The eight-year-old young activist started the the “Child Movement” which reads “Bachpan Andolan” in Hindi to call out to the world leaders to take immediate climate action on July 21, 2019. The eight-year-old young activist started the the “Child Movement” which reads “Bachpan Andolan” in Hindi to call out to the world leaders to take immediate climate action on July 21, 2019.

Manipuri climate change activist Licypriya Kangujam may often be referred to as the ‘Greta of India’, but in a post on social media has asked that she be recognised for her own work.

The eight-year-old took to Twitter on Monday to reject all comparisons with Thunberg and wrote: “If you call me ‘Greta of India’, you are not covering my story. You are deleting a story,”.

In a series of tweets, Kangujam described her journey as an activist and said that her fight against climate change started much before Thunberg.

“Stop calling me “Greta of India”. I am not doing my activism to looks like Greta Thunberg. Yes, she is one of our Inspiration & great influencer. We have a common goal but I have my own identity, a story,” she wrote.

Dear Media,

Stop calling me “Greta of India”. I am not doing my activism to looks like Greta Thunberg. Yes, she is one of our Inspiration & great influencer. We have common goal but I have my own identity, story. I began my movement since July 2018 even before Greta was started. pic.twitter.com/3UEqCVWYM8 — Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) January 27, 2020

As I felt my work is more important than the organisation, I have less publicity and media coverage. Only media came to notice me when I spend a week in front of the Parliament House of India on July 21, 2019. Before that also, I began my Parliament Movement since Feb. 2, 2019. — Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) January 27, 2020

If you call me “Greta of India”, you are not covering my story. You are deleting a story. — Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) January 27, 2020

Kangujam said that she had addressed world leaders in Mongolia at a UN event on July 4, 2018. She then started a children’s movement to ask world leaders to take immediate action against climate change.

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She said that it was on July 21, 2019 that the media took notice of her because of a week-long protest in front of India’s Parliament. According to the tweet thread, the young activist had to drop out of school due to her frequent sit-in protests in front of Parliament.

Kangujam’s viral tweet thread met with mixed reactions:

Tell your story. Don’t argue with media. You may not like it but this helps you get more attention. Whining will turn people away. — Steven (@issk01) January 27, 2020

Dear Licypriya Kangujam, Ignore stupid media. Keep doing what you do. We need young people like you and others to save our home. — The Best Linux Blog In the Unixverse (@nixcraft) January 27, 2020

Man made laws do NOT direct nature. — Lawrence (@Lawrenc43852075) January 27, 2020

Super proud of you sister. Keep doing it. ❤🙌 — Elizabeth Wathuti 🇰🇪 (@lizwathuti) January 27, 2020

Stay strong. Unfortunately you’re always going to have haters.

But you have supporters. — Justice for ALL 🌊🌈🌊🌈 (@Trishluttrell3) January 27, 2020

Great initiative 👏👏 More power to u🙏 — Hemant Purushwani (@puruswanihemant) January 27, 2020

Go back to school. You have a better chance of influencing people your own age. — Mrs Palakkadan 🇮🇳 (@Lotus2021) January 28, 2020

You’re awesome Licypriya! An inspiration to all of us, and someone who deserves recognition. Thank you for your work. 💜 — Sonia Gupta (@soniagupta504) January 27, 2020

Thank you! Your voice is perhaps even more important than Greta’s because India is such a huge contributor to emissions. — Zeke Morgan (@z3kem0rgan) January 27, 2020

Greta is funded by the United Nations,

you clearly are not/ — Shelley (@Theshells1111) January 27, 2020

When I was eight, I wasn’t aware of English grammar even. And here, 8 y/o girl is tweeting this and using Videos. Parents shouldn’t use children as tool and emotional appeal for their activities. Their career is getting ruined. Period! — Harshil Mehta હર્ષિલ મહેતા (@MehHarshil) January 27, 2020

Best of Luck on your efforts to make this planet a better place. — Yasir Wattu (@yasirwattu) January 27, 2020

Climat control’s it self. Go back to school and learn science. — Gan_dalf (@Modron) January 27, 2020

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