Is it possible to keep the truth hidden?
P.K.SASIDHARAN
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The Slumdog Millionaire controversy and the accessory issues raised in its wake
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I have not seen Slumdog Millionaire myself, and I do not know what the story is, but I happened to listen to the debate on TV channels on the issue stirred up by some of Bollywood’s members. The question was, “are we selling Indian poverty in Indian cinema to win awards from the West?” This has stirred up several accessory issues — the veracity of the question, the poverty around, the unhappiness arising when the real issues are e
xposed, the uncomfortable feelings evoked, the Indian reaction vs. rest of the world and the lessons to be learnt.
We must remember that 1.8 per cent of Indian society is holding 80 per cent of our wealth and the rich-poor divide is only widening here everyday. We have malnutrition very much here; as high as 90 per cent of our people suffer from one or other form of malnutrition. Even starvation does exist in several States of India. When we claim that the world has come closer, how and why should we tuck the poverty inside and project only the brighter side or project only the “shining India?”
Elitist sway
Over the years, after independence, we have ended up producing programmes and plans mostly for the elite people, we now produce governments of the rich, by the rich and for the rich except in rare situations.
The representatives of this elite class who actually shine (when we say “India is shining”) are seen in each field — among artists, doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians, players, administrators and business barons. They decide everything — from the persons to be brought to power, the priorities, the policies, the type of movies to be made here, the type of education, the mode of admission, the type of government they want — all to suit their taste. Though we have a democracy how much democratic are we here? Who wins elections is also decided by money and muscle power often.
After selling the socialist idea during election time and winning votes, even hardcore socialists fall into the trap of the elite “shining Indians”. They just forget the ideology (or maybe that they hadn’t any) after coming to power and continue to do so till the next election comes; this time round, people might fail them by voting against only because they did not live up to their expectations or not because of the greatness of the opponent; in the process, they often elect a real enemy of socialism. The next time they really get fed up and finally elect another person selling socialist ideology. This process goes on and on. Our people had been longing for socialism but what they get is only capitalism.
Why Slumdog Millionaire? Any one with a humane touch and concern for our fellow beings cannot ignore the poverty staring at us all over the country and the slums and the majority there. Even the word “slumdog” is under fire — a hornet’s nest is stirred up by the very same shining Indians who ignored the slums and who perpetuate poverty to defeat the good attempts of the true artists behind the film.
They have to realise that art is not only for entertainment but also to reform society. They express their feelings through writings or cinema and might win awards as well. This is in sharp contrast to the fantasy movies meant only for entertainment, and promote the consumerist ideas for the rich ones who can afford anything.
Art should reform
What happens because of these attitudes in different fields? Our taxpayers’ money or the money taken as loan from international agencies or the money that is received as charity from outside for the control of tuberculosis and HIV in countries like India and Africa is wasted on treatment, ignoring basic issues.
The people who donate money like the Bill Gates or the Clinton foundation give that probably because of the desire to control the threat of HIV or TB here. But we forget the reason behind these diseases here. We had conveniently forgotten the real issues — poverty and malnutrition. We have a multitude of infectious and nutrition related problems and on top of that, consumerism that serves to promote lifestyle disorders that are now having a terrible impact on the malnourished population here. The impact of consumerism on the western society is less severe because of the availability of good nutrients in the diet they consume. Our people starve and fall prey to consumerism.
If we had been bold enough in admitting the presence of poverty or if we had exposed the real issues, the money that comes to India or raised in India would have been properly utilised.
That the shining Indians do not probably want and that is why they come up against movies like the Slumdog Millionaire.
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