One of the arresting images of the protests spearheaded by the young against the amended citizenship law and the NRC was a girl wearing a burqa and a hijab and holding a placard that read: “Mr Modi, I am Indulekha. Identify me by my dress?”

It was a direct message addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said in Jharkhand last week that those behind the anti-citizenship act violence could be identified from their clothes.

Since then, Indulekha Parthan, the 18-year-old law student in Kerala, has received hundreds of congratulatory messages and calls, including one from a former MP, and images of her innovative protest have been a hit on social media.

The first-year student at the Government Law College in Ernakulam is not a member of any political party’s student arm. She thought up the idea when senior students of her college planned a 3km protest march in Ernakulam along with 14 other colleges on Wednesday.

“When the seniors came to my class to find out whether anyone had any idea about how to make a strong statement, I told them about this. They immediately accepted it,” Indulekha told The Telegraph on Sunday. (This newspaper contacted Indulekha on the basis of a report in Edexlive.com, which specialises on campus news.)

How Indulekha looks on other days. (Picture sourced by The Telegraph)

The seniors immediately arranged for the attire that she wore and prepared the placard, which has become one of the most shared visuals from the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the threatened countrywide National Register of Citizens exercise.

“I was not scared about the move since I was not trying to insult anyone. I just wanted to speak my mind with the help of a few clothes and a placard,” Indulekha said.

Her parents Parthan and Prasanna, who live 130km away in Palakkad, were a little worried, though. “But I told them that I was not doing anything defamatory,” the teen said.

“Even the picture that began circulating was casually taken by my college mates. There was no intention to use it for any kind of propaganda. But it ended up going viral.”

Indulekha said she had received congratulatory messages from her former teachers at the Government Moyan Model Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Palakkad.

“My relatives too were a bit concerned, but generally appreciated what I did. Those who lean towards the Hindu Right in the family kept mum as they realised that I would argue my point and win,” the plucky girl said.

Indulekha has received some unpleasant comments from trolls too. “While I did thank a few of those who sent positive responses, I just ignored the negative ones,” she said.

She is enjoying the recognition she has been receiving from her college mates, including the seniors.

“Since I was not part of any students’ union, hardly anyone knew me on the campus. But even seniors came and congratulated me (after Wednesday).”

Indulekha has received a call from former Palakkad MP and CPM leader M.B. Rajesh, who took the trouble to find her number. “That is one call I shall remember for ever, because we had shared a stage during an annual day celebration at my school, where I was the student leader,” Indulekha said.

Rajesh described Indulekha’s gesture as a “powerful message” to the Prime Minister and his party. “Before her, the Prime Minister became so small with his statement filled with communal hatred,” Rajesh told this newspaper.

“This creative message is also a clear sign that India will overcome this challenge from a party that does not believe in a secular democracy,” he added.