Who is Anuradha Tiwari? Bengaluru CEO Sparks Controversy with 'Brahmin Genes' Post

Anuradha Tiwari, the founder and CEO of the Bengaluru-based content marketing company Just Burst Out, has found herself at the center of a heated controversy on social media after sharing a provocative post on X (formerly Twitter). The post, which featured a picture of Tiwari flexing her muscles, was captioned “Brahmin genes 💪,” quickly stirring up debate and garnering over 2 million views.

Social Media Backlash

Tiwari's post was met with widespread criticism, with many users expressing outrage over the caste-based reference. One user criticized her for attributing physical fitness to her Brahmin heritage, stating, “Whom do we owe for our ability to work out and live life on our own terms? Dr. Ambedkar (both for the constitution and the Hindu code bill) and a series of other progressive voices for decades.”

Another user questioned the relevance of Manusmriti, saying, “What does 'Manusmriti' say about a girl wearing shorts and posting pictures? Why not 'Brahmins' follow that?”

 

Brahmin genes 💪 pic.twitter.com/MCcRnviJcY

— Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) August 22, 2024

Supreme Court advocate Shashank Ratnoo also weighed in on the controversy, saying, “Precisely why casteism is still present! Being fit is good, but attributing that to superior or specific genes is not the way to build one family, one India.”

Tiwari's Views on Reservation

Tiwari has previously been vocal about her opinions on reservation policies in India. In one of her posts on X, she wrote, “General category should have confidence that this country belongs to them as much as it does to Reserved category. Current politics is focused only on Reserved category. It's extremely unfair to hardworking GCs. A nation can never thrive by betraying its hardworking people.”

In another post from August 2022, Tiwari shared her frustrations, stating, “I am a general category student. My ancestors have passed me down 0.00 acres of land. I live in a rented house. I couldn’t get admission despite scoring 95% but my classmate who scored 60% & comes from a well-off family gets admission. And you ask me why I have a problem with reservation?”

Tiwari’s Response to the Backlash

In response to the criticism, Tiwari doubled down on her stance, replying to her own post, “As expected, a mere mention of the word 'Brahmin' triggered many inferior beings. Tells a lot about who the real casteists are. UCs get nothing from the system - no Reservation, no freebies. We earn everything on our own and have every right to be proud of our lineage. So, deal with it.”

Mixed Reactions from the Public

While many condemned Tiwari’s post, others came to her defense. One user argued, "Here, a so-called oppressed individual might label you as a 'manuwadi' and accuse you of being casteist simply for identifying as Brahmin, claiming you're an oppressor due to your background."

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about caste, privilege, and the ongoing debates surrounding India's reservation system. As the discussion continues to unfold, Tiwari’s post remains a focal point of controversy, highlighting the deep-seated tensions around these issues in Indian society.