have the same hairstyle as my class teacher( why? why? why?) but studying and doing well was very important to me and it all helped me to become an independent woman. 2/5 girls still don’t complete school. Let’s ask #WhyTheGap with @savethechildren_india to give every girl #TheRightStart – I nominate @sonamkapoor @tahirakashyap @akshaykumar to take this further by sharing their school memories.”
Since last year, the author has been associated with the non-profit organisation, Save The Children India, as an Artist Ambassador. The NGO works for the promotion of adolescent health, menstrual hygiene and an improved lifestyle for children.
After Twinkle Khanna emphasised on women’s education on her social media, her husband and Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, responded to her challenge. He shared a photo from the time he was a teenager and focussed on the importance of health and nutrition in growing up years.
The ‘Mission Mangal’ actor posted a black and white photo where he is sitting on a bicycle with a moustache in what looks like a living room, writing, “Growing up I was always inclined towards sports and my mother would ensure I got nutritious home-cooked meals to fuel my passion. But it’s a privilege that millions of street children do not have access to. 11,72,604 children in India can’t afford even a single meal a day! It’s time to ask
#WhyTheGap with @savethechildren_india. I nominate
@balanvidya @aslisona @taapsee @nithyamenen @iamkirtikulhari.”
After being nominated by Twinkle Khanna, Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife and activist Tahira Kashyap took up the challenge as well. Sharing a throwback picture from school where she dressed for a play, she wrote, “Thank you @twinklerkhanna for nominating me. Though I am rocking your school hairdo currently! And now I know how frido dido must have felt! And this picture – Well these were the days of looking like an ape in a pineapple costume and feeling like a princess! I pretty much was delusional! But as much as we all are obsessed with kings and queens, education taught me not just the difference between reality and fairy tales but empowered me to twist and turn and make my own ‘not so fairy’ tales. My short film #toffee was inspired by this really disturbing fact that 1 in 3 women in India are married before the age of 18. Let’s ask #WhyTheGap with @savethechildren_india to give every girl #TheRightStart I nominate @ayushmannk @diamirzaofficial @iamsonalibendre @nehadhupia to share their childhood memories and take this ahead.”
Bollywood actress Dia Mirza posted her childhood picture where she is busy playing with toys on being nominated by Tahira Kashyap. She wrote a heartfelt note, “While I had the privilege of living under a roof comfortably, 2 million children still live on the streets. I nominate @fayedsouza @aliaabhatt @azmishabana18 to ask #WhyTheGap with @stc_india !?!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1VsN0GljLH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
From the Bollywood music industry, famous trio music composer Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy posted a black and white picture on their social media, captioned, “We had the privilege to do what we love and follow our dream but many children in India don’t. Let’s join hands with @savethechildren_india to ask #WhyTheGap.”
The ‘Gully Boy’ singer, Jasleen Royal also posted a picture from her school days where she received a certificate, she wrote, “Growing up, my parents and teachers always encouraged me to study and do well at school to become an independent woman, but unfortunately, 27 percent still get married even before their 18th birthday. #WhyTheGap? I nomainate @vishaldadlani @su4ita @radhikamadan to join @savethechildren_india in this effort and share their childhood memories!”
Let’s hope the challenge does not become just a trend to post throwback photos but helps in changing perspective of people when it comes to gender gap.
