As I write this column, with one eye on the TV watching India’s Republic Day celebrations, I am filled with both joy and sadness. It reminds me of my growing up days and youthful times in India. As before, my eyes get moist singing the Jana Gana Mana and I proudly watch in silence the national anthem sung by the young and the old. The national songs that are continually played on the telly bring nostalgic memories.
True to myself, I must admit that the 69th year of the Republic has made me wonder if the Republic is going to survive for another 50 years at the rate things are moving in India. I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but reality shows that not all is well with the Indian state. No doubt that the political leaders of old declared India a Republic a couple of years after the country won its independence from the British. The political leaders didn’t want any king or queen to rule India. It had enough of being ruled by the British royalty.
Ironically, today a queen is reigning over India. Yeah, it’s Rani Padmini. The recently-released movie has created deep divisions in the Indian society. After five edits, back-and-forth dealings with officialdom and the ultimate intervention of the Supreme Court, the movie hasn’t brought peace. It’s amidst this heart-breaking and agonising times that the country is celebrating Republic Day. Many Indians could be asking themselves if there’s anything to celebrate considering that our school-children had a traumatic experience in Gurugram when they were targets of stone-throwing by a group of persons who allegedly are part of the Karni Sena.
The TV keeping running the ticker, Proud to be Indian. But, for me, I am not so proud. I find it pathetic that amids the chaos and mayhem, Indians could feel proud of themselves. Let us spare some thoughts for the small school-children who had to duck under their seats of the bus carrying them as stones hit their bus. Hope this incident doesn’t leave a permanent scar on them as they grow up. Their cries made me angry, and I think it similarly to many millions of Indians who watched the incident on TV. I am mad as hell.
This is not the India the great poet of India, Rabindranath Tagore, never had in mind when he wrote, Where The Mind is Without Fear. The last line of the poem reads, Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let me country awake. Doubtless, Tagore was writing with the thought of Independence, but it’s timely to invoke those words at this time of India’s history. At this juncture, India is turning into a earthly hell.
PM Narendra Modi may have waxed eloquent at Davos about India’s progress and projected growth. But reality bites, dear PM, that it isn’t so. Forget the economic markers, there are visible cracks in the social fabric of India. Why hasn’t the government cemented these cracks? The endgame of this government seems to take care of its vote-bank and to play a dumb role in states where the BJP is in power. To let the fringe groups burn India over a film which some film critics say that it celebrates or boosts Rajput pride instead of defaming it. That Goa is among the states which banned the showing of the film is shocking. No doubt Goa is ruled by the BJP, but so is Maharashtra where the movie isn’t banned. Why is Parrikar on this bandwagon of shutting out the movie? Cowardice shouldn’t be the answer to meet the challenge that could be posed by the film. Goans were stereo-typed in some movies, and only a murmur of protest could be heard about it in Goa.
True, each community or segment of society feel hurt when they are portrayed in some sort of bad light. But one should take such things in one’s stride or astutely defend against misconceptions or stereo-types through the written word. Maybe a peaceful protest can be tolerated to send a strong message. But an organised, frenzied armed struggle is no answer. Didn’t we have Go Goa Gone in 2013? Also, weren’t Punjabis annoyed with Udta Punjab? I have seen the movies and laughed a little and, at the same time, felt sorry for what Udta Punjab projected of Punjab. Truth often hurts, but we must reconcile ourselves that such exposure may ensure that such things will be corrected.
Today, “Reel India” reins over “Real India”. Having “chopped” off the letter “i” and added “a” for the film’s title doesn’t take away the merit of the film. That the story is mythical seems to have been lost on the protesters. But the story that Modi unveiled at the top of the Alps is one of amazement, not forgetting his faux pas at bloating (reminds me of his 56-inch chest) India’s population to the figure of 600 crores (1.6 billion) when it’s at 125 crores.
Goans must feel proud that at least its famed fish curry was among the menu served at the dinner hosted by Modi for leading CEOs. Imploring them to come to India, spreading the red carpet to come and see for themselves what India is all about, that it’s a progressive nation — a “New India.” I conclude by repeating what the Konkani-speaking Deepika Padukone said during the tumultuous period before the movie released, “We have regressed as a nation.”
(Eugene Correia is a senior journalist who worked for The Hindu, and Free Press Journal).
