That 'Chap' Danahar!

by Aarcee

Jan 24, 2007

Paul Danahar, of the South East Asia Bureau of BBC wrote an article for the BBC News website. Let me quote the portion that I wish to discuss here:

"The condemnation by Britain's political class from the prime minister down has received the same attention as the comments from the Indian government. The only exception to this measured response were the half dozen chaps in Bihar who found their 15 minutes of fame by burning a rather bad effigy of the Channel Four executives.

But no-one in India is going to claim that the actions of a few underemployed Biharis, which was recycled endlessly on TV around the world, represents the rest of the nation."

If you wish to read the entire article, please find it here.

Thanks to the images on TV of the burning effigies that the matter came into national attention. Respect usually follows fear. Not that burning effigies were threatening to anyone in Channel 4 physically, but it did portray their image in a negative way. And sometimes they say, that a lot of good things are done by people who do it just to 'look good'.

I will admit that in Bihar every protest finds a voice. There was protest even for the hanging of Saddam Hussain! However, the protest on the Shilpa Shetty issue should not be seen as something which, without the Bihari expression, would pass unnoticed. Did the Bihari people, in their zest for being advocates for anything and everyone pick up a real valid issue? I surely think they did. Call it serendipity, call it design.

This issue still smolders in the heart of every Indian. The latest issue of Newsweek laments that the Iraqi war has produced a new generation whose anti-American stance will impact life for Americans for years to come. The Indian may have discarded the dhoti and taken to wearing trousers. He may have learnt to speak English better than the general English masses, but somewhere back in the dark recesses of his mind he has a vague idea of the price his grandfathers had to pay to walk on the pavement as equals with the British in their own country. The blacks in America may have been emancipated, but he wound of being enslaved still remains branded in their psyche. The long lasting wounds on the souls of people cause by atrocities remain for generations.

It can not be played down as Mr. Paul Danahar has tried to do in his article.

After independence, in a fit of patriotism, Independent India went about destroying every sign of British presence from the Indian society. They did not keep the Union Jack in the corner of their flags like Australia or New Zealand. In their zeal, they went overboard and instead of keeping museums to colonization, they did not leave anything behind for the next generation to see. Even the Cellular Jail in Andaman was ordered demolished and was partially demolished before someone realized how important it was to keep this phase of history alive - 'cause you know, it is famously said, "Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it."

Do I blame the British people for in the whole deal about colonization of India? No. The British public had no clue what the East India Company (and later, the British Government) did in their colonies. People like Gandhi who went to England found the society to be very fair and accepting. It was not the average Briton who was the monster. The monster was the greed of the British businessmen - which in turn, influenced the policies of the British Government. Even today, in the Jade Goody case, the outrage has come from the British People themselves. I do not know if General Dyer is one of Goody's ancestor, but piecing together all she said, proves beyond doubt that she is bigoted in her thinking.

I am glad this fracas happened. In its wake the world saw that the pride of being Indian has woken up in Indians everywhere. Whether it is an 'unemployed youth' burning an effigy in Patna or the likes of Laxmi Mittal in London. The string of Indianness that runs through these dissimilar beads of the Indian world community has had a chance to show its strength. We have all seen how Mr. Mohammad Dodi, the owners of Harrods has been treated by the British. Shilpa Shetty's treatment pales to near white, in comparison. Dodi is out on the limb. Egypt is led by a guy who elects himself every few years.

"Kshama shobhti us Bhujang ko jiske paas garal ho.
Usko kya jo dantheen, vishrahit, vineet, saral ho."

(If a venomous snake pardons you it is one thing. If a toothless, non-venomous snake pardons you, it is laughable)

India is no longer dantheen. Congratulations everyone!

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