Net neutrality: Just do it!

“Be neutral,” I remember my mum telling me when two of my friends fought. ‘Neutral’. That word got stuck to my mind like a leech. My mum had made me understand that being neutral is important, because that’s the only way we can be fair, unbiased and balanced.

Therefore, when this whole furore over ‘net neutrality’ came into existence, I couldn’t help but think how absurd the whole concept of not having this would be. I mean, the internet is a public tool and nobody except for the ones exercising their right get to choose what they want to consume and what they don’t. Simply put, no net neutrality would mean colonisation of the virtual world.

As soon as word spread on the social networking sites about what the government is ‘plotting’, the aam aadmi got up in arms and protested loud and clear. My news feed is full of ‘sign the petition’ and raise your voice kind of updates and honestly, it’s heartwarming that the whole junta today stands united against the perils of making internet a no-so-free tool.

When it comes to high-profile aam aadmis protesting, who better than Arvind Kejriwal to lead the pack? He took to twitter to express his support for net neutrality. “Arvind Kejriwal ‏@ArvindKejriwal  Apr 13

AAP committed to neutral internet. India MUST debate #NetNeutrality. I support #Saveinternet campaign http://www.savetheinternet.in “

And talking of wise commentary, Harsha Bhogle also took to the micro-blogging site to vent out his concern. “The internet is a symbol of an equal opportunity society. It has levelled the world. It has to stay free & open. #Netneutrality.” Getting creative, Amul had several campaigns, which spoke of why our internet freedom should not be compromised. Famous music composer Vishal Dadlani also joined the bandwagon demanding for freedom of the internet. “Phone numbers for TRAI. Call them now, and tell them we insist on #NetNeutrality .I just did.”

The man with the funny bone Riteish Deshmukh didn’t find it funny, as he had something sombre to share. “#NetNeutrality is as important as Freedom of Speech. Our Basic Right”. Gul Panag tweeted: Our socio economic divide maynot be bridged easily. But the digital divide, to a large extent, is being bridged- IFF #NetNeutrality remains.

With celebs and the layman going all guns blazing against this chaining of the internet, Flipkart has pulled out of Vodafone Zero, and this itself goes a long way to tell the world that the uprising of the citizens is indeed powerful. Yeh public hain, sab jaanti hain!