Gandhi meets Sharmila

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E-Pao! Opinion - Gandhi meets Sharmila

By: Oinam Doren *

Mahatma Gandhi lived in a very lucky time obsequious to his righteous path. There were no shopping malls, multiplexes, fast food joints or cable TV that promotes rampant materialism. There weren't many profit-centric capitalist that persistently manipulate every inch of your psyche with a microscope and dictate laws about your personal looks, lifestyle, mode of transport, communication or even your state of emotions or values. In fact, the myriad of mass entertainment and media that has swamped us has transformed us into mere mechanical consumers or puppets in the hands of these corporate masters.

Gandhiji lived in a very lucky time when humans were more relationship oriented. Capitalist were few and luxury really mattered to a few percentage of the population. The great leveler of his times was poverty that everyone had. Hence Gandhiji and his philosophies- the ultimate epitome of India's poverty worked.

These days 'corporate gospel' is the only philosophy everyone grasps. Give a work to any individual, organization, a social worker or a neta, the first question they will ask themselves is 'what am I going to gain from this situation?' The return is directly related to his consumerist lifestyle; a bigger car, a better house, a slimmer TV (LCD / plasma) or a fairer wife or husband.

If the whole country is raving about 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' and about Gandhigiri in a new avatar, heralding it as the latest trend in urban living, it is because of its entertainment value. The filmmakers have used Gandhi to enthrall our senses with wits, humor and Bollywood glamour.

Its success has nothing to do with the real Gandhi or his lofty ideals. Let's call it the Munnabhai after effect. But none of the 15-16 news channels, the major newspapers or magazines of the country has raised a voice about Sharmila, the Manipuri damsel who has been fasting since November 2, 2000 and is now lodged in AIIMS. She is the ultimate incarnation of the modern Gandhi. Coz Gandhigiri doesn't sell in the market. It has no consumers' value.

I have never bought a book on Gandhiji in my life. I read about Gandhi in the school and college textbooks. And my noble intention was the exams. I have never thought of appreciating the great man or his philosophies or flaunt my gratitude as I seldom had the experience of a slave's life.

Even Sharmila never appealed to me because nobody in my family or my friend had suffered under the brutality of the Arms Forces Special Power Act in Manipur. It is plain simple human nature.

6 years of Gandhigiri and Sharmila's voice is still mute and inefficient.

No public furor or media admiration. One Bollywood masala film that pokes fun on Gandhi's ideals and the whole country is goad in a blaze of 'hul chul'. Coz it appeals to our consumerist lifestyle.

Lage Raho Munnabhai - A bollywood movie

Call the makers of 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' and they will certainly make some excuses. Their film is already a massive hit and Gandhigiri won't tickle them anymore. Call me. I would be there only to retreat soon to wage my personal struggle; my consumerist lifestyle and my money-based relationships. The public consciousness is such.

What will Munnabhai say when he meet Sharmila?
'apun to ush panch so note Gandhi se matlab hai'.
(I am interested only with the Gandhi in the 500 rupees currency)

Sharmila should expect only one thing from her present fasting strategy – self torture. And this strategy is going to fail in her mission because the public and the government are interested only in themselves.

Gandhiji succeeded because of the advertising people strategy; constant suffering under the British and him the solution. The oppression was strong enough and his remedy- accessible and was convincing enough. The Indian public was not interested in Gandhi. They were interested only in themselves; their freedom and happiness.

Fasting or self torture is only one of the minor tools. It is mass awakening, stirring the public consciousness to their own cause that would bring revolution and change.

Sharmila can accomplish her mission only with the support of the media and the public. Any lay government with common sense dreads the invincible power of mob fury.

Otherwise Sharmila is a lone sufferer and her mission impossible.

Oinam Doren

Oinam Doren, based in New Delhi, contributes regularly to e-pao.net . You can share your feedback at [email protected] . This article was webcasted on November 21st, 2006.

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