Where Are We Headed?

In our present times, we have succumbed to the practice of introspecting ourselves and the general state of affairs around us, only on special occasions or certain days. Why can’t we do this on a day-to-day basis. Today is the 65^th anniversary of our country gaining its independence and  there are many questions in my mind.  As a nation who and what are we?... What do we stand for?..... What is the meaning of freedom? I regret to admit but, I am quite confused.

My wife thinks that my teaching career comes with its own set of occupational hazards, questioning everything, seeing things in black and white or simply as good or bad. Being an artist is just a cherry on the cake, making my case terminal. As an artist and as an individual, I was there at the cusp of change, which our country has witnessed during last couple of decades. How I understand things is through visual culture or what I see and hear, and through my expression. In today’s newspaper (Hindustan Times, HT City Edition- Chandigarh) I came face to face with article titled “Cost of Freedom” by Usmeet Kaur and illustrated by Diljeet. I do not know these people personally. I did not read the article because I was struck silent and was riveted to the illustration. Ironically, the article which also read Voice of Youngistan, had blatantly copied the iconic World War II photograph titled Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal. The photograph had obvious alterations. It was presented as an illustration with the tri color replacing the American national flag. It appears that our treasure of imagery is either bankrupt or inaccessible, or simply the Indian images are not as patriotic and dramatic as the American images are. We today are ready to plagiarize and steal images towards article that gives words to what is original, when it comes to our freedom and what India stands for. I am amazed by the kind of lackadaisical attitude of the writer and the editor who failed to verify the authenticity of the illustration. I am assuming that the 11 Murti statues or the iconic b/w white image of young Bhagat Singh sitting on the “manji” shackled were not glorious enough. Hail the internet and its use. 

Illustration by Diljeet and Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal

I was recently watching the movie Terminator Salvation. In our recent history, I have not seen any movie that has portrayed a human “Voice” and the medium of radio propagating the spirit of revolution so efficiently. The movie has also depicted radio signal as a powerful and destructive tool. It also reminded me of Amin Sayani from yesteryear's.

Today, when we are constantly barraged by imagery and voices, we are unable to register the subtle nuances that may define the quality of a particular voice, sound or image. I only listed to radio while driving to work and I only drive twice a week to work. RJ Meenakshi of 94.3 My FM, while having invited kids in the studio, was unceremonious enough to discuss the IPL 2012 finals and Poonam Pandey’s  publicity charade. I felt sane, when none of the young participants responded. More recently when the entire media was applauding the recent medal haul by India at the Olympics 2012, RJ Meenakshi jumped on to the band wagon and glorified MC Mary Kom (bronze medalist in women boxing – 51 KG flyweight category) for heralding the dawn of women power and in the end thanked her for her valuable contributions to the sports of “Wrestling”.

11 Murti in New Delhi and Bhagat Singh's iconic image

Do these questions occasionally knock at your conscience? I’m sure they do. Then again we start thinking about our rights, responsibilities and duties, while conveniently keeping the chronological sequence of these three crucial words flexible. 16^th August is going to be just another day. The absence of the daily news papers will be the only change in our mundane life. We will be sore about going to work, and we will again choose to be selfish over selfless, silently taking a vow of mediocrity and to never be exceptional towards ourselves, our nation and its people. Everything today seems to be mediocre. Such a senile attitude is alarming. I hope that there are others who are noticing and are raising questions.  Do we want to build ourselves and inevitably our nation upon such a foundation?  To my amazement, while I was editing this write up, one of the popular TV channel was showcasing the movie “Krantiveer” starring Nana Patekar. It was the end part of the movie where Nana Patekar is about to be hanged. Dramatic enough, at the gallows he makes a last ditch effort to instigate mass soul searching among his countrymen.    

* title borrowed from http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/01/30/reviews/000130.30conwayt.html