The sub-editor of the English section of a magazine, who, God knows for what reasons, thought that I can write well, asked me to write an article of 800 words on a topic of my choice. Now even if we assume that I have average writing skills, the last five words of the previous line bugged me out. I could not imagine myself disappointing (and to some extent leaving the opportunity of impressing) that charming lady and being obligated by her previously, there was no way I could say no. So if the ink of the press finds my words, I would request you to forgive me for what follows.
I first thought of writing about the Contemporary India. With an apparently anonymous President, who seemingly works undercover (she must be working...she’s the President!!) and a governance and political system that behave as each other’s antonyms, I could muster only the pleasant language they use in our Boys Hostel Number 3 to write on these issues. 800 words could not suffice to describe or bring about any changes, whatsoever to something that is as stagnant as the water of the fountain, at our beloved Student Centre. So I let prudence prevail and diverted my mind towards more creative avenues, for article writing.
So what could be a subject that can be called CREATIVE?? Why we have The Population Explosion. It is a topic that though finds its origins, quite abstractly in creativity, is of much concern presently but is also a bit subdued these days. We crossed the 1 billion mark quite some time back, and it was hot news at that time...now we are more than 1 billion and nobody cares! And I assure you, this topic will rest till we are near to 1.5 billion and again, near 2. And when this fact came to my attention, I thought, it’ll get too boring for the readers of this journal to read about a topic that’s so low in the priorities of the Media. And BANG!! I hit upon a better topic to disscuss...
THE MEDIA as I think of it, is the proprietor of all our discussions, protests, strikes and all the topics that we can imagine. If the media doesn’t support it, the topic’s fate lies on slippery grounds, (and it is bound to slip anyway!). As is the case with Population Explosion, so is Violation of Child Rights, The Kashmir Issue, Women Empowerment, Drug Abuse or with stings on Sanyasi Monks and their Ferraris, etc. etc. etc. But the Media is a highly Focused Privately Social Body, which concentrates on ONLY one issue at a time...or make that ONLY one issue ALL THE TIME...the raising of TRP. When the Tehelka scam made news, I as a child had been delighted that corruption has found a new Enemy, The Media...MY HERO!!! But as I grew up watching all those news channels, the rays of hope that had once been highly resplendent for me either started missing my eyes or maybe gravitated away in some other direction...but I am a very optimistic teenager so I am happy with the realization that rays of hope exist...for corrupt politicians. At this very point in my train of thoughts, I felt that all these ominous thoughts had started deteriorating my mental capacities as a writer, and might disinterest you as a reader so I raked my gray cells for a topic of a more glamorous temperament...
And because of some silly tradition they follow in India, that when you mention the word glamour, you HAVE TO include BOLLYWOOD (why did I ever use the word in the first place!!)...I have to write about a whole industry which has “CHAPED” (which means “COPIED”...for people not so gifted in Punjabi slang) Hollywood and then blamed RGV for his remake of Sholey...I say, for God sake!! He was just following tradition!! I mean, I am astounded at their audacity. Nearly everyone here has a great appetite for inspiration. One bloke got inspired so much by Korean music that he used the same music as it is for his movie...and won awards for it. When it all came out, instead of apologising, he was heard saying that we cannot question inspiration. But I ask, mustn’t inspiration be accompanied by PERSPIRATION, to be valued? And in Bollywood we have very few genuine film makers who make their brains perspire...otherwise its all a business of the fake from the fake...and how I wish; those for whom it was...were not fake...but they are...
So lets talk about US. Not Uncle Sam, but us, the Indians. “The fountain head of the current Indian vitality.” “The off-springs of the diverse traditions and the highly evolved culture of Ancient India.” “The best minds in the world.” (according to most politicians and elders, who quote diplomatic foreigners) (sigh!!) It would have all been well said, had it been true. My eyes see ourselves as young fakes, budding diplomats and hypocrites who follow “screw honest people first”. We are like those prevalent Chinese Mobile Handsets. Cheap, multi functional, loads in number but without warranty and about to be banned. So much for the Ancient Indian values.. just results matter with us these days, no matter how many people we need to cheat...its a competition and an ugly one. I wonder if our “Highly Evolved Culture” has over evolved and started its degradation...as it happens with all luscious fruits. In some ways I despise the brains that my ancients had (according to most...................................................diplomatic foreigners), because it is all the result of the thinking of smart Indian brain that we are selfish and unfortunately and ironically, ignorant of our ill-fated future. In many ways, the diversity of India that we so proudly adore, has resulted in an anarchy in the current Indian scenario, because the diversity never included the feeling of oneness, of INDIANNESS. There I find US, (this time it is Uncle Sam) much luckier than us. Who cares if they don’t have an illustrious history. At least they are UNITED states. At least “The Star Spangled Band” has more singers and audience than “The Jan Gan Man”. At least they have an Obama whom they all follow as one...
Can we ever do it for ourselves...???
Can we have some Indians in India and not Hindus or Punjabis or Gujaratis???
Can we be proud of being Indians for better reasons???
Can we make the world think of India and say “IndYeah”???
Martin Luther King said it once, “I have a dream” and it came true. I type it here...
“I have a dream.”
Can it come true....???
I tried my best to come up with a decent topic but as you can see, I wrote an article but failed miserably to decide upon its topic. So I hope, you will find the title justified. My thoughts, you might find burdened with pessimism, but this texture of language was explicitly used to create a sense of discomfort to your conscience and if you would like to kick me for the above, please forgive the mistakes of this amateur writer and take my views in your stride. I am a proud Indian just like any of you, but I wish to be proud for the right reasons. The conclusion: I sincerely hope that I was able to return the favour and as much was in my power; was able to impress the pretty (and) intellectual sub-editor of the English section of that magazine. And I thank you for being a patient reader.
Love Upadhyay.
