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---

Journalist Don't wait for Middle-class awakening

Were the prime time ever like this? Forget the entertainment, the discussions, the deliberations, the theories of conspiracies & the opinions? AIR was dull & aptly forgotten, DD a distant memory of avuncular anchors & instant fashion – PrimeTime was begotten by a lad called Shohaib Illaisi & for a time India’s Most Wanted may have held as much sway over popular imagination as Alif Laila!

This was followed by a forgettable innings of Star-NDTV alliance, forgettable in impact but a consummation that gave birth to the modern day journalist (by definition of modern day journalism).

Deed done, it was time for Renaissance, & a young Rajat Sharma gave use those 1^st glimpses of today’s media courtrooms with Aap ki Adalat – the tonality was witty yet the seeds of ridicule were sown back then. Gradually as Aliens abducted cows & Gods developed a fancy for appetite of common man’s food, News Prime Time actively competed with scheming MILs & docile DILs.

& there was nothing wrong with this narrative, why can news not be entertainment, why can truth not be unbelievable or frivolous or yes even be doubtful? It was entertainment – we really did not need issues – who really wants to know about displaced cultures for which NBA strived, who really cared about Dalits & Adivaasis? A growing nation needs not issues but solutions and a guilt-free conscience for indulgence. & we did cry & made candles in an electrified India an item of activism – Uphaar happened & so did Bil Clinton’s visit!

So far, all good – a frivolous race living in with an uprooted media. & then somewhere the Nation realized it needed to know…Know not as knowledge but know as a means to realise its middle class nationalistic aspirations. News began a transformation in the age of Social Media – entertainment was pushed to segments, action packed entertainment started dominating the narrative. The Angry Young Man of 70’s cinema was taking over News & the cynical among us watched in amusement as we were taken over, pushed to minority, labeled (along with family & friends) anti-nationals & then strategically silenced. Today, a Ravish can blame the social media, other media, we the people, but what did he do or a Barkha or Rajdeep did? Today, the only reason the majority follows them is for the abuses, or some like us, who saw through this transformation without ever realizing it.

We are protesting over dead bodies now, protest a skill that we have so well mastered, an act we specialize in without any results. We were cynics then, hopeless now. We have done everything but make one sustained resolution to put a stop to this demonization of media. News are getting louder by the day, yet the silence of press is deafening.

A journalist was a clown when she/he reported on Ravan’s lost airport with c-grade vfx, yet a clown that was harmless. Today, your community has lost its public respect. You lost values then & the innocuous looking frivolity has come back to haunt you today. The brave among you are dying & condolences are looking hollower by the day. The celebration over their passing is more frenzied, more evoking than the muted speeches in Delhi!

Why is the journalist feeling weak when her strength has the potential to transform opinions so superfluously formed over bare propaganda. Gauri Lankesh was not the 1^st, she won’t be the last & she knew this. She still chose her path, her destiny was for a cause, do not defeat it by your silence.

You may be a few, mostly unheard warriors, some troll-abused, but march on. Don’t wait for a middle-class awakening. You made them such, you lost your respect, now regain it. The responsibility lies with you!