Poonam Pandey & the PR mishap cervical cancer could have done without

First no one could believe she was dead. And now no one can believe she is alive. If Poonam Pandey's insta is to be believed twice, she died on February 1 and resurrected on February 3. The last time this happened, we are still talking about it.

At this point one can't reliably know the status, but one fervently hopes rumours of her death are wildly exaggerated. News of death, especially celeb death, has its own trajectory.

Poonam's departure spread like wildfire, with everyone remembering, as we usually do when anyone dies, sweet, nice things about her. Her friends said but, but, but they never knew she was unwell! From there on the adjectives included brave, courageous and almost martyr.

And if what is now revealed is the real truth, that this was done to spread awareness about cervical cancer, then cervical cancer could have done without this PR mishap. This is a cancer which has always decried its non glam status. It has been trying to tell us through vaccines and medical campaigns how it is a preventable avatar of a usually deadly disease. And now Poonam has done a disservice to this already 'no one talks about me' illness. The fact that she did NOT die of this is going to make us Indians all the more lax.