RIP Sridevi, RIP Sensitivity!

Another death, another spectacle, hollow emotions, primetime melodrama – this has become a repetitive template. With 800+ TV channels competing for idiot time loyalty, weekly challenges thrown by movie stars to promote their respective contribution to box office mediocrity and an entire universe of Yotube influencers joining in the plague race, the entertainment seeking man is forever starved for more entertainment.

Drug addiction? Nothing compared to addiction to be consistently entertained. News channels with bath-tub reporting create stories, but for whom? Rakhi Sawant has not one but 2 selfie video tributes laced with tears but again, for whom? Maybe the audience was not there, maybe the audience that sampled the content was disgusted with its poor taste, or maybe not.

Seriously, if husbands ordering bathtubs and lifeguards managing bathrooms in 5-star hotels is the level of humour that we have stooped down to, blaming journalists, blaming media or blaming Rakhi Sawant can merely be categorized as self-shit-swag.

My one definite contribution to society is to be part of various Whatsapp groups, society ones, friends, old friends, school friends, don’t remember their faces friends, did we know each other friends and some adjectiveless family ones. & many of them have been abuzz with news centered around Sridevi. The customary RIPs gave way to doctors prescribing how to shower to the usual conspiracies that you did not know about. That the tribute gave way too soon to Sherlockism is pardonable considering people move on with need for entertainment. Perhaps the tributes when they did flow were genuine.

But then came in the jokes followed by LOLs, RoFLs & emoticons that simply did not fit into the context of paying tribute to someone you loved. & we expect non-frivolous journalism & we expect Rakhi Sawant to act responsibly.

On none of these Whatsapp groups, did anyone counter such jokes with the same fervor that we sometime do while defending our politicians and their bullshit. Never once did the men (& women) who share such forwards reflect on their pitiful state of becoming such a slave to their desires to smiles, however tragic it is. We are just too used to live it by the joke.

Kalia, the True Bhakt

I feel like Kalia, who elected Gabbar in a democratic process believing him to be a ruthless demagogue. & till communities after communities fell under the hooves of his mighty horses and all conquering roar, I felt proud. Here was a leader, a man of tribe, who was feared by one & all. Here was a man of action who could cut hands of justice if it was necessary for a greater cause towards keeping his clan the most supreme.

& I, Kalia, the fiercely loyal, blindly devoted follower knew that I will always be safe, that I will always be fighting for a cause greater than a few worthless lives. What Gabbar says is the law, the law of the jungle, the law for the powerful, not a law that talks of justice & equality, not a law that aims to protect the meek & the weak.

It's a war out there and if Gabbar does not act, the weak & meek villagers of Ramgarh & adjoining areas in connivance of the law & order machinery will wipe us out. & in a war as holy as this, one needs to make a few sacrifices even if it is one of ours.

Who cares for law & order anyways, courts of law are the ways of cultures who cannot act. For us, Gabbar is the Judge, Jury & Executioner - & it is a fair system – six rounds of a bullet, 3 for life, 3 for death – fair & simple - & effective!

This is how it works, say I am sent for a task & come back defeated – now this is a serious offence – a sign of weakness, a loss of aggression, a threat to reputation. Does not matter if law & justice together conspire to beat me up? Can Gabbar forgive this? Should he? Absolutely Not! But he would be fair in his justice still, that’s why we idolise him for even if he’s the one who wields the guns. This is how the conversation will flow,

Gabbar: (pointing the gun at Kalia) Are you for the development of the tribe?

Kalia: (shivering) Yes My Baap, I have gone on so many missions with you

(Gabbar clicks the butt, but it’s an empty round – Kalia’s stance for development saves him)

Gabbar: (pointing the gun again) Are you a true believer in faith?

Kalia: (proudly displaying the black tilak on his forehead) I’m and I’ll kill for it Sardar

(Another click, but empty again because of Kalia’s belief in his religion)

Gabbar: (3^rd time pointing the gun) Are you a nationalist?

Kalia: (looks at his black brown uniform pants) I’m the greatest one that ever was

(Another click, empty again, Nationalism saves the day for Kalia)

Kalia: (relieved) Sardar, if there were bullets…..

Gabbar fires again & again & again: Questions Gabbar, you’re anti-Gabbar

Sambha sitting atop watching, gives a cry: Ghar Ghar Gabbar!!!

The tribe repeats in chorus: sabse babbar, apna Gabbar!!!

----End of Kalia---