-
Leo Tolstoy (Russian, 1828-1910)
Word for the day
Eternize (v)
To make eternal; perpetuate.
(Source: Dictionary.com)
Malice towards
none
The jingoism seen in media
over an army operation is not unprecedented. We have seen it before.
The question is - 'is it
avoidable?" or they must do it.
This jingoism is not new
Besides the daily soap opera of Delhi government, some events that
occurred last week need to be evaluated to find if some paradigms are shifting.
The most talked about event was the reported hot pursuit of Indian
army into foreign territory to neutralize the terrorists who ambushed and
killed army personnel in Manipur recently.
The government officials tried to convey the message that India is
no longer a soft state. The media also played along in full zest.
It has been tried to convey that it is first of its kind
operation, but certainly not the last one. I could not digest it. I find it
impossible to fathom that Indian army was not responding to extreme
provocations from across the border, including gruesome beheading of its
personnel.
The jingoism demonstrated by the government is also not
unprecedented. We have many instances of incumbent prime ministers and senior
minister using threatening language against Pakistan, in particular.
So effectively I do not see any change here.
"The Visit", an online ad campaign for a ethnic garment line
has evoked tremendous interest amongst people. The 3:24minute film takes a leap
in terms of presentation and acceptance of same sex relationships.
I am not sure how the right wing elements who have been opposing
omission of Sec. 377 of IPC would react to this. But a large majority of people
would move an inch towards the line of acceptance. A paradigm might have begun
to move here, if already not shifted.
Hindi films have mostly reflected the current positioning of
various issues in the society.
I have been keenly watching how the metaphor for Mumbai has
silently shifted from the iconic VT station and Marine Drive to the newly built
Bandra Worli sealink. Similarly, Delhi is no longer represented by India Gate
and Vijay Chowk. Instead Delhi Metro is used.
Also, the scene of action has moved away from Mumbai to North.
While during 1980-2000, the scene of action was overwhelmingly Mumbai, a in
past one decade substantially large number of films have focused on life in
middle class Delhi, Punjab and small towns of Uttar Pradesh. A recent hit had
the glimpses of life in interiors of Haryana perhaps for the first time in
mainstream cinema.
This is a major trend having economic connotations. Firstly, it
perhaps indicates that incremental rise in household income is higher in north
and east as compared to west. This may be due to high concentration of young
population in these states. Secondly, technology and new infrastructure are
occupying large space in peoples' conscience as compared to culture and heritage.
BJP in particular needs to note these trends. Akhilesh, Nitish and Manohar Lal
ji would also be much better placed if they realize and accept these shifting
paradigms.
For investors like me, nothing could be more pleasant than to hear
that modern infrastructure projects are new heritage icons.
No comments:
Post a Comment