- Let's talk something.
- What should we talk about?
- What are people talking about?
- Well, I don't know about that. But the breaking news and headlines suggest that people are talking about IPL and My Name is Khan.
- I am not sure about people, but media is indeed talking about My Name is Khan. And they are talking about it non-stop day and night.
All we have on media nowadays is this movie, the making of this movie, interviews, clippings, bites, teasers, opinions, polls, and God knows what. It saturates you to the extent that it feels nauseating just to have a look at news. I am sure this is not the news our parents and teachers wanted us to watch.
- That's right. But media is trying to mobilize people to support this movie.
- But why on earth media would want to support a movie? Is this what media is supposed to do?
- Perhaps they think this is how we can defy the Sena effectively. And defying Sena is crucial for us if we value freedom.
- Defying Sena makes sense, because we do value freedom. And if they have brought us to a point where we have to defy them to move around, so be it. If they should be defied, they must be defied.
So far, so good.
But I maintain that media should understand its role and should restrict itself to the making up of national opinion and conscience. It is not supposed to usurp the responsibilities of other institutions, especially judiciary. It is there to ensure that they function properly. Also, media should learn from its mistakes - it had shown remarkable incompetence in the infamous Aarushi case when it had gone out of the way, conducted trials, passed judgments, and made the mess of everything, to the embarrassment of all.
Moreover, I wonder how can we make a political decision by making a commercial move? How can buying tickets of a movie be the best way of defying Sena?
- Why? Don't you buy gifts to express love?
There is a connection. Mahatma Gandhi knew this connection when he started his Swadeshi movement. This movie has become a symbolic ground of a war between those who value freedom and those who deny others their freedom.
- Sounds impressive. But still smells fishy.
- Why?
- Well, I have some doubts in my mind.
- Go on, I am listening.
- OK, then listen.
Media frequently shows that it has no sense of history. History, as I see it, is the memory we could not get rid of. History - unforgettable memory. These memories dominate our thoughts, and shape our prejudices. The idea is not to ignore history but to deal with it in an adult fashion. Media frequently feigns innocence, and naivety, while dealing with complex issues, particularly the India-Pakistan issue. The whole IPL and subsequently MNIK controversy has been engendered by people's sensitivity for this issue combined with media's penchant to allow itself to be abused by power-brokers.
Also, issues and symbols are in plenty around us. For starters, IPL and MNIK are non-issues. It is media which has chosen to make a movie a symbol of a holy war, because those who run these media houses might possibly have stakes in this movie, or showbiz in general. And these people might possibly like to take commercial advantage of a political situation.
- I have heard this before. What else?
- I feel that the disconnect between the sensibilities of the media and people is huge, and the gulf of mutual indifference is widening day by day. Men indulge themselves in news in same way as women indulge themselves in soaps, for distraction and "time-pass". The beginning of mutual contempt doesn't augur well for democracy.
I do not want to sound pessimistic. But what can I do - trying to sound optimistic is harder. Let me try to explain - when you wake up, take a good look at the map of India. Tell me which part do you think is free.
Look at the North-East, the seven step-sisters of the mainland India. You must have heard about the epic fast of Irom Sharmila. I hope the sight of those naked women parading with the banner reading "Rape Us" must still be fresh in your memory.
Now allow your attention to fall on this huge black Naxalite blot in the east. I am sure you must be aware of Salwa Judum, or of the conflicts that involve the likes of Binayak Sen and Himanshu Kumar and thousands others.
The east will be east, you might say. Oh don't say that. Don't be so condescending. Come North, please. You might have been living a Revlon life in Gurgaon for last ten years or so without ever having to hear about Khap, the local avatar of Taliban.
The worst is still to be seen but I will not detain you for long. Let's go straight to South. Come on.
- What are you coming at?
- I will tell you. We have just had a glimpse at the map of India. Could you please look at the map again, and locate the region that you consider free?
- I don't understand...
- Then why only Mumbai? And why only Sena and movie stars? When media is busy talking about stars and promoting their movies, who will talk about people? Who will talk about them, their lives and their freedom? Who will free them? Who will ask the answers to real questions involving (but not limited to) irrigation, public distribution system, land reforms, public health care, primary education, environment, gender ratio, inclusive growth, human rights, police act, naxalism, famines, droughts, floods etc?
On 13th Jan 2010, Satish Shetty was gunned down in broad daylight. Who was he, one might ask. Well, the answer lies in the question itself.
- Please don't talk in riddles.
- Satish Shetty was one of those rare men who we would need to enjoy what we do not deserve - a self-centered life of assured democracy. He was a whistle-blower who made enough noise to stop what starts to happen when all of us keep silence. He used the ultimate weapon we have been given - R.T.I. - and thwarted many anti-people projects. In his way he happened to frustrate those who could not defeat him by the rules of ring. Despite his humble background, he made himself important enough to get assassinated. Living by courage and integrity reminiscent of mythological characters, he has earned a place from where he can inspire. He is the type of man who we would like to support.
It is he who needs to be hailed as a hero. It is his story that needs to be talked about.
But the problem with media is - either they wont talk, or they talk ad nauseam. Vishal Bharadwaj is either an anonymous nobody, or a Tarantino. And till the time he is not a Tarantino, he is a nobody. There is no middle ground. They don't seem to realize that the language of hyperbole defeats its own purpose. You respect Vishal Bharadwaj for what he is till somebody compares him to Tarantino. There is another caveat to this - since they don't see enough dynamite in an ordinary Satish Shetty to blast ad nauseam, they wont even mention him.
- Instead, they will collect and distribute trivia of the cardboard heroes.
- You said it! Media is obsessed with limelight, and celebrity worship. When you urge people to cast their votes in multiplexes, you know what type of hero and what type of democracy you are making, and supporting. Over and out.
