Just today I happened to read a very true and interesting article on the paradox of the modern Indian woman and the traditional one. The target was the apparent ironical difference in the mindsets of the people when it came to dealing with phenomena related to modernity. It set me of ,to in a way, revolt against this -
Most people traditional and socially acceptable as they consider themselves to be revel in certain so called aspects of modernity. For instance most people believe that frequenting malls, wearing branded or even better designer apparel portrays their level of modernity at the same time not being bold enough by indulging in something taboo. Usually, however they require periodic (read daily/weekly) doses of escapism from their concept to a world of “extreme” modernity; a world where people are immune to current affairs or anything theoretical or practical for that matter and importantly distant from what they themselves are influenced by. These characters dwell in their own worlds with a different set of problems pertaining to ancestral inheritance, being one up over their own family, avenging certain deeds that may have caused them humiliation, loss et al. These people are nothing but figments of imagination of certain story tellers who by the way quite resemble their own creations. But that’s a different story altogether.
I am talking about the daily soap operas on the boob tube something that has enthralled an entire population which claims to have to one of the best education systems in the world. That is certainly contestable. Anyways, our whole country of wide spread diversity seems to be taken into these not sparing the educated youth or the ‘wise’ old ones. All seem to be so addicted one would feel they’d have withdrawal symptoms if their ‘dope’ was taken away. These K serials have made people so self centric, so base and probably venal that there is a whole undercurrent of a rotten culture that has evolved. The effect becomes more and more visible as time progresses and intermittently one gets exposed to it. At those times it arouses pity and a feeling of helplessness. Sometimes a need for hope!
General awareness are longer words that can be used together. Question a person about Indian policy, Indian history, geography, world events and they either blank or end up replying the daftest of answers as if a protagonist from a B grade slapstick movie. I doubt the number or range of topics that anyone of them could talk about would require a second digit in the decimal system! Alarming as it is, the problem is still unnoticed and is not treated as a problem in the first place. The reason being that this commonplace ignorance hasn’t become an issue demanding any thought or action and worse it’s socially acceptable.
Thinkers or non thinkers all agree that the brain is the most powerful part of our body. It is the source of invention, innovation, novel concepts, the wheel just everything part of our modern civilization. Even spirituality I would argue. In such a state of affairs when we have a mass of decadent brains incapable of any productive activity wouldn’t it be a right and sensible thing to arrest the cause of the disease. We have laws in place for prosecuting criminals who damage property, harm citizens, cheat and for all contemptible acts as there are. But does any law prosecute people who destroy the brain, people who decide to decay it and turn it into an inane consumer (a dump yard or sorts) for any crap they can cook up? People who’ve turned ‘entertainment’ into mindless pulp fiction packaged as good as it can be. Apparently one must not, at the same time, disregard their sophisticated and adept skill at doing so and it certainly deserves appreciation. Applause! A brilliantly executed crime to pollute the brains of a whole generation and many more to come! Are we not going to prosecute these producers/ directors and story tellers? Collectively they do more damage to us than any terrorist or religious fanatical organization. The crimes go unseen because they are intangible and all talk about free media and free expression gives them the license to go ahead. Is this where and why moral policing is required? Probably less, for destroying the most important asset a human being possesses. Thought! Brain! Mind! Let’s hope the upsetting trend is stemmed. But I bet only a miracle can reverse the trend. Most likely, a hero from these serials brought into reality could do the trick. Poison kills poison.
