Wednesday, February 3, 2010

For God's sake, get a perspective!

A few days ago, read a newspaper article where a PIL had been filed against a Hindi serial on Colors by a ‘Akhil Bhartiya Chitransh Mahasabha” for the use of the word “kayastha” in making fun of a community. Intrigued me enough to watch the episodes last week. The serial revolves around two families – Kayastha and Brahmin - their differences, pet peeves, community specific idiosyncrasies and prejudices.


After watching the serial, in the context of this PIL, more than ever now, I am convinced that as a society we've lost our sense of perspective.. what is being depicted is not untrue and neither is it restricted to a particular caste...


I think the Brahmins come off far worse than the kayasths and maybe the "'Akhil Bhartiya Chitransh Mahasabha'" needs to see the serial again to see who is being shown in a bad light and for any Brahmin who protests, well, in large parts especially in smaller towns it is unfortunately true, so let's not be sanctimonious...


It is so typical of our holier-than-thou and insular attitudes that we would much rather waste time, effort and energy in protesting and trying to ban something uncomplimentary being shown rather than spending that energy in changing those things.


Clearly members of the 'Akhil Bhartiya Chitransh Mahasabha' need to be gainfully occupied instead of wasting the Court's, the public's and their time. As they say, an empty mind is a devil's workshop!


And for the record, I am a Brahmin, fully cognizant of many social repressions perpetuated by the community, appreciative of its knowledge and contributions, and perfectly capable of enjoying the serial for a realistic portrayal of what happens in society, without bringing community centric indignation into it!

But why am I surprised? Our politicians too seem to spend a better part of their time chamioning narrow causes like the Marathi Manoos rather than looking at a larger ictue and actually addressing causes that need urgent attention! Opportuneness thy name is 'politician"!