P and I are lying on the upper berth of a packed train. Her head’s resting on my shoulder and mine’s resting on hers, while our bodies are contorted in a manner that would put Russian gymnasts to shame.
We are listening to the Backstreet Boys crooning “I want it that way..”
O yeah.. like I sure do..
Meanwhile, we discuss our plans for the weekend, and I tell her that am planning to watch Bachna Ae Haseeno that day..
She falls asleep shortly after. I look at my watch and along with the time, notice the date.. 15.08.08..
Independence Day.. I change the track to “Maa Tujhe Salaam” by A.R. Rahman.
And instinctively, I start getting faint memories of the times, when as a kid, the 15th of August meant so much more to me than just a mere holiday. The Flag hoisting at school, singing the National Anthem amidst the choir, saluting the revered Saffron White and Green.. it all had such a fervor, something that’s completely faded away now.
I remembered how after coming back home from school, we all used to sit together and watch Gandhi or Bhagat Singh or Tiranga or Krantiveer on the telly.. and now.. Bachna Ae Haseeno?? Sheesh…
I enter the hall and a pleasant surprise awaits.. “Jana Gana Mana” is being played onscreen on the behest of the Supreme Court. A feeling of déjà-vu engulfs me, as we all stand up and sing along, while three youths stay put on their seats, coz their laps are too occupied with trays full of Colas and Burgers.. and by the time they do manage to get up, the 52 seconds are already over.
They proudly cheer “Jai Hind!” to exhibit their patriotism and all they get is a contemptuous look from the light-man. These ‘deshbhakts’ happened to enlighten me a lot about my country during the course of the movie. Hence, I would be referring to them as Patriot #1, 2 and 3 hereon…
An hour and a half into the movie, and they show the protagonist (won’t use the word “Hero” here, coz that would be highly demeaning in the context..) living in Australia. He works for Microsoft, earns unaccountably, sleeps with enough girls to spend half his savings on latex.. the perks et al.
“Dude!! that’s the life..” exclaims Patriot #1.
“He sure’s one lucky bastard..” says Patriot #2.
Meanwhile, the protagonist claims.. “Once you start living in this country, there’s no other place in the world that you could possibly adjust to.. blaah.. blaah.. blaah.. Everything about this place rocks.. Sydney rocks..”
As if....
“He sure does know his geography..” remarks Patriot #wateva..
Come to think of it, these are the same people, who were singing our national anthem so proudly (??) just a while back. And now they are ashamed of their very nationality. As if being a parasite to your nation is a ticket to “Cooldom”…
ZEITGEIST
Have you ever wondered why you find a joke funny?
Or why you get happy, thinking of the Easter bunny?
Why you sympathize with a story’s characters?
Or why you squirm while watchin’ Fear Factor?
Why you have tears in your eyes, when a hero dies at the end?
Or why your heart aches, when he loses his girlfriend?
Why a murder mystery, arouses thrill and suspicion?
Or why you become a kid, while watchin’ a magician?
Why lengthy romantic novels, make us swoon?
Or why you cavort ritualistically, whilst listenin’ a peppy tune?
The elements of the human mind, although can’t be predicted,
But one thing is clear, that we are all addicted,
To a world of fantasy, charm and disbelief
That sells us happiness and vends us grief..
And fills our heads with queer notions,
Wearing a masquerade of forged emotions..
We understand, it’s all a sham and a mere hoax,
Yet keep on consuming the Macs’ and the Cokes’
We think like the tube, we speak what it tells,
We wear what it vaunts and eat what it sells..
Tube is the gospel, tube’s the doctrine
Libraries are for nerds, malls are our shrine
People discussin’ Politics, are branded “uncool”,
While whose dating whom, is what’s discussed in schools..
Watchin’ the K-soaps, filled with conspiracies and deceits,
Or movies that patronize, the Romeos on the streets..
Newspapers we’d like to read, but only for the lack of time
Just go through the headlines, not caring for what’s inside.
While the coMEDIAns keep on showing us murders and rapes,
Or illicit acts of depraved celebs, caught “EXCLUSIVEly” on tape..
All of this’ just to keep us entertained, so we don’t do much thinking,
So that no eyebrows are raised, as the stock ex keeps sinking..
So that Nuclear deals get signed, without public consent,
So that soldiers keep on dying, without a trace of repent,
So that the blood flowing in the streets, goes uninvestigated,
So that inadvertently, bullion keeps rising, the markets get inflated..
We leave the police to deal with the muggers and the squatters,
While keepin’ ourselves busy, in the Archie’s and the Potters’..
Why, we believe such lies (read: NEWS), aired on a telly,
That insurgents were collared, plannin’ to blow up Delhi..
But their identities aren’t revealed, jus’ their pictures
Along with the word “TERRORIST”, are printed in the news-scriptures.
All just to contaminate our minds with hatred and rage,
So that wars on our neighbor, can be undisputedly staged..
So that we forget, people on the other side, also value life,
And just like us, are pawns debased by politicians’ strife..
We all know, things are bad, that they need to be changed,
That the prevailing political system needs to be rearranged,
We can all easily deliver, meticulous lengthy lectures,
Upon our loop holed economic, or penal architecture.
But actually, that’s not the way it’s supposed to be,
What talking has achieved to date, is for yourself to see..
And I ain’t askin’ you to revolt, or ignite a revolution,
Or go out there and challenge the constitution,
Nor beat the hell outta’ every corrupt cop,
Or even go on a picketing hunger strike, nonstop..
All I want is that you look yourself in the eyes and ask,
Who are you really kidding, hiding under this mask?
To proclaim to this world, that your life has a meaning,
That you can no longer be duped, you are no longer a weenie..
To understand that the power lies in your very hands,
That you won’t allow any MNC to reap off your lands,
To ask pointed questions and demand direct answers,
To cure your motherland from this political cancer..
To change yourself first, before questioning others,
That irrespective of religion, we are all maternal brothers..
These divides were strategized by the Men behind the curtain,
To con us, mislead us and make their ballots certain..
To stop thinkin’ bout the ‘I’, rather care about the ‘We’,
To no longer be a slave to such spiteful hypocrisy..
To really mean it when we say, we are proud of our nation,
Goddamnit, it’s our own home and cleansing it, is OUR obligation..
