'Send this pronoun illness where it came from': Ola founder's rant against gender neutrality triggers row

Indian entrepreneur Bhavish Aggarwal triggered a row on social media after he expressed his views on what he described as "pronoun illness"— the specific pronouns with which people identify themselves. For example, a cisgender male often identifies with 'he' or 'him' pronouns and specifies this alongside his name on formal documentation such as a resume or name on social media. Similarly, a cisgender female often identifies with'she/her' pronounswhile individuals who neither identify as male or female often like to go by 'they/them' pronouns.

Besides, individuals who do not wish to perpetuate heteronormative addressesassociated with typical he or she pronouns— but identify as cisgender male or female— specify gender-neutral they/them pronouns for themselves.

On May 5, Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal posted a screenshot of a response generated from an Artificial Intelligence prompt and encircled gender-neutral pronouns to designate the entire issueas "pronoun illness".

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"Hoping that this “pronoun illness” doesn’t reach India. Many “big city schools” in India are now teaching it to kids. Also see many CVs with pronouns these days. Need to know where to draw the line in following the west blindly!" Aggarwal wrote on X.

Aggarwal added: "Most of us in India have no clue about politics of this pronouns illness. People do it because it’s become expected in our corporate culture, especially MNCs Better to send this illness back where it came from. Our culture has always had respect for all. No need for new pronouns."

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Aggarwal's comment was both supported and opposed on the internet and led to polarising reactions.

"This doesn’t hurt anyone and do you really think having pronouns on CVs would impact your decision to hire an individual?" asked a user on X.

"We just need Employers like you to stand the ground and it wont," another user wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)