Poverty, illiteracy, crime and many such factors come in the way of India’s progress as a nation. On one hand, there are glitzy high-rise buildings and on the other, we have families who are unable to fulfil their basic physiological needs. With every passing year, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. We talk about things like digital literacy but do we consider the rate of illiteracy in our country?
Twinkle Khanna took to her social media accounts to start the #WhyTheGap challenge which questions the way the system divides its resources. She took to her Instagram to share a childhood picture of her and wrote, “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”
Soon more celebs joined the initiative and started tagging each other to spread the word.
Husband Akshay Kumar shared a monochrome picture of him and wrote, “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”
Sonam Kapoor stepped up as well. She shared a childhood picture of herself on Twitter and wrote, “My school days were some of my happiest memories. I believe that education is the one path to true independence and freedom. We should all be asking #WhyTheGap and working towards #TheRightStart for every child.
I nominate @arjunk26 @ReallySwara and @dulQuer to join @stc_india”
Dia Mirza Took to her Instagram to share a picture from her childhood and wrote, “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 !?!”
Taapsee Pannu shared a picture of her standing on a podium holding a prize. She wrote, “Sports have been an integral part of my life. School race tracks became my war zone every year and thanks to a supportive family and encouraging school teachers I could have my moment of glory. Unfortunately, many kids don’t have that support system #WhyTheGap
@stc_india”
Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife Tahira Kashyap also shared her story. She wrote, “hank 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”
Are you taking part in this initiative as well?
Featured Image Source: Instagram
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