‘I Did My Bit To Make Hyundai Eat Its Words On Kashmir’
Ruchi Singh, 28, a software engineer, felt offended by Hyundai’s social media posts on Kashmir and cancelled her CRETA in favour of a Skoda
I am a software engineer and consider myself an independent and rational thinker. For the past few months, the Covid pandemic has been by and large on the ebb and offices have started reopening. Therefore, in December 2021, I decided to buy myself a vehicle for hassle-free commute to my workplace.
After some basic research, I zeroed in on CRETA, a compact SUV from Hyundai stable which I found suitable to my budget and requirements. I was impressed by their network and growth as they are the second largest carmakers in India. I made my booking for CRETA 1.4 SX DCT on December 31 and waited for the delivery, which the dealer said should be delivered in April 2022.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited at the prospects of owning my first car. Little did I know that things would change in a little over a month! On February 5, Hyundai Pakistan issued posts on social media platforms, like Twitter and Instagram, “remembering the sacrifices” of people in Kashmir and asked for people to stand in support of their “struggle for freedom”.
Clearly, this was a business gimmick to play an emotional card and rev up their sales in our neighbouring country. However, the move boomeranged on the parent Korean carmaker as it triggered an outrage on social media in India. I came to know of these posts while flipping through online news sites and I was completely disgusted.
This was clearly an attempt to malign India and pandering to a political belief prevalent in a hostile country. All right, I said to myself, if they want Azadi, I will be instrumental in giving them Azadi from my country.
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The cancellation journey however was not a smooth sail. The salesman at Hyundai, Manish Vishwakarma, was discourteous after he got to know about my decision to cancel the booking. He tried to persuade me that I will have to bear the cancellation charges and will not get the same model again as Hyundai was planning to shut this model and will be coming up with a face lift which will definitely be costlier. But I was adamant. After a long heated discussion, he finally gave in. I bore the cancellation charges happily.
No, it wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction; my professional training has taught me enough patience and logical thinking to act calmly. My decision had solid reasons. One, you cannot insult my country and then expect me to contribute to your cash registers. Two, if someone holds a political view that is against my country, I will not be a party to sponsor their agenda. Lastly, a business house must stay away from political patronage or be ready to face consequences.
I wasn’t alone in making such a decision. Social media platforms were replete with hashtag trends like #HyundaiWithTerrorist and #BoycottHyundai, calling to banish Hyundai from the country. After another renewed search online, I booked Skoda Kushaq Style 1.5 TSI DSG on 12th of February, 2022 and got it delivered on March 3.
I read later that the parent Hyundai group in South Korea had apologised for the offensive posts, regretting the hurt caused to Indians. But by then the damage was already done. Besides, their apology only vindicated my stand. Today, as I drive into my new Skoda, I feel good that I was part of that national collective which made Hyundai eat their words against my country.
As told to Deepti Sharma
