Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Proud of the Fatherland!

Why is it that when any well-meaning criticism is placed on Indian topics, people would rather point fingers at the critic? Usually the retort is that the critic doesn't love the country, or that he isn't proud of his country.

Well, you know what: I love my country, and am proud as a lion about it. Can't get enough of Hariprasad Chaurasia, Vada pavs, Pav Bhaji or the Kama Sutra. Still love the feeling of travelling in India, by Indian railways, and meeting completely unfamiliar people, all without needing a passport.

All this is fine, and nobody doubts an Indian as far as he is singing praises of Hariprasad Chaurasia and Vishwanathan Anand. But it is the minute you point out how Bheja Fry is a shitty copy of the French movie, Le Dîner de cons, that you transition from being a loved fellow Indian to a clumsy, foreign, NRI, outsider, spoilt by your love for all things Western, or Eastern, or everything non-Indian. Soon your entire life is called into question: were you really born in India? Maybe you're too rich, too poor, too smart, too dumb. Maybe your parents spoilt you rotten, or maybe they left you in an empty room to play with the light-switch.

Can this get any more retarded? Why must we equate love for country with blind devotion to a fascism where no dissent is tolerated.

I once was part of a conversation where Indian movies were being discussed. This conversation happened in a moving car, so I was not free to leave it if I wanted. One of the people asked me what Indian movies I had watched recently, and I blurted out that I had not watched any Hindi movie recently. Immediately her reply was to question my Indian-ness, my love for India, and how I must be ashamed of my country. Admittedly, this person was not the brightest spark, but her reaction is typical of some Indians I have met.

How the hell did that kind of mentality come to be tolerated?

Not keeping in touch with Hindi movies for a period of a few months immediately disqualifies you from being Indian these days. The central question in the Indian passport form must be the names of the recent Hindi movies, along with the life history of Aishwarya Rai.

Then, if you actively criticize something, then you're bound to get your mailbox filled with hateful speech. Say if you were to complain about some Indian Institute, you're bound to get blasted to little bits. Even worse if you actually compare that institute to some foreign institute.

This isn't pride, this is fascism. If you cannot meaningfully discuss basic things like the state of our education, you don't live in a democracy. Kiss up to Stalin, and better love everything Koba did for his subservient followers.

Democracy, and true love for the country demands that you bring to notice the wrongs that you see. Criticism of Sati led to a gradual change of attitudes. Would you question the Indian-ness of the people involved?

Without critical thinking, there can be no change.

Footnotes:
1. Yes, all Indians are not like that. Many Indians are fine individuals, who accept, challenge, and aspire for better. Clearly these people are not being blamed here.
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4 comments:

  1. of course all critics are not i HATE INDIANS.. when u do something there is always ppl who supporst you and ppl who are against you idea.. its that your point is worth noting..
    keep writing
    BS
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  2. i was searching for details on changla pass - stepped into your site and this blog

    thanks for providing wonderful info which i was searching for (not 100% but to some extent)

    गुरुदेव दया करो दीन जने
    gurudEva dayaa karo deena jane
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  3. When you offer a scathing and severe criticism of anything without giving definite reasons for it, there will be people (most likely the ones who are loyal to or who have liked that particular thing) who will retort and they will do that not necessarily in a logical way. Make a general comment like "Indian movies are useless crap" and there will be a number of people who will jump up in defense of Indian movies and cast doubt about your understanding of a movie, your intelligence, your patriotism, your loyalty towards your birthplace and so on. So one needs to be neutral (and also appear to be so) when offering a critical opinion about anything.
    The comment that 'Bheja Fry' is a shitty copy of a French movie has provided an example of this phenomenon. You must have seen the French version which according to you was much superior. But the majority of Indian viewers had not and for them it was as good as an original movie. They truly enjoyed the movie which despite not having the typical ingredients of a masala movie(songs, stars, female lead etc.)made them laugh and consequently went on to become a major hit. Your disapproval of it being a copy was also questionable. A good movie, in any language, deserves to be copied in as many languages as possible (with appropriate changes in the plot as to adapt to different cultural backgrounds) so that most people can enjoy it. So some people, who must have liked the movie objected to your criticism, and did so in a highly irrational manner.
    If you wanted to criticize that particular movie, you should have been specific about what you did not like in it and then your criticism might have been taken in a positive manner, may be even accepted. When you criticize a well liked object or thing in a general way, there will always be the danger of being attacked in its defense.
    That said, there are lots of things wrong in India which need to be talked about. As long as you are neutral and dispassionate in your discussion, no one should take a personal offense because of it. Being over sensitive about criticism of one's country is akin to burying one's head in sand and pretending everything is just fine.
    And yes, watching Indian movies is no proof of anyone's love for India. People in India watch movies not out of patriotism but because there is little else by way of entertainment in this country.
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  4. I guess the problem with Indians is that they are living in their past glory. They are content letting things be as they are and when someone points out the failings of the country and the limitatios of the people, there is paranoia that grips them. Since they do not know how to deal with it or work towards improving things they react aggressively. I guess aggression comes naturally to us Indians and we use it most frequently as a defense mechanism.

    You talk about Bollywood copying foreign films. I recently wrote to a well known Indian economist asking him that since India was neither a true capitalistic society nor a true welfare state, what is the middle path that we should adopt. His response and I am not kidding - let us copy the UK, German or French model! I could only laugh. Is there nothing to be siad for the different growth stages, different demographics etc. I guess not in this gentleman's world.

    I agree with you that as long as you praise everything Indian, you are an India lover. The minute you start being honest you are deemed as an India hater. The fact that some of us live outside India also leads to furthering the accusation since we apparently "deserted" the country.

    Great to find you on blogspot.

    TB
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