Author Archives: maansi
Aamir Khan Jolts India With Some Soul Shattering Reality
Allow me to gush. Please.
For months, he has been teasing Indians with short promos about his new TV “reality show” Satyamev Jayete without revealing what it is all about. All people had were those teasers and their own imaginations to work with.
But then Aamir Khan, the perfectionist, has an extremely high credibility quotient. Such that when the show debuted today (the day I write this – Sunday, May 6th), millions tuned in to watch. I dare say, millions came away awed and amazed. I know I did.
Satyamev Jayete literally means Truth is Invincible or Truth Alone Prevails. He could not have chosen a better title for his show.
When I did bother to think about it, my impression from having seen a promo or two, was that we would be presented with a travelogue of India and conversations with ordinary but interesting people that he would meet on his journeys across the country. Something that was mostly pleasant, captured well on camera (India captures splendidly on camera – all those brilliant colors!) and because this was Aamir, entertaining and worth a watch as well.
Boy, was I off the mark!
Little did I realize that he was going for the gut – mine, by dealing with hard and hard-hitting issues like this one!
His entire debut episode centered on a single topic – that of female foeticide. It is described on his website (after the fact) as such:
In this episode Aamir talks about the killing of unborn girls, or female foeticide, an alarming and frightening reality. It involves the collusion of families, doctors and a social structure that encourages the desire for a boy child – at any cost. The result has been the death of over 3 crore unborn girls since independence and a generation of young men, many amongst whom will find it very tough to get a life partner.
[Note: 3 crore = 30 million!]
The episode contained the sensitive and soul touching stories of real women who had undergone frightening experiences with forced abortions by in-laws or husbands, not once, but over and over again – whenever an ultra-sound showed that the baby was a girl. It showed how they dealt with these tragedies and how they overcame them to end up having daughters.
But it did not end there.
It went on to examine why this happens in India, how this insane practice got started and became tragically virulent, and the sad consequences to this society if it continues – the entire cycle supported by:
experts, facts, real stories and true journalism.
From a Bollywood actor?!
With lumps in our throats and even tears in our eyes, we watched these horrific yet awe-inspiring stories and went on to watch Aamir reveal some remarkable facts – for example, I (like most people) didn’t realize that most female foeticide does not just happen among the poor and rural masses. In fact, it is more prevalent among the richer and educated citizens. What?
We sure do jump to quick conclusions based on such superficial assumptions, don’t we?
Well-thought out, thorough and gripping.
A show that combines all these factors cannot be produced overnight. It has obviously taken an immense amount of time, research, talented people, and dedication to get it to…PERFECTION.
Ultimately it portrayed a reality in all its grisliness, speaking frankly of horrors that people avoid talking about but in a way that touched hearts. And to the logical minds in us, it spoke about why these atrocities were occurring, why they should stop and more importantly, how they could be stopped.
What was unexpected and different is not in what the reality was, but in how effectively it was presented…leaving people with a multitude of deep, unforeseen emotional reactions.
I write this while the show is still fresh on my mind from this morning. I can’t help it…words are simply pouring out of me.
Each of us that watched it together felt the impact (the initial reactions from people around India appear to have been similar). We were touched deeply and were inspired to do something about this serious issue.
Aamir Khan!
My salute to Aamir Khan for his guts, passion, conviction, leadership and an outstanding contribution to the nation. The guy’s stature just keeps growing and growing…
And don’t even bother to discuss this “reality show” in the same breath as all the other trivial TV shows that are out there!
The way I see it – people talk and writers write (so do bloggers) but most have a limited reach. Here’s someone who has combined his clout and star power with a medium that reaches millions of households in India. What’s different is that he’s taken advantage of his super stardom to get serious and comprehensively address a burning current issue (with more to come, I’m sure). From Aamir Khan the actor to Aamir Khan the activist? [Remind you of someone else…say, George Clooney?] Success to you, Mr.Khan!
By using this powerful combination on TV, he has (so far) been able to get great coverage and draw a huge audience…can this broad awareness be transformed into a movement for real change? That’s brilliant!
Plus he has also neatly blended his business side (he is paid well for each episode he produces – it appears he is putting his heart and soul into it, and with this result – why ever not?) with the humanitarian and patriot in him. Good for him!
Okay, I’ve gushed enough. I’m really writing this for those of you who have not had a chance to watch this show.
Be sure to catch it – it’s online now.
[I do hope that it comes out soon with English subtitles – somehow barely-there, passable Hindi is inadequate for such a deep presentation where I don’t want to be missing a word].
I can’t wait for what next Sunday will bring. Now there’s actually a damn good reason to turn on that idiot box!
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Show promo with its title song:
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Has Anna Hazare Lost His Relevance…Already?
2011: How It Was
Rewind to about 8 months ago and you will see that this nation was in an uproar about corruption in government. All because of one simple man, Anna Hazare. With his actions – including his fast unto death – and aided ably by the incompetence of the ruling party, he soared as a hero in the country’s collective imagination.
I remember how exciting it was to feel the pulse of people who were protesting with him. There was an unhampered enthusiasm among the people as they fought this war against corruption. I also remember writing about it more than once, since there was so much to capture. To me, it represented one of those movements that happen so rarely that you felt lucky to be a part of it, even if just as a witness. I still feel this way.
Then, There Were the Odd Cynics (Realists?)
In addition, I remember sharing my excitement with one particular person -a middle-aged corporate executive who has lived in India all his life and one who was obviously a hardened veteran. This was at the height of the Jan Lokpal movement. I remember clearly what he said – “Corruption go away because of Anna Hazare? No, that will never happen. Not in this country.”
I remember thinking to myself, “What a cynic! Of course, there will be change”.
Today, I sit here and wonder whether I was the naive one.
Anna Hazare is still very much around but I am just not sure how relevant he is anymore to a discussion and decision on a national level anti-corruption bill. He continues to be a respected and revered figure. But I don’t know who listens to what he says about this. And it’s difficult to pin down whether enough people here really care anymore that corruption needs to be rooted out with a strong set of laws.
The media appears to be be giving Anna some polite coverage in the back pages, every now and again. But then the media is all about stories that sell and it appears that this story has petered out. Lately, there’s been more talk about local murder and mayhem – Bollywood style.
How is This Even Possible?
It was mere months ago that the nation appeared to rally together for Anna Hazare and his inspiring movement, with the media helping spread that notion, every step of the way. Are memories really so short and emotions so transient?
This is so very sad since India badly needs a strong anti-corruption crusader who won’t say die. He would not be needed if the government was taking adequate actions on its own. But, we know it’s not. That’s a bit like asking the fox to guard the hen house.
Here are some random thoughts that occur to me at this turn of events (or rather non-events). They’re more questions than answers unfortunately:
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In these intervening months, Anna Hazare has been raising his voice against state-level corruption and non-corruption related activities (unfortunately, I don’t remember most of them) – has he been diluting his bigger efforts towards a nation-wide Jan Lokpal bill?
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People have returned to their everyday lives after the energizing activist movements of last year. They seem to have stopped listening to what Anna and his team have to say. Another compelling clarion call is needed.
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Perhaps, Anna is just waiting for the government to act on all their commitments…but what if it doesn’t? What happens then? Does he have another silver bullet he can use?
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Movements like these take time. Whether you are talking about India’s independence struggle or that of the U.S. Civil Rights movement – those efforts took many years, from concept and vision to reality. This one, while not of the same scope, will be a long process too, so maybe I am simply seeing a temporary lull? Let’s hope so!
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What will revive the movement again and build momentum like it once had? (It seems like that is what made the government begin to act on this front). I’m afraid that I’m stumped on this.
Can I help the conclusion that I have arrived at? That, at least for the time being, Anna Hazare’s words and actions don’t seem to matter much to the majority of people. Or even to a minority.
Let’s score another one for disappointment and discouragement about this country. 😦
As I close on that downer note, I am promising myself right now that I will actively seek out an uplifting, positive topic that I can think about soon. I need that!
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Photo credits:
Anna Hazare supporters: By Hariya1234 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Newspapers: By Ganesh Dhamodkar (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons
The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 