When faced with criticism and trolling, she used the best weapon at her disposal - wit and humour.
Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 67.
She was brought to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi at around 9 pm after complaining of anxiety.
She served as the External Affairs Minister during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term from 2014-2019 and was known for giving a humane touch to the working of the ministry. She was known for her quick and witty responses on Twitter.
While she dealt effectively with various crises that affected India, she was also available to 125 crore Indians through social media. A top minister of the government responding to citizens in distress was something new that India had not seen before 2014.
With Sushma Swaraj, that all changed. Here was one of the most powerful people in the country, responding to many individuals on Twitter. Social media, which was a one-way communication tool for politicians in India, became a helpline for Indian citizens in distress, at home or abroad.
From arranging passports at home to providing help to citizens stuck in a foreign land, Sushma was often found personally attending to problems on Twitter.
While she provided help to everyone with all seriousness, she did not let go of any chance to be witty. Often, when faced with criticism and trolling, she used the best weapon at her disposal - wit and humour.
Here are 10 instances Sushma Swaraj owned the internet with her tweets:
1. When she announced rescue of 3 Pak nationals from Yemen
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In April 2015, India launched a massive mission to evacuate its citizens from strife-torn Yemen. During this tough time,
Indian Navy evacuated three Pakistani nationals from the Yemeni port of Al Hodeidah when by INS Sumitra. Pakistan also evacuated 11 Indians evacuated from Yemen earlier and offered a special plane to take them back to India from Karachi.
This was announced by Sushma on Twitter
umanitarian gesture - Indian Navy evacuated 3 Pak nationals from Hodeida by INS Sumitra. Pakistan brought 11 Indians from Makala.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 5, 2015
2. 'Sushma skips Oath Ceremony'
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In 2016, when Sushma Swaraj could not attend the swearing-in ceremony of 19 ministers due to diplomatic engagement, she anticipated what the next day's headline in the newspapers would be. "Media - Pl avoid the headline: 'Sushma skips Oath Ceremony'," Swaraj tweeted two hours before the oath ceremony.
Media - Pl avoid the headline : 'Sushma skips Oath Ceremony'.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 5, 2016
3. 'Cannot help you in matters of a Refrigerator'
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In 2016, a Twitter user inexplicably tagged her in a tweet requesting her to help out with a faulty refrigerator. To this Sushma Swaraj replied: “Brother I cannot help you in matters of a Refrigerator. I am very busy with human beings in distress.”
Brother I cannot help you in matters of a Refrigerator. I am very busy with human beings in distress. https://t.co/cpC5cWBPcz
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 13, 2016
4. 'Indian Embassy will help you on Mars too'
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When responding to a tweet in which a man said he was stuck on planet Mars, she said the Indian embassy will help any of its countrymen even if they are located on a different planet. Responding to a tweet which said, "@SushmaSwaraj I am stuck on mars, food sent via Mangalyaan (987 days ago), is running out, when is Mangalyaan-II being sent? @isro," Swaraj replied, "Even if you are stuck on Mars, Indian Embassy there will help you."
Even if you are stuck on the Mars, Indian Embassy there will help you. https://t.co/Smg1oXKZXD
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 8, 2017
5. 'Have learnt to follow English of all accents and grammar'
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Replying to a tweet from an Indian man based in Malaysia, who was asking for her help to send his friend back to India, Swaraj said that she can understand English of all accents and grammar, after becoming a minister Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet.
There is no problem. After becoming Foreign Minister, I have learnt to follow English of all accents and grammar. https://t.co/2339A1Fea2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 11, 2019
6. 'Doing Chowkidari'
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Asked by a user why she, being the "most sensible" BJP leader, had added the 'chowkidar' prefix to her name on Twitter ahead of the Lok Sabha election, Swaraj replied, "Because I am doing Chowkidari of Indian interests and Indian nationals abroad."
Because I am doing Chowkidari of Indian interests and Indian nationals abroad. https://t.co/dCgiBPsagz
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) March 30, 2019
7. 'India is my country. Indians are my people'
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Once she gave it back to a troll who questioned why she was not rescuing Hindus stranded. "India is my country. Indians are my people. The caste, state, language or religion is not relevant for me," she said.
India is my country. Indians are my people. The caste, state, language or religion is not relevant for me. https://t.co/z59339vjGt
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 20, 2017
8. '...I would have sent a suspension order by now.
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She once showed a side that one usually did not associate with her. A Pune-based techie had tweeted to her requesting a transfer for his wife, who works for the Railway ministry, and posted in Jhansi.
"Can u plz help us in ending our banwas in India? My wife is in Jhansi Rly employee and I work in Pune in IT. Been a year+," he tweeted.
On this, she responded, "If you or your wife were from my Ministry and such a request for transfer was made on twitter, I would have sent a suspension order by now."
If you or your wife were from my Ministry and such a request for transfer was made on twitter, I would have sent a suspension order by now. https://t.co/LImngQwFh6
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 8, 2017
9. 'Indian politicians are sensitive'
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A Twitter user had a notion that Indian politician were not concerned about Indians. He expressed it to the then Extarnal Affairs Minister in a tweet - @SushmaSwaraj are you real? Just checking. You don't meet requirement of being Indian politician. You are concerned about us(Indians).
On this, she responded, "Please do not have such notions. Indian politicians are sensitive and very helpful."
Please do not have such notions. Indian politicians are sensitive and very helpful. https://t.co/9U0Rdxvn8q
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 23, 2016
10. 'Computer is guilty of separating you'
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Her response to a senior citizen on Twitter left everyone in awe of her work and sense of humour. An elderly man adressing Swaraj in his tweet said that he and his wife has been selected for the pilgrimage 'Kailash Manas Sarovar Yatra 2018' facilitated by Ministry of External Affairs. However, he and his wife were selected for different batch.
"@SushmaSwaraj, Namaste Madamji, Myself & my wife selected for Kailash Manas Sarovar Yatra 2018, in different batches. My wife will not be able to undertake the yatra alone. KMYS00125518 & KMYS00124418. Seek your help to put us in the same batch. I will be 70 by next year," a Twitter user named Chandar Nandi tweeted.
Swaraj took no time to reply and responded with just the right tweet. Her response has left Twitteratis in love with her humour.
The computer is guilty of separating you. But don't worry. We will send you both in the same batch. https://t.co/ygBoGH1Lux
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 13, 2018
