 "Indian Army spots Yeti in Himalayas and BJP's Tarun Vijay says 'don't call it beast, say he is a snowman': Twitterati is speechless")
The Indian Army has spotted a Yeti in The Himalayas. Yes. Remember when Rachel and Monica fogged a ‘yeti’ in their basement several years ago in the sitcom Friends. But there is a slight difference — Rachel and Monica go on to find that yetis don’t exist. No such luck with the Indian Army. However, news that would have had all the science enthusiasts (or, err… conspiracy theorists) abuzz with the possibility of a feral throwback to our violent evolutionary past, has upset BJP leader Tarun Vijay.
“Congratulations, we are always proud of you. salutes to the #IndianArmy Mountaineering Expedition Team. But please, you are Indian, dont call Yeti as beast. Show respect for them. If you say he is a ‘snowman’.”
Congratulations, we are always proud of you. salutes to the #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team. But please, you are Indian, dont call Yeti as beast. Show respect for them. If you say he is a 'snowman'.
— Tarun Vijay (@Tarunvijay) April 29, 2019
The Indian Army on Monday claimed to have cited the ‘mythical beast Yeti’ near the Makalu Base Camp in the Himalayas and tweeted out images of extraordinarily large footprints as proof.
For the first time, an #IndianArmy Moutaineering Expedition Team has sited Mysterious Footprints of mythical beast 'Yeti' measuring 32x15 inches close to Makalu Base Camp on 09 April 2019. This elusive snowman has only been sighted at Makalu-Barun National Park in the past. pic.twitter.com/AMD4MYIgV7
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) April 29, 2019
Vijay congratulated the army for their achievement but took offence to the usage of the word ‘beast’ for the supposed ‘ape-man’, the idea of whom is thoroughly rooted in folklore.
Yeti or what is also referred to as ‘The Abominable Snowman’ is a mythical ape-like creature taller than an average human with white or greyish fur that many over the years have claimed to have seen in the Himalayas but not been able to show evidence of. The army, in a first, tweeted out images which could possibly link to the folklore about the existence of such a snowman.
In the images, however, the prints appear to be of a single foot. Vijay’s argument is that being Indian, the army should “show respect” and not call it a beast, perhaps linking the figure to Hindu mythology. But Vijay’s comment has Twitter in splits while many users were scratching their head to figure what exactly did Vijay mean…
In a series of hilarious comments on Vijay’s tweet, one person asked him to “keep calm” because “Yeti was not Hanuman ji”.
Yeti is not hanuman ji sir . Beast means it is of disproportionate size. Keep calm !
— Manu Jha (@mahamanu30) April 29, 2019
— Vedant (@Vedant98332) April 29, 2019
Wtf sir... pic.twitter.com/phHxiETkDU
— Jitendra (@hydbadshah) April 29, 2019
A Twitter user wondered whether adding the Hindi honorific suffix ji would be enough to show proper respect.
Should we call it YETI Ji? Or snowman ji? And all credit goes to the pm for this as well.. Unhi ki badaulat yeh hua.
— Charandeep Singh (@chinu000) April 29, 2019
In past Indian never army saw somethings like these..#Yeti
Another mini exchange on gender appropriating snow’man’ appeared under Vijay’s tweet.
How dare you assume Yeti to be straight!? -_-
— Nov Kilo (@t_mkat) April 29, 2019
One person also took a spinoff to the prime minister’s recently aired interview with Akshay Kumar to troll the BJP leader.
Many users drew parallels with a popular cartoon character and a similar encounter that the protagonist, ‘Tintin’, has with a Yeti in one of the comics. Some even asked if it could be a character from the series Game of Thrones.
Someone please Bring me my Tintin's Himalayan Adventure!!! #yeti #IndianArmy https://t.co/cWfbMUksbs
— Daaman Barara (@Daamanbarara) April 30, 2019
I always knew Tintin was right. He was the first to spot the mysterious beast Yeti. Time to re-read Tintin In Tibet pic.twitter.com/mEBdxhqTVx
— bhavatosh singh (@bhavatoshsingh) April 30, 2019
Iron Man to Loki: “We have a Hulk.”
— Deepanjana (@dpanjana) April 30, 2019
White walkers to humans: “We have the Night King.”
Indian Army to internet: “We have (evidence of) a one-legged yeti.” pic.twitter.com/PjprlguQx5
The images tweeted by the Army show the imprint of only a single foot on the snow. Hence, a Twitter user mentioned a theory of yetis preferring to “catwalk”
Little known fact for all you doubters who say it was one-legged: yetis prefer to catwalk. #Yeti pic.twitter.com/TJ8kWGfR00
— Dhruva Jaishankar · ध्रुव जयशंकर (@d_jaishankar) April 29, 2019
Sorry I shouldn't say anything but the footprints look like he was playing "Lagori" or he has only one leg! https://t.co/JCy9eaOvrr
— A.K (@HaddHaiYaar) April 30, 2019
 "Gautam Gambhir asks BJP to relieve him of political duties to focus on upcoming cricket commitments")
 "BJP, Congress, and other parties declare income. Who made the most?")
 "FirstUp: Farmers to take next step, BJP poll panel meet … Today’s news")
 "Rajya Sabha election: Where do parties stand after cross-voting?")
 "Gautam Gambhir asks BJP to relieve him of political duties to focus on upcoming cricket commitments")
 "BJP, Congress, and other parties declare income. Who made the most?")
 "FirstUp: Farmers to take next step, BJP poll panel meet … Today’s news")
 "Rajya Sabha election: Where do parties stand after cross-voting?")