Racism: A Definition

So many people are today ashamed of being north Indians. And all because of some TRP hungry news persons. Actually, being with the media and PR deptt right now, I should probably be happy about the power media holds over smart, educated people such as my friends. But I also happen to be a cynic, and more importantly, a North Indian. So, I'd like to add my bit to this whole debate, howsoever limited my audience maybe.

What happened to young Tania was unfortunate, sad, deplorable. Would it have happened had he had big, almond eyes? Yes, it would have. Would it have happened had he been a strapping six foot NE guy with a couple of friends around? NO!

Racism is discriminating against people from a different race, place or culture. To experience it, go to Chennai in a car with a Punjab number plate. Or go to Bengal and talk in Hindi. Or just walk into a London pub with ur happy, brown, Indian face. That is truly racist. Picking on someone that appears alone and defenseless is just predatory. It could be a lone woman on a dark street, a tourist surrounded by a bunch of touts, or someone obviously not from 'around here'.

The former doesn't happen in Delhi or Punjab, at least not as much as in Chennai, Kolkata, London or Paris. The latter happens everywhere. No one picks on anyone bigger, stronger or better connected than himself. There is the territorial instinct, the predatory instinct, and above all, the instinct for survival.

So everyone, please stop lamenting about how ashamed u r of being north Indians, or Delhiites. If you think this is the only place exhibiting racism, you are being naive, or melodramatic. This is a trait exhibited by every living being, even some plants. Civilization was supposed to help us curb such base instincts, but no one is perfect, not even Ms Civilization. Even if it was a racist attack, labeling an entire community for the acts of a few is what is truly racist. So, in a way, you are all becoming what you condemn. Disowning your community for someone's act you don't like? Should have given up being human a few decades back.

So please stop being ashamed of being north Indian, or rich or non gay. Want to be ashamed, be ashamed for the starving guy you saw with out offering him anything to eat, of the shivering homeless on the streets, of the orphan you cud have adopted and given  a home. But no one wants to be ashamed of himself, not when he has an entire community to be ashamed of. Never look down at the mirror!

And be ashamed of how easily the media is manipulating your thoughts, of how easily you can be made to dwell only on the seamier side of our lives while all the sunshine withers away behind the news studio.

Thappad se darr nahin lagta.......

Make love, not war, they say. Do they even know what they are talking about? Love makes the world go round?!!! Do we really want to go round and round in circles? All these statements are just ploys to keep the benefits of wars limited to a select few, while the rest of us suffer, holding onto a very stupid emotion - LOVE. 

It is all the so called negative emotions that have kept the world moving forward, feelings like fear, hatred, jealousy. These feelings gave us fire, housing, nuclear tech. Have we ever heard of fear or hatred giving anybody AIDS? Love only created Hallmark cards. O wait, it was greed that created this industry.

Some people may counter saying art is born of love and beauty. All that love created are two bit works of fiction - Laila Majnu, Romeo Juliet, Shirin Farhad. Hate and war gave us epics like Mahabharata that are unrivalled even today.

Spiritual gurus tell us that there is a superhero within all of us. Geeky as it maybe, but there is an entire field of study devoted to superhero tales. Every superhero, it says, needs a nemesis to make him what he is. Batman didn't become a hero settling down into blissful matrimony with the Catwoman, but by battling the Joker or Bane. Superman is not famous as Mr Wonder Woman. He needs his Lex Luthor. The superheroes are superheroes not just because of the good in their hearts, but because of the evil around them.

So, the next time u find a spiritual enterpreuner telling u to find love within our heart, tell him off. Tell him, "प्यार में लोग सिर्फ जान देते हैं, पर नफरत जीने का बहाना बन जाती है" and go out to live your life, like superheroes......, or supervillains.

AAP's Animal Farm

Mr. Kejriwal has certainly got our attention. People can speculate regarding his intentions, but you just cant ignore the guy's determination and resilience. After Mahatama Gandhi, nobody has managed to stir up the political scene so vigorously. But the Mahatama had the 2nd world war help weaken his enemies. All Mr Kejriwal has got is over 60 years of moral decay and deep rooted cynicism eroding his support base. Add to that biased (read compromised) media and dime a dozen trouble makers, and he is ready to be condemned to history's dust bin.

That being said, nothing can condone the inconvenience being caused to countless commuters in the capital. Shutting down metro stations without warning on one of the coldest and wettest january days is absolute harassment. So, all of us stepping into the metro stations have been declared guilty without the courtesy of a judge, jury or a trial. While all kind of ruffians make it to the dharna site, hordes of policemen stop a bus full of officers short of their office, to prevent any avoidable incident. Well, if reaching for work on time is an untoward incident, they are certainly effective. Cant really blame them though, spending a cold wet day standing by silently.

Then there are those asking citizens to bear it as it is for their own good. Hmm, 'for your own good', now where have I heard that one before? Hitler, CPI, Naxalites, Shiv Sena? Oh wait, all of them. There is a thin line dividing affirmative action and vigilantism, and another thinner line dividing vigilantism and lawlessness. Maybe AAP needs to read 'The Animal Farm', before they find themselves walking on two legs and wielding whips. Or maybe they need to go to NDA (the one in Pune, not the coalition), to learn the importance of JOSH with hosh. They need to get their act together, for the sake of this country and the aspirations of a dejected, cynical people.

P.S. Wish I had published this one when I had written it, well before AAP made a mockery of itself. I publish it now, because Hope rules Eternal!