‘Mahua Moitra Need Not Conform To Trolls Liking; We Need To Introspect’
Chetna Sharma, a journalist and academician, says had a male politician remarried, danced at his sangeet, we would have cheered him on. Her views:
I have spent years reporting from newsrooms, sitting under studio lights, and now teaching young minds about media and society. But no textbook, no panel discussion ever quite prepares you for the raw, bitter truth that some stories reveal about who we are as a people. The trolling of Mahua Moitra after her recent marriage was one such moment — uncomfortable, ugly, and deeply telling.
She was simply celebrating her happiness — dancing, smiling, being herself. That’s all. But that image of joy triggered a wave of harsh comments, age-shaming, and misogynistic jabs online. Why? Because she got married in her 40s? Because she looked too happy for a woman who didn’t “follow the script”?
I watched those clips like many others, and my first reaction wasn’t outrage — it was sadness. Not for Mahua — she’s strong and seasoned — but for us, the society that still sees a happy, independent woman as something threatening.
Let’s be honest: if a male politician had remarried, danced at his sangeet, we would have cheered him on. “What a sport!” we’d say. “Good for him!” But a woman? Oh no, she must be “attention-seeking”, “too old”, “trying too hard.” The double standards are exhausting — and very, very real.
As someone who teaches media, I often speak about representation, about how public narratives shape our understanding of gender and power. But when social media reacts like this, it reminds me that all our talk of progress still hasn’t reached the hearts of many. Because when a woman steps out of the narrow lane society draws for her, she isn’t just questioned — she’s punished.
ALSO READ: ‘If Trolls Can Harass An MP, What To Talk Of Ordinary Women!’
It’s not about whether you agree with Mahua Moitra’s politics. This is about how we still treat women who don’t apologise for living life on their own terms. The trolling wasn’t about her role as a leader — it was about her role as a woman who dared to look happy, and at peace, in her own skin.
And that’s what’s most painful. A woman in public life is expected to be tough but not too loud, smart but not threatening, present but not personal. If she celebrates — she’s mocked. If she’s emotional — she’s weak. If she marries “too late” — she’s desperate. What is ever enough?
As a journalist, I’ve interviewed countless women — in power, in pain, in transition. The one thing they all shared was a constant pressure to explain themselves. Mahua’s only “mistake” was refusing to explain her joy.
It’s high time we asked ourselves: what kind of society are we becoming, where a woman’s laughter invites insults? Where celebrating life becomes a political act?
Mahua Moitra doesn’t need defending — she’s already owning her story. But we need reflection. And change. Because until we stop punishing women for their joy, we can’t truly call ourselves progressive.
Let her dance. Let her smile. Let her live. Isn’t that what all of us want?
(The narrator has worked as TV News Anchor with reputed news channels like Gulistan News and JK24*7 News. She is also engaged in teaching and research, contributing to academic publications in the field of media studies)
As told to Deepti Sharma
