Two Indias: Revolutionary Vir or Outrageous Das?
It really was a time-consuming task for me to think through and find an appropriate title for this piece and in case you do not know, I am referring to Vir as brave and Das as fathers. I did not want to overtly mention my subject’s name on the title for very obvious reasons — “controversy”. But since my subject himself “Vir Das” chose to exercise his freedom of speech, I thought to myself, why cant I ? So I did it subtly but completely. But again, I do not have have the courage to face the harshness the world is sinking in these days, so I played it safe.
Disclaimer- Won’t debate on whether his recent poem at Kennedy Center in Washington DC titled “Two Indias” was a good thing or bad. Through this article I just want to express about how I feel this can be both, a revolutionary as well as an unnecessary invitation to an outrageous movement against him and his art- Standup comedy.
Revolutionary Vir:
In today’s world, where social media is everything, you know the wonders an international influencer can do, who claims to love his country by showing its two-sides, good & bad and can induce concern in its citizens on how to better the quality of life. He can upgrade your mindset, giving you the boost to become the agent of change and initiate a movement of making a country better. India being a nation with highest youth population in the world surely has the ability to outshine all the negativity if these young minds agree to stream their energies in the direction that leads to progressive thoughts, abolishment of superstitious beliefs, imbibe gender equality and breathe a life in harmony.
Just imagine this kind of living! You will not have to travel to mountains and find a corner to gaze at the sea to experience tranquility. It will eliminate the mental trauma which youth, adults and minor communities in this country have been struggling with over the years. There will be smiles, love, laughter, togetherness and peace all over. Sounds too dreamy? Well, this sure is an India of my dreams.
Sadly, this will not give our “dangerously growing” media to generate toxic content on crime rates and disputes across the country. We will not have the new version of news anymore- the noisy debates between ministers and journalists sitting in studio firing up the TRP rates through The Prime Time News! News will then be just a news update, not a drama anymore that poisons your mind and channelizes your actions into violence.
Outrageous Das:
You’ve got to muster all the courage to speak on a foreign land about your own country’s setbacks. Or maybe you did not intend to speak ill about the nation you represent and obviously never thought about the repercussions. There have been documentaries made, series on OTT platform have been released, articles in the newspapers and magazines are written about the country’s shortcomings; so what’s the big deal about a stand up comedian stating those facts once again in front of the audiences? Well, it is a big deal!
When you write an article or make an art film, you are projecting a society’s reality which is made accessible to the world; But you are not representing a country by being present in person while the world reads/watches it. The aura is very different when you are physically present and addressing people overseas. You definitely are representing your country, whether you accept it or do not wish to. When you step out of your country, you are still its citizen, fortunately or unfortunately, and you carry with yourself its badge which describes you nothing but your entitlement of being a loyal national.
There have been a lot of celebrities in the past, much more influential and reputed, who have been on talk shows in which the anchor has tried making them uncomfortable by asking questions about India and have got an intelligent response as good as an ultra-fine slap from them which never made them ask this question to any other Indian celebrity till date. Well. I do not fear to name these bold and truly Indian souls including Indira Gandhi, Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai. The interviews are still available online for you to watch and read.
But as a celebrity, if you yourself would pin-point on these issues without even being asked, you are proving your disrespect towards your nation. And with the increasing extremism in the country, I believe the impact of it will be brutal and have exaggeration attached to it.
For me, Vir Das is the most intelligent and humorous comedian that India has ever had and I am nothing but a true fan.
But as Baban rightly said, “When the line gets straight, everyone loves you”. And this slight crookedness in the line which is being created will sure recover with time. Cheers!
