INDIA’S NEW AGE DIRECTORS
Dominated mostly by formula based films, the Bombay film industry focused mostly on the perceptions of the frontbencher’s audience. Reality-based themes paid little or no adherence at all. The art house cinema, which produced some of the most defining films at that period, could not match against the onslaught of the commercial medium. One could easily anticipate the usual cat and mouse game between the hero and the main antagonist. The audience only identified with such storyline. Any form of storytelling other than the formula based line proved to be a disaster attempt. To provide the basis for the seduction flavor and to add the various sexual innuendos, the female actors quite became raging sex symbols. This would enthrall the audience and excite them to the point of orgasm.
In the 90’s the invasion of the Khans did tried to change the themes and the styles. The industry began to pay some attention to quality, at least creating some chutzpah aiming at the hearts of the emerging middle-class. The frontbenchers could no longer dominate the scenario of movie viewing. With the rise of an emerging intellectual class, the directors became aware of the collective conscience and therefore the audience demanded better experience of viewing a movie. Still, some of the filmmakers did dubious jobs of lifting the main storyline from Hollywood movies. This indeed had a share of the market.
In the last years of the decade gone a new breed of directors emerged from the shadows of the anonymity. Foreign-born Indian directors made their foray in the Indian mainstream. They made their presence felt all together. Deepa Mehta’s Fire was an example of an independent venture, and the film rocked the nation. Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Paanch’ was a bold venture but the censor board never passed it because the film contained raw-violence, nevertheless it has since earned a cult status.
In 2001 Ashutosh Gowraiker, a small time actor of the last decade turned director rocked the Indian entertainment scene with his movie ‘Lagaan’, staring the self-proclaimed perfectionist of Bollywood Amir Khan. The film combined two primary aspects of the nation’s favorite past time-cricket and the usual song and dance routine. It was a smash hit and India’s official entry to the Academy Awards. The following year in 2002, Mira Nair directed ‘Monsoon Wedding’, a look at a typical Indian wedding circumstance. The film made in an aesthetic tone enthralled both the critics and the audience alike. It won the prestigious golden bear award at the Venice film festival.
In 2009, Anurag Kashyap achieved commercial success with his film Dev.D, a modern day take of the immortal love saga of Devdas. In the last decade, his film ‘Black Friday’ shocked the audience with his authentic depiction of the 1992 Bombay riots. Fearing political and religious backlash the courts banned the film. Nevertheless, the film became an instant masterpiece and won numerous accolades worldwide. His films if not commercially success makes it a point to enthrall the critics with his maverick style of telling a story.
In 2001, another director made its mark with a new age retelling of the story of friendship between three college friends. Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ captivated the young generation with its honest and energetic style. Youths in the urban regions quickly followed their style and trends. Known for his youth centric topics, Farhan Akhtar is one most valuable directors of the post 90s decade.
Two years ago, a young director by the name of Dibakar Banerjee directed a small budget movie ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla’. A comical look into the land grabbing policies followed by the land sharks and the fight between an evil land shark and a motley group of middle class people.
It was a battle of wits against muscle flexing. The movie became an instant hit. His next venture, ‘Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye’ followed an unconventional story of a con artist.
In 2008, Abbas Tyrewalla made ‘Jane Tu Ya Jaane Na’, a fresh look at college love story. It achieved success and launched the careers of the two lead actors. In 2009, Zoya Akhtar, sister of director Farhan Akhtar directed ‘Luck By Chance’. In the later months, moviegoers became once again familiar with the famous spoof on western cowboys and south Indian clichés. ‘Quick Gun Murugan’ earned rave reviews because of its comic undertones. Its director Shashanka Ghose succeeded in making an offbeat comedy using the same old south Indian clichés.
In tryst with the new generation and its issues, the new age directors have come up with something more than the used and tried formulas. So gone are the days where one would get entertained by watching Jeetendra thrusting his hip against Sridevi or Jaya Prada in an orgasmic tone. The modern day cinemagoers expect more than simple gyrating moves, obsolete dialogues, stretch storylines and outdated portrayal of characters. The plethora of talent showing willing to take up difficult themes is a sure sign that sometimes change is a good thing.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
THE PARCHED EARTH
THE PARCHED EARTH
The advent of the monsoons always brings respite and relief for a billion and a half people in the Indian subcontinent. As the first drop of water escapes from the heavens above, the earth sings a song of joy orchestrated by the various elements in her band. It begins as a healing touch on her wound caused by the sweltering heat of the ever-jealous sun, and as it passes through different phases mother earth in a relative manner begins to show her bouts of mood swings.
Our life giver, in a more than subtle way turns her back towards her children. Rivers swell, crop-fields are invaded by the colossal forces of approaching waters, people lose their shelters, the young and the old are swept away by the unstoppable torrent and, hope finally gets drowned in the great moments of adversity. However even before an analyst begins to assess the collateral damages one fails to understand the totality of another calamity casting its ugly shadow across another region far from the raging waters.
Miles and miles of dry, cracked earth ruthlessly adorned with carcasses of farm animals is more than enough to show the rest of the world the abject state of mind of a farmer looking across the piercing blue sky searching for some clusters of cloud.
In India, the country for the past few months has been witnessing an accumulating disaster. It is pure irony that even though some of the districts in the remote eastern corners are flooded, some of the more interior districts in states like Maharashtra; Orissa; Andhra Pradesh and Haryana are waiting for the rains to save their lives. Acute shortage of water has led to starvation and dying of crops, thanks to the scanty rainfall and the callous attitude of the reigning governments.
It seems the rest of the nation has forgotten or to say, least bothered to give a thought about the horrors of famine that drought brings along with it. Since India’s economy is an agrarian one, 46-47% of the districts are now drought affected. Now the consequence of this one is building up along with the linking of the network of a chain reaction.
In Haryana, the state that has received 74%defecient rainfall is one of the worst affected. Because of this fallout, the farmers have no option but to install deep bore well at a hefty price of one hundred and twenty-five thousand rupees. Therefore, there is a tube well for every four acre of farmland, which adds up to almost two million tube wells for about 10m acres of land. On top of that, according to gravity research satellites of the National Association Space Agency (N.A.S.A) points out a sharp fall in ground water level and this is indeed alarming.
Before the accepted depth to set a tube well was set at 60-70 feet, then at 80-90 feet and then at 120 feet. The N.A.S.A satellite imagery shows 109 cubic km of groundwater has been lost in just six years (2002-2008) alone, which is twice the capacity of India’s largest surface reservoir, the upper Waingangā. This has resulted in sucking out billions of liters of water placing the farmers in a position whether to answer questions related to overall development or to their existence. Here prosperity definitely takes a back seat.
The suicide capital for the debt-ridden farmers, Vidarbha this year has seen more misery. The inadvertent failure of the year’s monsoons has added more misery for the remaining farmers and their families. Due to the government’s inefficient water management program has paved the way for utter helplessness for the people. Wild weeds growing in the canals say that water has not been flowing. Even the canals run at a height lower than the fields that are supposed to irrigate making it tough to lift the water to the fields. Corruption and inefficiency have made proper distribution of the remaining water difficult. The fields are drying up fast and dying at the same time, deceived both by nature and by man.
The onslaught of the drought has vanquished the sugar-cane cultivation resulting in a sharp fall in sugar production. Mr. Sharad Pawar, honorable minister for agriculture came up with an interesting blame game policy. The burden was put on a certain cycle revolving around the rise and fall in production and which cannot be predicted. To put the monster into the box in order to avoid any political controversy, Mr. Pawar announced duty free imports of white or refined sugar up to 1 million tones until November 2009 with no sales tax or VAT. The statutory minimum prices fixed by the centre for sugarcane has increased by just Rs. 2 from Rs.79 in 2005 to Rs.81 in 2009. The local industries of the states are contesting the higher prices fixed by the respective state governments. The agriculture minister has to answer to some definite questions.
The villagers of a certain village by the name of Pammur in the state of Jharkhand are seeking the President’s permission to die. The reason behind such a macabre request is that the village has not received enough rainfall to sustain their existence. The farmlands are dead and it resembles that of a battlefield. The villagers have no tears left in their eyes to express their acute sorrow and pain, and it seems to them death is more an honorable option.
To help the dying farmers the nation’s parliamentarians have resolved to contribute a meager 20%of their salary for the drought relief fund. To the farmers it would seem adding salt to their wounds on their torn skin.
One can clearly imagine with eyes closed the frail hands of a farmer praying before the Zmindars, government officials and above all to the God above to have mercy on them. He has seen enough miseries and pain. We have forgotten all about them who are responsible for bringing food on to our plates. Nature and man have cornered them driving them to take abnormal steps. Let us not hope that one day the race of farmers drop their ploughs for the gun.
GAURAV DAS
The advent of the monsoons always brings respite and relief for a billion and a half people in the Indian subcontinent. As the first drop of water escapes from the heavens above, the earth sings a song of joy orchestrated by the various elements in her band. It begins as a healing touch on her wound caused by the sweltering heat of the ever-jealous sun, and as it passes through different phases mother earth in a relative manner begins to show her bouts of mood swings.
Our life giver, in a more than subtle way turns her back towards her children. Rivers swell, crop-fields are invaded by the colossal forces of approaching waters, people lose their shelters, the young and the old are swept away by the unstoppable torrent and, hope finally gets drowned in the great moments of adversity. However even before an analyst begins to assess the collateral damages one fails to understand the totality of another calamity casting its ugly shadow across another region far from the raging waters.
Miles and miles of dry, cracked earth ruthlessly adorned with carcasses of farm animals is more than enough to show the rest of the world the abject state of mind of a farmer looking across the piercing blue sky searching for some clusters of cloud.
In India, the country for the past few months has been witnessing an accumulating disaster. It is pure irony that even though some of the districts in the remote eastern corners are flooded, some of the more interior districts in states like Maharashtra; Orissa; Andhra Pradesh and Haryana are waiting for the rains to save their lives. Acute shortage of water has led to starvation and dying of crops, thanks to the scanty rainfall and the callous attitude of the reigning governments.
It seems the rest of the nation has forgotten or to say, least bothered to give a thought about the horrors of famine that drought brings along with it. Since India’s economy is an agrarian one, 46-47% of the districts are now drought affected. Now the consequence of this one is building up along with the linking of the network of a chain reaction.
In Haryana, the state that has received 74%defecient rainfall is one of the worst affected. Because of this fallout, the farmers have no option but to install deep bore well at a hefty price of one hundred and twenty-five thousand rupees. Therefore, there is a tube well for every four acre of farmland, which adds up to almost two million tube wells for about 10m acres of land. On top of that, according to gravity research satellites of the National Association Space Agency (N.A.S.A) points out a sharp fall in ground water level and this is indeed alarming.
Before the accepted depth to set a tube well was set at 60-70 feet, then at 80-90 feet and then at 120 feet. The N.A.S.A satellite imagery shows 109 cubic km of groundwater has been lost in just six years (2002-2008) alone, which is twice the capacity of India’s largest surface reservoir, the upper Waingangā. This has resulted in sucking out billions of liters of water placing the farmers in a position whether to answer questions related to overall development or to their existence. Here prosperity definitely takes a back seat.
The suicide capital for the debt-ridden farmers, Vidarbha this year has seen more misery. The inadvertent failure of the year’s monsoons has added more misery for the remaining farmers and their families. Due to the government’s inefficient water management program has paved the way for utter helplessness for the people. Wild weeds growing in the canals say that water has not been flowing. Even the canals run at a height lower than the fields that are supposed to irrigate making it tough to lift the water to the fields. Corruption and inefficiency have made proper distribution of the remaining water difficult. The fields are drying up fast and dying at the same time, deceived both by nature and by man.
The onslaught of the drought has vanquished the sugar-cane cultivation resulting in a sharp fall in sugar production. Mr. Sharad Pawar, honorable minister for agriculture came up with an interesting blame game policy. The burden was put on a certain cycle revolving around the rise and fall in production and which cannot be predicted. To put the monster into the box in order to avoid any political controversy, Mr. Pawar announced duty free imports of white or refined sugar up to 1 million tones until November 2009 with no sales tax or VAT. The statutory minimum prices fixed by the centre for sugarcane has increased by just Rs. 2 from Rs.79 in 2005 to Rs.81 in 2009. The local industries of the states are contesting the higher prices fixed by the respective state governments. The agriculture minister has to answer to some definite questions.
The villagers of a certain village by the name of Pammur in the state of Jharkhand are seeking the President’s permission to die. The reason behind such a macabre request is that the village has not received enough rainfall to sustain their existence. The farmlands are dead and it resembles that of a battlefield. The villagers have no tears left in their eyes to express their acute sorrow and pain, and it seems to them death is more an honorable option.
To help the dying farmers the nation’s parliamentarians have resolved to contribute a meager 20%of their salary for the drought relief fund. To the farmers it would seem adding salt to their wounds on their torn skin.
One can clearly imagine with eyes closed the frail hands of a farmer praying before the Zmindars, government officials and above all to the God above to have mercy on them. He has seen enough miseries and pain. We have forgotten all about them who are responsible for bringing food on to our plates. Nature and man have cornered them driving them to take abnormal steps. Let us not hope that one day the race of farmers drop their ploughs for the gun.
GAURAV DAS
SALVATION AMIDST CHAOS
SALVATION AMIDST CHAOS
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
_Albert Einstein
Standing two hundred and ninety three meters above the sea level the majestic, Neelachal hill is the sole witness of the history of Pragjyotishpur and its people. It bears the role of a wise patriarch overlooking the land and her children along with the mighty Brahmaputra as its constant companion. The Neelachal holds the city at its mercy and is the abode of the great goddess Kamakhya, the Mecca of Tantra, a cult not for the faint hearted.
Every year in the month of June when the full moon period is over, it brings to the light the faith of the devoted worshippers when the menstruation of the earth goddess begins. To commemorate the unusual phenomenon a massive gathering of the devoted from neighboring Bengal, Orissa and Bihar come to the hill to pay their respectful dues to the ‘mother’.
This unusual phenomenon, which culminates into a five-day sojourn, is a celebration in honor of a spirit called faith. As per the custom of the land when a young girl show her first sign of fertility she has to remain in total confinement within the four walls of her house so as to avoid any act of sacrilege, a tradition zealously followed by every Hindu parents. In the same manner, more or less running parallel and with proper adherence to this cycle of fertility, every temple and shrine remains closed to draw the line of respect for the earth goddess. According to legend, Neelachal hill is the very place where the Yoni, the anatomical part of Sati, the devoted wife of Lord Shiva fell from the sky. To save the earth from total annihilation Lord Vishnu the preserver of the universe had to cut the lifeless body of Sati into many pieces as Lord Shiva went on a mad rampage devouring the world with his fury. Since Yoni is the centre of all cosmic energy according to Tantra, in Kamakhya the practice of this cult is both famous and notorious in the same angle. Some say black magic is widely used and even taught, there has been cited examples of human sacrifices, worshiping of demons and of wild sex orgies. It is one of those places of paganism, which challenges the very foundations of the great monotheistic religions of the world, and since paganism has lost grounds from most parts of the world in the northeastern region of India in the district of ancient Kamrup the vigor of Tantra has been flourishing for so many ages. And this is the reason why the whole vicinity in and around the temple is surmounted with an energy that allows people from every walks of life, right from the hopelessly poor of the society to the affluent rich flock to the abode to redeem themselves of their sins and from the illusion that illustrates the emptiness of life.
For someone like me growing up within the realms of rational thinking and empowered with reason to challenge the daily mundane aspect of a monotonous existence, and for whom millions like me in this part and the rest of the world whose salvation can only be obtained through money, was an invigorating experience to witness the ‘Ambubochi Mela’.
Upon reaching the abode, the sight was too overwhelming to greet my senses. There was the huge sea of people flocking to the same point like an exodus only without Moses, the atmosphere charged with the energy driven by faith in this march, some leading and the rest following. There were people clad in saffron robes their bodies adorned with beads, threads and various forms of amulets; and then there were the unfortunate men, women and children laying down in the middle of the walkway, their bodies smeared with mud reaching out to people for alms. However, one managed to invade my imagination and steer my inner Karmic connection towards a degree of trepidation about the prospect of humanity in the future. A man was rolling in the dirt, about five meters in front of me, and the very aspect of faith in concentration must have had instilled in him the determination to invade the corridors of rational understanding. He was a man with deformed limbs and with no legs to support him he held his earthen bowl somehow between his undeveloped arms with some support, flexing his torso, and all the while his lips didn’t stop chanting the praise of his dear mother. The sight was cruel enough for me to bear and I had to walk on. Until what extent I could ignore, the man was squeezing his pain through his praise for his dear mother, which was maybe a reverberation of any unknown Karmic guilt of his past life.
Within the premise of the main temple the ‘Aghoris’ had laid their siege in the exterior courtyard of the main sanctum where the Yoni is suppose to be. They are the avid followers of Kali and Shiva and are the fiercest of the holy-men found in India. For any new stranger in this land would find these men nothing sort of a group of hedonistic men with long, matted hair wearing only a loincloth to cover their privates, and smoking hashish through beautifully carved chillums. They were the pious ones, and the only one to be near God. Yet they are the same people who are victims of our own prejudices and we tend to laugh at them only because they consider the fact of non-materialistic existence as a wholesome truth and question our lives and our incredulous attitude.
At one corner sat a holy-man whose hair had much to tell than his experience of divine fulfillment, if any. He seemed to be quiet famous as he charged ten rupees per photograph of his long, matted hair. To me he seemed to have sacrificed all his personal ambiguities looking at his ashen face and frail body.
The Aghoris had had set up a makeshift colony of only their clan opposite to the temple door of the main temple. The moment I walked in, the intensity of the environment inside the camp sent a chill down the spine. It was not a place for the usual tourist. The Aghoris had their bodies smeared with white ash or ‘Vibhuti’, the sign of sacrifice. Some of them were quenching their thirst using human skulls as vessels. The air was pungent with the smell and smoke of hashish. It was dark inside and to some extent the rays of light coming in through small, circular gaps on the tarpaulin above had given me a chance to look into their red, fierce and true eyes. An aura of mystery had engulfed the whole psychology of the people present in there. They are the most feared and revered clan. Some people hold the view that the Aghoris have mystical powers to posses and control the will of other people. Suddenly all these ‘said things’ about them invaded my enthusiasm to ask any questions about their lives and experiences. As I walked out, I noticed a couple sitting with an Aghori near the sacrificial platform. Both the husband and the wife had long streaks of vermillion on their foreheads and they seemed to me without any fear or paranoia inflicting them as though they had build a bridge that would lead them to the realm of the truth destroying all the illusions that tends to make us blind.
The droppings of birds, goats and cows had been mixed with mud caused by a slight rainfall was strewn all over the path on which the people had laid their bare feet upon without any whining. Finally, as the sun came out from the clouds there was a general sigh of relief all around.
As I walked away leaving behind the people, the people who whose lives are as challenging as mine and yet have found time to spare, to rejuvenate the spirit by assembling their steps in the realm of our mother. Surviving through faith is a hard way, especially when the age of Kalyuga prevails like a thick fog all around. Faith is that light that breaks in through the illusions and enlightens our fragile mind. Corruption of the soul is common just like a bomb exploding, and the degradation of the human soul is a regular affair and yet we have to find a way to save our sanity to a wholesome extent. To set ourselves free the mind has to cross the barriers. One must find the way by self-discovery for salvation amidst chaos.
Gaurav Das
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
_Albert Einstein
Standing two hundred and ninety three meters above the sea level the majestic, Neelachal hill is the sole witness of the history of Pragjyotishpur and its people. It bears the role of a wise patriarch overlooking the land and her children along with the mighty Brahmaputra as its constant companion. The Neelachal holds the city at its mercy and is the abode of the great goddess Kamakhya, the Mecca of Tantra, a cult not for the faint hearted.
Every year in the month of June when the full moon period is over, it brings to the light the faith of the devoted worshippers when the menstruation of the earth goddess begins. To commemorate the unusual phenomenon a massive gathering of the devoted from neighboring Bengal, Orissa and Bihar come to the hill to pay their respectful dues to the ‘mother’.
This unusual phenomenon, which culminates into a five-day sojourn, is a celebration in honor of a spirit called faith. As per the custom of the land when a young girl show her first sign of fertility she has to remain in total confinement within the four walls of her house so as to avoid any act of sacrilege, a tradition zealously followed by every Hindu parents. In the same manner, more or less running parallel and with proper adherence to this cycle of fertility, every temple and shrine remains closed to draw the line of respect for the earth goddess. According to legend, Neelachal hill is the very place where the Yoni, the anatomical part of Sati, the devoted wife of Lord Shiva fell from the sky. To save the earth from total annihilation Lord Vishnu the preserver of the universe had to cut the lifeless body of Sati into many pieces as Lord Shiva went on a mad rampage devouring the world with his fury. Since Yoni is the centre of all cosmic energy according to Tantra, in Kamakhya the practice of this cult is both famous and notorious in the same angle. Some say black magic is widely used and even taught, there has been cited examples of human sacrifices, worshiping of demons and of wild sex orgies. It is one of those places of paganism, which challenges the very foundations of the great monotheistic religions of the world, and since paganism has lost grounds from most parts of the world in the northeastern region of India in the district of ancient Kamrup the vigor of Tantra has been flourishing for so many ages. And this is the reason why the whole vicinity in and around the temple is surmounted with an energy that allows people from every walks of life, right from the hopelessly poor of the society to the affluent rich flock to the abode to redeem themselves of their sins and from the illusion that illustrates the emptiness of life.
For someone like me growing up within the realms of rational thinking and empowered with reason to challenge the daily mundane aspect of a monotonous existence, and for whom millions like me in this part and the rest of the world whose salvation can only be obtained through money, was an invigorating experience to witness the ‘Ambubochi Mela’.
Upon reaching the abode, the sight was too overwhelming to greet my senses. There was the huge sea of people flocking to the same point like an exodus only without Moses, the atmosphere charged with the energy driven by faith in this march, some leading and the rest following. There were people clad in saffron robes their bodies adorned with beads, threads and various forms of amulets; and then there were the unfortunate men, women and children laying down in the middle of the walkway, their bodies smeared with mud reaching out to people for alms. However, one managed to invade my imagination and steer my inner Karmic connection towards a degree of trepidation about the prospect of humanity in the future. A man was rolling in the dirt, about five meters in front of me, and the very aspect of faith in concentration must have had instilled in him the determination to invade the corridors of rational understanding. He was a man with deformed limbs and with no legs to support him he held his earthen bowl somehow between his undeveloped arms with some support, flexing his torso, and all the while his lips didn’t stop chanting the praise of his dear mother. The sight was cruel enough for me to bear and I had to walk on. Until what extent I could ignore, the man was squeezing his pain through his praise for his dear mother, which was maybe a reverberation of any unknown Karmic guilt of his past life.
Within the premise of the main temple the ‘Aghoris’ had laid their siege in the exterior courtyard of the main sanctum where the Yoni is suppose to be. They are the avid followers of Kali and Shiva and are the fiercest of the holy-men found in India. For any new stranger in this land would find these men nothing sort of a group of hedonistic men with long, matted hair wearing only a loincloth to cover their privates, and smoking hashish through beautifully carved chillums. They were the pious ones, and the only one to be near God. Yet they are the same people who are victims of our own prejudices and we tend to laugh at them only because they consider the fact of non-materialistic existence as a wholesome truth and question our lives and our incredulous attitude.
At one corner sat a holy-man whose hair had much to tell than his experience of divine fulfillment, if any. He seemed to be quiet famous as he charged ten rupees per photograph of his long, matted hair. To me he seemed to have sacrificed all his personal ambiguities looking at his ashen face and frail body.
The Aghoris had had set up a makeshift colony of only their clan opposite to the temple door of the main temple. The moment I walked in, the intensity of the environment inside the camp sent a chill down the spine. It was not a place for the usual tourist. The Aghoris had their bodies smeared with white ash or ‘Vibhuti’, the sign of sacrifice. Some of them were quenching their thirst using human skulls as vessels. The air was pungent with the smell and smoke of hashish. It was dark inside and to some extent the rays of light coming in through small, circular gaps on the tarpaulin above had given me a chance to look into their red, fierce and true eyes. An aura of mystery had engulfed the whole psychology of the people present in there. They are the most feared and revered clan. Some people hold the view that the Aghoris have mystical powers to posses and control the will of other people. Suddenly all these ‘said things’ about them invaded my enthusiasm to ask any questions about their lives and experiences. As I walked out, I noticed a couple sitting with an Aghori near the sacrificial platform. Both the husband and the wife had long streaks of vermillion on their foreheads and they seemed to me without any fear or paranoia inflicting them as though they had build a bridge that would lead them to the realm of the truth destroying all the illusions that tends to make us blind.
The droppings of birds, goats and cows had been mixed with mud caused by a slight rainfall was strewn all over the path on which the people had laid their bare feet upon without any whining. Finally, as the sun came out from the clouds there was a general sigh of relief all around.
As I walked away leaving behind the people, the people who whose lives are as challenging as mine and yet have found time to spare, to rejuvenate the spirit by assembling their steps in the realm of our mother. Surviving through faith is a hard way, especially when the age of Kalyuga prevails like a thick fog all around. Faith is that light that breaks in through the illusions and enlightens our fragile mind. Corruption of the soul is common just like a bomb exploding, and the degradation of the human soul is a regular affair and yet we have to find a way to save our sanity to a wholesome extent. To set ourselves free the mind has to cross the barriers. One must find the way by self-discovery for salvation amidst chaos.
Gaurav Das
SOUTH PARK: TOILET HUMOUR PANCHATANT
SOUTH PARK: TOILET HUMOUR PANCHATANT
The American animated series South Park is in its fourteenth season and is gaining grounds with the broadcast of every episode. For all those who are not aware about South Park a brief synopsis is a sure help. South Park is an animated series shown on television broadcasted by the Comedy Central channel in the U.S. It is a satire based on the lives of four eight years old in the fictional town of South Park in the state of Colorado. Now this might sound a bit familiar, a show based on the lives of young children in a laid-back town might seem a bit mundane but one should be aware that these four young boys are not the kind of angel-faced kids with sweet disposition. The boys use foul language with an ease and their adventures are not simple as one could imagine with children of their age.
Eric Cartman, Kyle Broflovski, Stan Marsh and Kenny McCormick are the cultural icons of the decade. They are the ones people in America and the rest of the world can identify with just like us Indians who can identify or relate to the characters from the Panchatantra and other stories from ancient India. These four protagonists are almost real like and the situations they are suck into are at times extraordinary but the humor never loses its sheen even in its fourteenth season. The four boys represent a universal similarity, which is common in almost every society even though the show is set in American society, but the traits are common and one could easily relate to them irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Eric is the most hated yet popular of the four characters. He is racist, obtrusive, and manipulative in addition a bully the kind of which is common in every school environment. All the children in the elementary school hate him and his weird nature can be related to the fact that he comes from a dysfunctional background (his mother is supposes to be a hermaphrodite, a promiscuous person and a crack addict). His target of hatred is his fellow classmate Kyle, a Jew who is the smartest and the most rational of the four and this trait of Kyle makes Eric jealous. Stan is Kyle’s best friend and is almost the same character as Kyle. Kenny is the poorest of them and he dies every episode in a very violent manner. The other characters include their fourth grade homosexual teacher Mr. Garrison, the parents of the children, quirky neighbors, a dubious catholic priest, ignorant red necks, Satan as a sensitive gay individual with Saddam Hussein as his lover and a host of interesting characters that makes the show a fine tune. The adventures include fighting f an invading army of illusionist David Blaine, accusing their parents of molestation, protesting against the Catholic Church for their global domination and many misadventures as well. Each episode varies from one another and at times, it significantly relates to the events happening in real life as well. For example ripping on the 2000 American Presidential elections; sexual molestation of young boys by the Catholic priests; the dubious policies of government; the war against terror; criticizing celebrities for their superficialities; lampooning Tom Cruise for his double standards; spoofing over rated real life events; attacking mainstream media at times for their irresponsible behavior and so on. No stone remains unturned to make the humor acerbic and heavy, and this is the reason the show is so profound in its originality. The two creators Trey parker and Matt Stone make sure that the humor is original and defining ,crossing barriers of censorship even if it has to show Jesus being stabbed in the throat by an eight year old Jewish boy to gain super powers or portraying Mel Gibson as a racist individual indulging in self- torture for kinky pleasure or even to the extent of showing God as a vermin explaining the menstrual cycle to one of the characters.
Now what makes this show tick? The humor is rib tickling and the satire perfect but above all, it is the message that delivers through each episode, which makes it unique. No other show on television has the ability to poke fun at so many figures in a unique way. It raises questions and tries to lift the veil that society as a whole imposes on us. It is more than a satire. It is a social commentary, an exercise of democracy, an assault on things superficial and tabooed and a platform for freedom of expression. It does not spare everyone not even God (god is depicted as a vermin). From Bill Clinton to Paris Hilton the two creators of the show make sure that every questionable aspect of an individual or a group or an institution according to them has the criteria to ridicule at whether they are political figures or petty religious leaders. Like a moral tag line at the end of every episode similar to that of Aesop fables or even our very own Panchatantra South Park puts forward a logical message through one of the four protagonists for every important issue be it homosexuality, racism, abortion, freedom of speech, religious extremism, culture wars, manipulation of the catholic church and etc. For example in one episode titled “Super Easter Bunny Adventure” Jesus comes to earth and declares ‘one man cannot be the voice of the church’ after violently slaying the president of the American Catholic League Bill Donahue (he is shown being sliced into two by a razor sharp discus).
The show’s obsession for things unpleasant can be disgusting for some while at the same time an object of crude humor. Take this for instance, the pilot episode titled ‘Cartman gets an anal probe’, got an overnight cult status. The animation is comprised of simple crude features and the various characters’ shape is simple geometrical figures but the impact made by the voice artists is impeccable. The representation of holy figures like Buddha snorting cocaine or Jesus surfing the net checking for porn sites can be quite shocking for many but there has been no opposition either from the Buddhist community or from the Christian community. However, early this year the two creators did receive death threats from a radical Islamic group for the depiction of Prophet Muhammad in the two hundredth episode of the show. The depiction was in fact retaliation a show of support for the controversial cartoons of the Prophet in some Danish cartoons in a show of defiance against religious extremism. There was nothing shocking in the depiction of the Prophet, it only showed him being used by the various celebrities led by Tom Cruise (a regular victim) to get some immunity from being parodied since no one can get Prophet Mohammed parodied in any aspect possible. Eventually the network heavily censored the depiction and the image of the holy figure blacked out with the word CENSORED all over it. The monologue delivered by Kyle, a positive message for the freedom of speech and expression, which is essential for a civil society was completely beeped out. Nonetheless, the controversy spread like wild fire bringing out to light the very subject of freedom of expression and the question is any religion above criticism?
South Park is modern day toilet humor Panchatantra. It may seem blasphemous to some regarding why something like this which uses farts, tampons, body fluids and other elements deemed dark and spurious by some cultures, can be at the same level as a classic like Panchatantra. The point of the matter lies in the fact that Vishnu Sharma used the stories to teach four unruly princes the virtues of life. Since the days and age are not as same as that of the period during the existence of Vishnu Sharma and his disciples, the moral fabric remains the same. Yes South Park is offensive (it begins with a disclaimer) but the very core of the show is what morality really is in a very non-preachy manner through hilarity and humor. It stands for anti political correctness, it is neither liberal nor conservative motivated. It is about what kids are like when they are without adults, the way life shapes up in a materialistic environment without any definitive objectives governed by prejudices and always judged by the collective consciousness of judging complicated society.
South Park is itself a celebration of democracy, and to be frank and honest is not a crime, and this is the reason why India cannot have a share in this aspect. We proclaim ourselves a democratic society and yet somehow we have lost our will to poke fun at ourselves because we let ourselves to be consumption for the petty politician in power. Vote banks politics govern our secular credentials and it is indeed a shame that our very own democratic culture is at stake. We tend to forget national tragedies within a very short span and yet we pretend we are so sensitive when someone hurts our some aspects or the other that it comes to the open represented through bandhs or violence. Until and unless we can laugh at our flaws and mend it through freedom of expression and prevent all the blame game that we are in so much involved India shall and will remain a nation of ignorant and corruptors.
GAURAV DAS
The American animated series South Park is in its fourteenth season and is gaining grounds with the broadcast of every episode. For all those who are not aware about South Park a brief synopsis is a sure help. South Park is an animated series shown on television broadcasted by the Comedy Central channel in the U.S. It is a satire based on the lives of four eight years old in the fictional town of South Park in the state of Colorado. Now this might sound a bit familiar, a show based on the lives of young children in a laid-back town might seem a bit mundane but one should be aware that these four young boys are not the kind of angel-faced kids with sweet disposition. The boys use foul language with an ease and their adventures are not simple as one could imagine with children of their age.
Eric Cartman, Kyle Broflovski, Stan Marsh and Kenny McCormick are the cultural icons of the decade. They are the ones people in America and the rest of the world can identify with just like us Indians who can identify or relate to the characters from the Panchatantra and other stories from ancient India. These four protagonists are almost real like and the situations they are suck into are at times extraordinary but the humor never loses its sheen even in its fourteenth season. The four boys represent a universal similarity, which is common in almost every society even though the show is set in American society, but the traits are common and one could easily relate to them irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Eric is the most hated yet popular of the four characters. He is racist, obtrusive, and manipulative in addition a bully the kind of which is common in every school environment. All the children in the elementary school hate him and his weird nature can be related to the fact that he comes from a dysfunctional background (his mother is supposes to be a hermaphrodite, a promiscuous person and a crack addict). His target of hatred is his fellow classmate Kyle, a Jew who is the smartest and the most rational of the four and this trait of Kyle makes Eric jealous. Stan is Kyle’s best friend and is almost the same character as Kyle. Kenny is the poorest of them and he dies every episode in a very violent manner. The other characters include their fourth grade homosexual teacher Mr. Garrison, the parents of the children, quirky neighbors, a dubious catholic priest, ignorant red necks, Satan as a sensitive gay individual with Saddam Hussein as his lover and a host of interesting characters that makes the show a fine tune. The adventures include fighting f an invading army of illusionist David Blaine, accusing their parents of molestation, protesting against the Catholic Church for their global domination and many misadventures as well. Each episode varies from one another and at times, it significantly relates to the events happening in real life as well. For example ripping on the 2000 American Presidential elections; sexual molestation of young boys by the Catholic priests; the dubious policies of government; the war against terror; criticizing celebrities for their superficialities; lampooning Tom Cruise for his double standards; spoofing over rated real life events; attacking mainstream media at times for their irresponsible behavior and so on. No stone remains unturned to make the humor acerbic and heavy, and this is the reason the show is so profound in its originality. The two creators Trey parker and Matt Stone make sure that the humor is original and defining ,crossing barriers of censorship even if it has to show Jesus being stabbed in the throat by an eight year old Jewish boy to gain super powers or portraying Mel Gibson as a racist individual indulging in self- torture for kinky pleasure or even to the extent of showing God as a vermin explaining the menstrual cycle to one of the characters.
Now what makes this show tick? The humor is rib tickling and the satire perfect but above all, it is the message that delivers through each episode, which makes it unique. No other show on television has the ability to poke fun at so many figures in a unique way. It raises questions and tries to lift the veil that society as a whole imposes on us. It is more than a satire. It is a social commentary, an exercise of democracy, an assault on things superficial and tabooed and a platform for freedom of expression. It does not spare everyone not even God (god is depicted as a vermin). From Bill Clinton to Paris Hilton the two creators of the show make sure that every questionable aspect of an individual or a group or an institution according to them has the criteria to ridicule at whether they are political figures or petty religious leaders. Like a moral tag line at the end of every episode similar to that of Aesop fables or even our very own Panchatantra South Park puts forward a logical message through one of the four protagonists for every important issue be it homosexuality, racism, abortion, freedom of speech, religious extremism, culture wars, manipulation of the catholic church and etc. For example in one episode titled “Super Easter Bunny Adventure” Jesus comes to earth and declares ‘one man cannot be the voice of the church’ after violently slaying the president of the American Catholic League Bill Donahue (he is shown being sliced into two by a razor sharp discus).
The show’s obsession for things unpleasant can be disgusting for some while at the same time an object of crude humor. Take this for instance, the pilot episode titled ‘Cartman gets an anal probe’, got an overnight cult status. The animation is comprised of simple crude features and the various characters’ shape is simple geometrical figures but the impact made by the voice artists is impeccable. The representation of holy figures like Buddha snorting cocaine or Jesus surfing the net checking for porn sites can be quite shocking for many but there has been no opposition either from the Buddhist community or from the Christian community. However, early this year the two creators did receive death threats from a radical Islamic group for the depiction of Prophet Muhammad in the two hundredth episode of the show. The depiction was in fact retaliation a show of support for the controversial cartoons of the Prophet in some Danish cartoons in a show of defiance against religious extremism. There was nothing shocking in the depiction of the Prophet, it only showed him being used by the various celebrities led by Tom Cruise (a regular victim) to get some immunity from being parodied since no one can get Prophet Mohammed parodied in any aspect possible. Eventually the network heavily censored the depiction and the image of the holy figure blacked out with the word CENSORED all over it. The monologue delivered by Kyle, a positive message for the freedom of speech and expression, which is essential for a civil society was completely beeped out. Nonetheless, the controversy spread like wild fire bringing out to light the very subject of freedom of expression and the question is any religion above criticism?
South Park is modern day toilet humor Panchatantra. It may seem blasphemous to some regarding why something like this which uses farts, tampons, body fluids and other elements deemed dark and spurious by some cultures, can be at the same level as a classic like Panchatantra. The point of the matter lies in the fact that Vishnu Sharma used the stories to teach four unruly princes the virtues of life. Since the days and age are not as same as that of the period during the existence of Vishnu Sharma and his disciples, the moral fabric remains the same. Yes South Park is offensive (it begins with a disclaimer) but the very core of the show is what morality really is in a very non-preachy manner through hilarity and humor. It stands for anti political correctness, it is neither liberal nor conservative motivated. It is about what kids are like when they are without adults, the way life shapes up in a materialistic environment without any definitive objectives governed by prejudices and always judged by the collective consciousness of judging complicated society.
South Park is itself a celebration of democracy, and to be frank and honest is not a crime, and this is the reason why India cannot have a share in this aspect. We proclaim ourselves a democratic society and yet somehow we have lost our will to poke fun at ourselves because we let ourselves to be consumption for the petty politician in power. Vote banks politics govern our secular credentials and it is indeed a shame that our very own democratic culture is at stake. We tend to forget national tragedies within a very short span and yet we pretend we are so sensitive when someone hurts our some aspects or the other that it comes to the open represented through bandhs or violence. Until and unless we can laugh at our flaws and mend it through freedom of expression and prevent all the blame game that we are in so much involved India shall and will remain a nation of ignorant and corruptors.
GAURAV DAS
ANARCHY AT THE GATES
The Northeast corridor of the largest democracy in the world is one of the most volatile hot spots of the world after Baghdad, Kabul, Khartoum, Grozny, and other politically torn regions. There is neither civil war nor any straight uprising of the people right now. However, the continuous ethnic killings and the hidden oppression of the people by the security forces and the people in power are sure recipes for a brewing uprising, which could take the nation hostage.
In spite of the fact that the rest of the nation is experiencing the fruits of an economic liberation, the region owing to the fact that it is a heaven of natural resources is still reeling under great economic depression. The whole region has either been over-looked or simply tagged as one big conflicting zone. It might not be under any foreign occupation but the internal strife for political sovereignty since the past twenty-five years has taken its tools heavily on the people. With deep scars hidden under the people’s smiles, unwanted situations mounting up at an unpredictable rate at times unknown to all does indeed cause much grievances and unaccountable misery. Lack of opportunities and no podium to stand on to speak out in an anticipated manner make democracy in these parts a cock and a bull story.
An open fact much clearly understood by the whole nation is the presence of more than three militant outfits or groups in each of the seven states of the region, which are quite active. These separatist groups to make their presence felt at times indulge in mischievous grenade attacks on civilians or security forces alike, planting bombs at crowded places, issue orders banning people to participate in national celebrations and so on. The security forces in order to take actions against such groups also indulge in some retaliation of the nefarious kind. Therefore, there are accounts of how they raid villages suspecting of harboring militants torturing them to extract any information, harass men and women quite often without any motive, pick up young men and use any means on them to confess crimes not committed by them. Among the most notorious and inhuman is the staging of fake encounters and secret killings with the approval of the insipid men in power.
Manipur is an example of a troubled state. The state is already reeling under great social degradation. It is the home to the highest number of A.I.D.S and H.I.V infected people and houses the highest number of intravenous drug users in the country. A state already under such great social adversity clearly needs help from the respective state and central government, but that does not seem to be happening. An aide state Manipur has been under constant attack from different insurgency outfits for the past twenty years or more. Some of the demands of these groups range from complete sovereignty from the state of India to autonomy and for the complete annulment of the infamous Arm Forces Special Act (A.F.S.P.A). The innocent civilians caught in between the cat and a mouse game of the security forces and the outfits, are in close of the boiling point.
In recent years, the people have been vehemently protesting for the immediate repeal of the draconian A.F.S.P.A, which by itself is a sheer violation of human rights. In 2004, a group of middle-aged women stripped their modesty and clothes to speak up against the army for the rape and murder of a young married woman and for the repeal of the act in front of the historic Kangla Fort. They also demanded the evacuation of the fort, which is historically significant for the Manipuri people. The conversion of the fort into an army base and the murder of the young women compelled the protesters to take up such an act. The whole episode rocked the nation and the ghost of violent protests once again seemed to haunt the whole nation once again.
On July 23 2009, in a supposedly so-called encounter security forces shot a former militant Chungkham Sanjit and a pregnant woman. According to the security forces, the man was armed and considered dangerous. The killing of the pregnant woman was just collateral damage, according to the forces. As predicted violence broke down on the streets and people came heavily on the reigning Chief Minister U.M Ibobi Singh demanding his resignation. Adding fuel to the fire was the publication of photos showing the man as being unarmed and buying medicines. Thelka, a news magazine did the expose and showed what really happened out there at that moment.
The subsequent consequences shocked the nation as a whole. The people came to realize that at least twenty thousand people in staged encounters faced deaths at the hands of the security forces. The reaction was colossal. Imphal, the capital remained shut for three days altogether and the resignation of the mute Chief Minister became the common slogan on everyone’s lips.
A local group by the name of “Apuna Lup” spearheaded a movement for the resignation of the man in power. It is only a matter of time for how long the people of this state would endure so much injustice and corruption.
It is a shame that people like U.M Ibobi Singh are in power. An incompetent man in power always contributes towards the complete fall out of any particular regime. History is a sole witness to all the uncertain times that happened in different phases of time. In our country, the various men in power under the mercy of one woman sitting in their air-conditioned offices can offer only bizarre explanations to even out all adverse circumstances. They sit on the cushion of power watching hapless women strip in front of the world and do nothing just like an impotent king not able to produce an heir. in his bout of madness as Rome burned, Mr. Ibobi Singh seems to do the same as anarchy is knocking at the gates of democracy threatening to hold the whole nation at gunpoint. Just a matter of time………
Just like the Roman emperor Nero who fiddling with his lute
The Northeast corridor of the largest democracy in the world is one of the most volatile hot spots of the world after Baghdad, Kabul, Khartoum, Grozny, and other politically torn regions. There is neither civil war nor any straight uprising of the people right now. However, the continuous ethnic killings and the hidden oppression of the people by the security forces and the people in power are sure recipes for a brewing uprising, which could take the nation hostage.
In spite of the fact that the rest of the nation is experiencing the fruits of an economic liberation, the region owing to the fact that it is a heaven of natural resources is still reeling under great economic depression. The whole region has either been over-looked or simply tagged as one big conflicting zone. It might not be under any foreign occupation but the internal strife for political sovereignty since the past twenty-five years has taken its tools heavily on the people. With deep scars hidden under the people’s smiles, unwanted situations mounting up at an unpredictable rate at times unknown to all does indeed cause much grievances and unaccountable misery. Lack of opportunities and no podium to stand on to speak out in an anticipated manner make democracy in these parts a cock and a bull story.
An open fact much clearly understood by the whole nation is the presence of more than three militant outfits or groups in each of the seven states of the region, which are quite active. These separatist groups to make their presence felt at times indulge in mischievous grenade attacks on civilians or security forces alike, planting bombs at crowded places, issue orders banning people to participate in national celebrations and so on. The security forces in order to take actions against such groups also indulge in some retaliation of the nefarious kind. Therefore, there are accounts of how they raid villages suspecting of harboring militants torturing them to extract any information, harass men and women quite often without any motive, pick up young men and use any means on them to confess crimes not committed by them. Among the most notorious and inhuman is the staging of fake encounters and secret killings with the approval of the insipid men in power.
Manipur is an example of a troubled state. The state is already reeling under great social degradation. It is the home to the highest number of A.I.D.S and H.I.V infected people and houses the highest number of intravenous drug users in the country. A state already under such great social adversity clearly needs help from the respective state and central government, but that does not seem to be happening. An aide state Manipur has been under constant attack from different insurgency outfits for the past twenty years or more. Some of the demands of these groups range from complete sovereignty from the state of India to autonomy and for the complete annulment of the infamous Arm Forces Special Act (A.F.S.P.A). The innocent civilians caught in between the cat and a mouse game of the security forces and the outfits, are in close of the boiling point.
In recent years, the people have been vehemently protesting for the immediate repeal of the draconian A.F.S.P.A, which by itself is a sheer violation of human rights. In 2004, a group of middle-aged women stripped their modesty and clothes to speak up against the army for the rape and murder of a young married woman and for the repeal of the act in front of the historic Kangla Fort. They also demanded the evacuation of the fort, which is historically significant for the Manipuri people. The conversion of the fort into an army base and the murder of the young women compelled the protesters to take up such an act. The whole episode rocked the nation and the ghost of violent protests once again seemed to haunt the whole nation once again.
On July 23 2009, in a supposedly so-called encounter security forces shot a former militant Chungkham Sanjit and a pregnant woman. According to the security forces, the man was armed and considered dangerous. The killing of the pregnant woman was just collateral damage, according to the forces. As predicted violence broke down on the streets and people came heavily on the reigning Chief Minister U.M Ibobi Singh demanding his resignation. Adding fuel to the fire was the publication of photos showing the man as being unarmed and buying medicines. Thelka, a news magazine did the expose and showed what really happened out there at that moment.
The subsequent consequences shocked the nation as a whole. The people came to realize that at least twenty thousand people in staged encounters faced deaths at the hands of the security forces. The reaction was colossal. Imphal, the capital remained shut for three days altogether and the resignation of the mute Chief Minister became the common slogan on everyone’s lips.
A local group by the name of “Apuna Lup” spearheaded a movement for the resignation of the man in power. It is only a matter of time for how long the people of this state would endure so much injustice and corruption.
It is a shame that people like U.M Ibobi Singh are in power. An incompetent man in power always contributes towards the complete fall out of any particular regime. History is a sole witness to all the uncertain times that happened in different phases of time. In our country, the various men in power under the mercy of one woman sitting in their air-conditioned offices can offer only bizarre explanations to even out all adverse circumstances. They sit on the cushion of power watching hapless women strip in front of the world and do nothing just like an impotent king not able to produce an heir. in his bout of madness as Rome burned, Mr. Ibobi Singh seems to do the same as anarchy is knocking at the gates of democracy threatening to hold the whole nation at gunpoint. Just a matter of time………
Just like the Roman emperor Nero who fiddling with his lute
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