How would Gandhiji react to the offensive video that mocks him?
As I sat surfing channels idly few days ago, I stopped at a visual I didn't want to believe. It was news of a man (of Indian origin) making a mockery of Mahatma Gandhi.
Yes the news stated that the video had created a national outrage and that the maker was asked to make a public apology. But it worried me nonetheless.
There are too many people in our country today who are ignorant (or have forgotten what they learnt in history lessons in school) about India's struggle for freedom. They don't know that this lanky, bald old man was named the "father of the nation”. Even if they did their limited minds don't feel curious as to why a weak-looking old man with scanty clothes would be given such a huge status. It worried me that such people may actually find this video extremely funny. They may watch it repeatedly and laugh repeatedly.
That aside, here's the lensewiping part: I exclaimed to my friends that I could shoot Gautham Prasad (the guy who made the film) dead! My friends were quick to point out that I was defying Gandhi ji by saying that.
It got me thinking. How would Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi have reacted had he seen this film? Some help from Mr. Rajkumar Hirani (the maker of ‘lagey raho munna bhai’) would be welcome here.
I think he'd have laughed and congratulated Gautam Prasad for his talent. He would however have expressed his concern about the talent being misused. He would have advised the lad to use his talents to earn the dignity he deserves rather than go down history for being foolish.
Who is Gautham Prasad? While the I&B minister is ready to take action against the news channels and youtube nobody seems to be catching the guy responsible for making the offensive film. Even the media has provided no further information on the boy other than the fact that he is an NRI comedian in the US and that his name is Gautham Prasad.
If these facts are right, then I’m guessing that Gautham is leading a real tough life in the US. Considering that he is a comedian who is struggling to be funny. So much so that he decided to upload a film of himself "being funny" on youtube. But again, he ended up goofing up miserably. I feel sorry for him. I don't mean to mock him. I am genuinely concerned for the chap. I think he should shift careers. Maybe he'll do better as a pizza delivery guy or a taxi driver.
It’s an art to use famous people to be genuinely funny. Take Jay Leno for example. He is sardonic but never offensive.
Well, I hope Gautham Prasad the very best in life. I hope he doesn't face too many hateful glares. I hope for him that someday he will be able to live up to his designation.
Yes the news stated that the video had created a national outrage and that the maker was asked to make a public apology. But it worried me nonetheless.
There are too many people in our country today who are ignorant (or have forgotten what they learnt in history lessons in school) about India's struggle for freedom. They don't know that this lanky, bald old man was named the "father of the nation”. Even if they did their limited minds don't feel curious as to why a weak-looking old man with scanty clothes would be given such a huge status. It worried me that such people may actually find this video extremely funny. They may watch it repeatedly and laugh repeatedly.
That aside, here's the lensewiping part: I exclaimed to my friends that I could shoot Gautham Prasad (the guy who made the film) dead! My friends were quick to point out that I was defying Gandhi ji by saying that.
It got me thinking. How would Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi have reacted had he seen this film? Some help from Mr. Rajkumar Hirani (the maker of ‘lagey raho munna bhai’) would be welcome here.
I think he'd have laughed and congratulated Gautam Prasad for his talent. He would however have expressed his concern about the talent being misused. He would have advised the lad to use his talents to earn the dignity he deserves rather than go down history for being foolish.
Who is Gautham Prasad? While the I&B minister is ready to take action against the news channels and youtube nobody seems to be catching the guy responsible for making the offensive film. Even the media has provided no further information on the boy other than the fact that he is an NRI comedian in the US and that his name is Gautham Prasad.
If these facts are right, then I’m guessing that Gautham is leading a real tough life in the US. Considering that he is a comedian who is struggling to be funny. So much so that he decided to upload a film of himself "being funny" on youtube. But again, he ended up goofing up miserably. I feel sorry for him. I don't mean to mock him. I am genuinely concerned for the chap. I think he should shift careers. Maybe he'll do better as a pizza delivery guy or a taxi driver.
It’s an art to use famous people to be genuinely funny. Take Jay Leno for example. He is sardonic but never offensive.
Well, I hope Gautham Prasad the very best in life. I hope he doesn't face too many hateful glares. I hope for him that someday he will be able to live up to his designation.
Comments
and yes, Gandhi would have surely reacted in the manner explained by you.
this when you didn't mean to mock him!!
I believe public/viewer censorship is the only solution. In this case, it is good that our numerous news channels didn't sensationalize the issue (or maybe they didn't only per government direction).
All i am saying is that there are always these options to be able to earn your daily bread.
So, why stoop to making an idiot of yourself to make a living?
Since he is clearly poor at being a comedian.
I am not upset at the media for having aired it. How else would we know of this issue?
Issue being the waywardness of some of today's yougsters.
But i'm happy that they did not sensationalize it. u r right that must be thanx to the I&B ministry.
I don't think Ghandi would be offended. I think he would be far more offended by Iraq or Darfur as should we all. And I really don't think this does much of anything to hurt Ghandi's reputation for freeing India through nonviolent resistence. He was a brilliant man, and I don't think this dampens his light.
Clearly the fact that you could even mention shooting a comedian for expressing himself is a simple microcosm of the many problems that face India. In addition to rampant population growth (India is going to surpass China and population by the year 2020 if not before), an unfair and anachronistic caste system which keeps hundreds of millions of people down, and enormous inequities between the rich and the poor (for example, the rich guy who murdered a bartender and got away with it), now you have thousands of people calling for the execution of a comedian in America. That doesn't say much for India, doesn't it?
Even when he was alive he had tolerated such abuse. The Marxists and Islamic leaders had called him a clown etc. etc. The British themselves had made fun of him in public.
I think its time now that we as audience shout and tell media what exactly are we interested in. I see movie directors creating piece of disgusting footages and they call them movies. On top of that they present an argument that the youth likes such things.
So many attention seekers try to film something extraordinarily disgusting scenes in order to attain fame.
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Iconic figures are more than just figures- they represent their ideals and thier message to the world.
Lampooning Gandhi means lampooning non-violence; it means lampooning peace; it means lampooning Hindu-Muslim unity.
These are underlying sentiments in India which Gautam unknowingly may have spurred. (i believe that it all eventually builds up which is why it worried me.)
I don't find lampooning someone funny. Not my kind of humour. Be it an icon or be it my neighbour! :)
Imitating someone or making a caricature of people on the other hand can be funny.
(This is my humble judgement of comedy. I am no authority on the subject)
Lastly FREEDOM always goes hand in hand with RESPONSIBILITY.
People across the world are focussing so much on their freedom, i wish they paid equal attention to the responsibilites that come with it.
I don't feel the media ignores all these other problems either. And I am a lot more concerned about all these real problems.
1000s calling America for Gautam's execution??? If true, that sure doesn't say much for India. It sure reflects on the microcosm of the Indian masses. (another thing thats concerns me)
I have nothing against Gautam. He could well be a nice guy but surely wayward. Thats ok. I just presented my opinion about it - i'm allowed to do that. :D