Have been seeing a bunch of extremely distasteful remarks
doing rounds. My social media pages are flooded with status updates about a
legendary actor’s untimely passing. What perturbs the most is, how they allude
to the dire need of soul-searching. The recent hullabaloo revolves around
veteran actor of Indian cinema Sridevi’s funeral receiving the state honor.
First, it was a baseless and shameful slander so as to condemn certain imposed beauty
standards in the course of mocking how she looked younger than her age and also
a relentless speculation of her personal details, catering to the daily
appetite of awfully pessimistic gossipmongers. From the overtly curious media,
to some so called popular news channels also insignificant bloggers, reporters
– everyone has been going verbose for last couple of days. This is perhaps what
showbiz does, finally throttling you under the burden of being a superstar.
Now that Sridevi has been laid to rest forever, the question
is why and how she deserves the state honor. It is a sad day rather marks a
dark age for our dear netizens and citizens that they cannot even spare the
deceased! Moronic comparisons are being drawn with those brave martyrs who
fight for our country. I wonder why we cannot refrain from passing judgments
for a moment and allow her some dignity!
The government is no messiah that has resolved all the
disputes at the border and saved millions of innocent lives from hunger,
poverty and illiteracy. Then why is everyone busy talking yet not being able to
eradicate all these problems? Why is the choice of their timing so pathetic in
the midst of bidding farewell to someone who has proved her mettle as an artist
and gifted the whole country and the world of cinema with such unforgettable
marvels? The most corrupt and inefficient political figures receive the same
honor but nobody raises their voice. The vast talent and unmatched grace that
Sridevi is known for can’t be denied even in the face of the world’s most
upsetting occurrences. In fact, they cannot be equated with each other at all.
Because the nature of the issues are different from one another and we need to
be wise and compassionate enough to act maturely in varying scenarios. If we
can’t, we better not move our lips and utter sanctimonious claptraps!
The demise of someone who has contributed in the forum of
art and entertainment of our nation so enormously must not be disregarded or
undervalued in order to elevate the loss of another soul who also adds immense meaning
to our lives. A loss is a loss and every soul we lose is remembered and
glorified in consideration to what they have given us to cherish for a lifetime
and not what was beyond their capacity. We cannot expect a Sridevi to wage a
war or save the Syrian kids. But if, she has touched our lives through the
noteworthy roles that she had been playing for three decades, she does deserve
to be celebrated. Both in life and death. And with unmitigated love and
respect.
At times the shallowness of people devastates me more than
the actual cause of the grief. They can rip you off from the time you are just out
from your mother’s womb and that continues until you are gone to a better
place. Society never ceases to have an opinion about your race, color, religion
and sexuality. And they target you even before you develop consciousness of
what these mean. Then comes your education, career choices, and financial
status. Not forgetting what kind of ‘legacy’ you are capable of leaving behind
for the next generation. Huhh!
All the while, you pay the price of being either a celebrity
or an ordinary man or woman who cannot escape the remorseless public glare and be
subjected to taking endless flak. Which also means had Sridevi died otherwise
– may be in a fateful car accident or even a bomb blast - and not by drowning
into the hotel bathtub, she probably would have earned more sympathy in the
hearts of some dimwits who think - dying in your own house must be a
consequence of your very own carelessness. Hence you are not worthy of a gun
salute irrespective of who you are and what are your credentials. The irony is,
these half baked proclamations seem to have missed the whole point. Sridevi
didn’t receive state honor because she had an accidental death. She received it
because of her prestigious recognition with the Padma Shri award along with her
eminence as the master of her craft. Anyone of a similar stature is entitled to
be venerated. And to realize that, one needs to be passionate about life, live
fully and take pride in one’s own skills.
It is high time that we unlearn the inherent tendency to
tear others down. It is the need of the hour that we learn to be happy and let
others do what makes them happy. Once we stop wasting time in basically complaining
about everything others do, we might probably learn to ponder over greater
issues such as how many ministers and state leaders of ours deserve such huge honor.
These are the same guys I am referring to, who die thousand deaths of indignity
everyday exploiting someone, or manipulating something illegal and fraudulent.
They are still not discriminated from the freedom fighters that we hold in
highest regards for protecting our country until the last breath and leaving
their mark in the pages of history as torchbearers of truth and courage. Have
we forfeited our sensibilities permanently? How do we so conveniently stoop
down to scorn a woman for looking after herself in life and keep on loving herself
in death too? How can we belittle someone for being beautifully decked up in
her final journey and call her self-obsessed?
This is possibly the worst manifestation of patriarchal ethos
coming into play at this juncture! How sickening can a mentality be that only
perceives a tranquil Sridevi’s bridal makeup and red saree and overlooks the
agony that the two young souls are going through at the loss of their friend,
mentor, mother and everything!
I am so much in shock and trauma of imagining this world
without a charmer and strong woman like Sridevi ma’am going forward, that I am
yet not ready for a tribute. I will never be. Because tributes are dedicated to
those who are gone forever. She isn’t. She is timeless.
Ma’am, thank you for being an integral part of my childhood
and filling my days with fun and fond memories galore. You made me laugh, cry,
sing, dance, all at the same time and I could probably never learn to emote in
front of the camera until I started watching you shine brighter than ever
before. You will be missed like that beam of the moon on a dark and desolate
night. May you sleep in eternal peace and watch over those aspiring young
hearts that have lost a piece in them with your departure. Love you.
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