Remember seeing the movie 'the enemy at the gates' and could not really digest the idea that 'every country needs a hero to lift the people's morale during trying times'. And I kind of feel the same way, when the whole country stood behind Sania Mirza during her trying times. Even during the last BJP-tenure, Sania was selected to be the 'mascot' for 'the year of girl-child' scheme. That was a time when she hardly had this big-international exposure. But then, she had already starting making waves in the Indian scene and also in SAARC scene.
A photograph in 'the hindu' shot in Bhopal had some really old muslim-woman standing in a human-chain in support for Sania. This photo speaks volumes on what India needs at the moment i.e heroes to pullout the rest of the crowd from backwardness. Maybe, five or ten years from now, Sania might be a millionaire and be least bothered about people like that old muslim-woman who dared to come out to protest against fundamentalism, but to me the crux of the idea is that 'people will start using Sania as a mascot to achieve higher ideals of life'!
One question that struck me was 'Do we need someone to inspire us to do something beyond our skins? '
When India won the world cup in 1983, Indira Gandhi took the opportunity to paint India as a resurgent power not just in cricket but in other aspects as well. This could be a phoney way of deriving courage, but what the heck we need to start somewhere. And India as a country needs leaders in hoardes not just a handful of few to lift the rest of the folks.
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4 comments:
Anandkumar, your post defies logic. You talk of half-dressed women and AIDs in the same breath, as if they are connected.
Then you talk of freedom of speech and expression. That does include the freedom to do and wear what you like [Article 19 of the Indian Constitution], you are aware of that, aren't you?
If you have to issue a Fatwa (or commend someone for issuing one), why not pick a more relevant issue like corrupt politicians who do so little about poverty or AIDs, as you yourself pointed out?
Anon,
I agree with you!
Anand,
On the one hand govt. talks hell-a-lot about prevention of AIDS, on the other hand supports the half-naked dress worn by women
This statment doesnt make sense.
I think it is important for every individual to use his brain rather than see a short-skirt and then reason out saying that 'if not for short-skirt there will be no AIDS'!
Anand,
:)
I was referring to your argument i.e On the one hand govt. talks hell-a-lot about prevention of AIDS, on the other hand supports the half-naked dress worn by women.
This doesnt make sense to me!
Sancho...well said. I think we are taking this moral policing a wee bit too seriously.
One obviously does not expect Sania to be clothed in traditional Indian attire from head to toe when she is playing the Wimbledon !! Whoever suggests that needs to get their head examined.
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