An internet campaign to raise awareness and donation for a rare disease – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – has now turned into a global phenomenon with top names from all walks of life participating and posting videos of pouring ice water over themselves.
The phenomenon, which spread from tech executives to sports stars to Hollywood celebrities and even at least one former US president (so far), has now spread all the way to the second most populated country in the world.
The campaign has so far raised nearly $15 million, but it has not been without critics who say the target population is too small and that such a campaign could have been put to better use for something else. Others have rued the wastage of water by millions who have already or will take the test.
Meanwhile in India, Bollywood celebrities and sports stars took to social networking sites to upload their videos of completing the Ice bucket challenge.
The Ice Bucket Challenge began in the US to raise awareness for a disease named after Gehrig, a US baseball legend who died of it. However, India’s fixation with all things Western has raised concerns about blindly copying the West for what is alleged to be a fad.
Wastage of water is one of the biggest criticism that the ice bucket challenge has received. In a country where water is already a scarcity for many, the criticism is even stronger.
Bollywood actor Sonakshi Sinha joined the protestors when she upturned an empty bucket over herself, while calling for saving water. Here’s her ‘challenge’.
Ice bucket challenge: From west to India
