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Perspective    
The Coming of the Kalki
by Aruni Mukherjee

“In general, there has been a decline in ethical standards in society”

That is how an editorial in The Telegraph concluded on the 14^th of December, commenting on the bribe-taking spree by MPs – the latest ghotala to jolt the credibility of the Indian polity. Can the quote be applied to our society per se?

I speak Hindi and Bengali, but do not speak Tamil, Telegu, Oriya, Malayalam, Kannada or any of the other major languages in the region for that matter. Similarly, Deepak – who is from Chennai – speaks Tamil and Malayalam, but none of the other aforementioned languages.

How can we both consider ourselves hailing from the same country?

It is a perplexing question, usually asked by a stiff upper lipped Westerner, always sceptical of the mystifying Orient. Typically Indians answer with a somewhat vague reference to an “invisible Indianness” that binds us together. When asked to explain how this manifests itself in the life of a common man in the 21^st century, we are left clueless.

It is embarrassing, especially if you are representing your country in an alien land.

Sitting in a Kentucky Friend Chicken (KFC) joint in Tile Hill, Coventry, one witnesses interesting conversations.

Conversation 1

X to Y-  All right there mate?
Y-         Yeah, I’m fine. Just woke up actually
             - such a bad hangover from last night.
X-         Tell me about it- one heck of a night, wasn’t it?
Y-         Did you get it on with that bird, what’s her name now?
             [“bird” is what Americans call “chick”]
X-         I’m not kissing n telling mate. Anyway, you up for a pint later?
Y-         Sure. By the way, what’s the model name of your mobile phone?
X-         Its C975. It has 3G, video calling and a cool ring tone.
Y-         Sounds awesome. Where did you buy it?

Conversation 2

D to A-  Oi yaar, did you see Pathan?
             [referring to the 93 scored in the second innings at Delhi]
A-         Nailed the Lankans, didn’t he? I think we should send Dhoni to open too.
D-         Why don’t you apply for Chappell’s job?
A-         Ha ha, I just might.
D-         Are you coming home tomorrow? I’m cooking some dosas.
A-         And I would miss it why? But after 8 though, since I’m working before that.
D-         Why are you working so much? You’ve got enough to last you this term.
A-         Are bhai, I am just earning some extra money to help parents with the
             fees.
D-         How do you balance it with studies?
A-         I have to, don’t I?
D-         Just think that you’re working for a higher cause and it’ll be easier.
A-         Thanks. Now let’s go and watch Kyon Ki.

In Conversation 2 lies what is essential to being an Indian. No not just cricket, but the unique juxtaposition of the smaller and bigger things in life coated with the popular culture flavours. To soothe the pains of life through cricket and Bollywood is what we do (or at least, did). Friends and family are not just brochures for consumer goods or chequebooks to last us through college, and life is not all “ha ha, hi hi”.

Among the innumerable real-life, telephone and internet exchanges that take place in today’s India, the proportion of “2” is being steadily eroded vis-à-vis “1”. Most non-resident Indians gape in remorse as they drift further and further apart from their homeland, whose young generation sinks deeper and deeper into the abyss where Western society rests today.

“Nay to the moral guardians” they scream, but with processions lined up with blindfolds, striving to ape the “cool dudes”, Rabindranath Tagore refuses to be swept aside, as he reminds us –

“We have for over a century been dragged by the prosperous West behind its chariot, choked by the dust, deafened by the noise, humbled by our own helplessness and overwhelmed by the speed.”

Fortunately for Tagore, he had a Gandhi who pointed out “the depth of the ditches lying in the chariot’s path”.

We do not have a Gandhi, so we must look out ourselves, at least- for those who believe in Hindu mythology- until the Kalki arrives.

December 18, 2005     

Top | Perspective    

The Week of December 18, 2005   
Karma of Coalition Dharma by Rajinder Puri
Post Colonial India and its Architecture - I by Ashish Nangia 
India's Non-Alignment Doctrine : A Policy Failure by Dr. Subhash Kapila 
The Coming of the Kalki by Aruni Mukherjee 
'Color' Television and Media by J. Ajithkumar 
Media Trivialized by Kusum Choppra 
Duty: To do or not to do? by T.A. Ramesh
The Right is Wrong for Women by Elayne Clift 
Reality Check on Gender Equality by Barbara Lewis 
Midday Meal Angst by Aparna Pallavi
Shanta Toofani : A Profile 
The Experience of Being Naked by Meena Iyer 
What Khushboo's Words Really Say by Arvind Narrain
Nota Bene A Short Story by NS Murty