Sometimes, when I reluctantly participate in those meaningless TV debates on the New India or Sexy India, I feel like an imposter. Most of the other panellists arrive with personal agendas. They are there to push away …plug their latest product, be it a movie, ad, spiritual mantraor political goal. And me? I’m there to add two vital elements:
1) the token female perspective and
2) a dash of colour/glamour.
All of us bleat away on how fantastic it feels to be an Indian today. How amazing it is that the worldis finally recognizing our real worth and giving us ‘respect’. I feel depressed at the end of all the chest-thumping. And ask myself how much of this new strut is self-delusionary. Whom are we kidding? And, by trotting them out often enough, will we really start believing our own illusions about ourselves?
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Superstar India Excerpts - 3
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I'd hate to be a bit negative and add that Jamaicans went through a similar phase in the late 80s and early 90s. Reggae music was a world-wide passion and every other ad on TV was a variation of "Come to Jamaica and feel alright". Sandals was inviting everyone to visit the island of paradise on earth. When I would come across a Jamaican national in NYC, their pride was visible and almost bursting through the seams of their often flashy clothing. But their high was short lived and the self-importance darkened by the few who chose to capitalize on the influx of traffic in the island and start a special trafficking of their own... Perhaps there is a tint of "hubris" when people do too much "chest thumping", as Ms. De writes. Everyone is special and everyone has suffered, but it's the wise few who deal with struggle and success in a quiet way...
Post a Comment