slumdog millionnaire - trivial insecurity

Well, you know ART has to be liberated and that’s what is the film makers prerogative to show as what he wants and its our prerogative to watch or not to watch/ appreciate what we want to see. 

I completely agree slumdog has shown India on poor light wherein every nation has the dark under the light but again, slum dog is not unreal too. These thing existed and we wanted to NOT to show it or to sweep it under the carpet through our bollywood cinema . Bollywood cinema is now about Indians who stay in new York and share an apartment with girls or may be Indian couple staying in LA and having extra marital affair and we think inwardly “ what great culture” we are portraying. Why people don’t object to cinema like                                                     dostana or kabhi khushi etc? 

The point is , I am also having the pinch in my heart for showing the gross side of slums in India , but , I am sure the world knows much more about India then we think they know. The world knows about Lakshmi Mittal , Ambanis , our growing economic power, n-deal , our millions on Software Engineers across world and Taj Mahal ? 

So,  whats the big deal if Danny Boyle wanted to show the poorer side of India? Let the artist have his freedom , I would say. Or may be we would not have commented if Karan Johar or Shyam Benegal had won the same awards for the same movie. Are we not getting little bitter because a foreign film maker made it and not an Indian? 

Why don’t you protest when Adiga won Booker award ? The white tiger equally talks about slums and poverty of India. No but we appreciate it as pure form of good literature. The same way, we can appreciate this movie too !

Then, we should not forget VS Naipol,  Arundhati Roy and Jhumpa Lahiri  who showed the bright side of our country and won booker award. 

Basically , the  audience are the same. They are intelligent. So lets not be insecure that someone is going to think of us as slums. Anyone and everyone knows the grandeur of India a lot to isolate our country as a dark country full of slums. 

I have faith in the audience. Are you thoughts with me?

The darkness under the light.

Dear Reader,
Is been almost 2 months now from the day of attack which shook our country and our sense of security. 2 Blasts followed in Assam and which was given quarter Page media coverage for just a day.

I called up few people I know in Assam and asked how are they doing? Is there is actions from Government? Frankly they seem to answer in vague " arre.. yeh sab chalta rehega, kya karega Govt ? zinda hai, bahot hai ..blasts to aksar ho rehe hai .....".

I was pondering and disappointed. Is this how a citizen should behave? Why they sounded so resigned and given to what was happening around? Why was such hopeless helpless pessimistic outlook towards state govt?

I also wondered , what is the terrorists getting out of the whole thing? Their basic weapon to "terrorise" people is no longer working in Assam as people are not terrified anymore. Not that they are brave and preparing for retaliation, but then continuous attacks have kind of vaccinated them of terrorism. So none raises an eyebrow while blasts happen. People have resigned to accept that they have no security , no system to rely on. Hopeless system!

This system is not just the govt but also all those people who have decided to shut blind eye and let them suffer to the fate. This situation is dark and doomed. In one hand it will mean terrorists know Assam people wont react and on the other hand Govt will not be taking any visible strong action. The situation will remain as is for time to come. Who can you blame with pointed finger when the whole lot is to blame, some circumstantial and some objective figures to take up the blame.

"India shining " - And just under the light there is so much darkness that one cant even see where the country is heading to.

And this shine has blinded our Govt and think tanks that they are not bothered about the darkness and the evil forces lurking in the corner. Ready to strike once again, we ready to die once again..... !
( I know all these sounds pessimistic but I think we lost that spark which ignited just after 26/11. Media isn't covering it anymore, the news has become stale and just another historical event. People don't discuss as this has been debated enough. And here I am , still my heart goes out to the 200 odd families who lost someone in the Taj/Trident/CST , for them the loss cannot be repaired. They had hope of justice, which alas , due to the "Shining Indian Govt" looks bleak.

Lets open our eyes to our blindness . Lets not give up.

Are you there with me? Help me to keep this awareness alive in our heart.

2009 starts with a bang !

Here's wishing my dear reader a very peaceful 2009.
I would have wished you happiness, money, success but I feel peace can supersede all other intrinsic feeling now more than any flow of mind.

How nice would it be to wake up, sip coffee and read headlines " Terrorism finally eradicated from world- all nations stands united ." ---- A very wishful thinking indeed. isn't it?

No, 2009 started with 5 serial blasts in my birth state dear Assam killing 5 people and leaving 22 odd injured. What a super way to start new year ! I couldn't believe they have again maintained their stance in terrorism and they are doing their destructive tasks as any old long timer enemy would do as they have understood the fallacy of the system and they give a damn to it !

Yes, for north eastern people it has become a part and parcel of life.. u never know if u would return home safe and sound and in a whole body with limbs intact. They have long forsaken the system and lost hope that anyone would do anything about it.

And who knows better than a north eastern ?

I would sincerely pray that the Govt would soon wake up, stir from the doomed sleep and do something. what more is needed? Do they need the terrorism to be successful and have more people killed? the beginning of the new year isn't good at all. I also feel the NSG should have a very strong base camp in Assam as not only the state is disturbed but also serves as a gateway of anti social elements to enter India through the weakly protected borders.

The upcoming election is an important one. If you are reading my blog and realise even 1 % of my intention to pen down these, please vote for the right party. This time dont shrug off from your duty.

My resolution for new year: Be a more responsible and alert citizen. Not to take India for granted. And not to let terrorism take India for granted.

Are you there with me in my thoughts?