Tornado raging Vir Das .’s recent monologue at the Kennedy Center raised many uncomfortable questions. To begin with, let’s ask ourselves who exactly qualifies as a ‘Good’ Indian? Does speaking out about issues affecting everyone make a person a ‘Bad’ Indian? According to the organized campaign to arrest Vir Das in a carefully constructed six-minute blowout at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, one thing became clear – a section of our hyper-loyal society did not want hear, see, much less talk about the ugly Indian – ugly in thought, word and deed, the Indian has assumed the power to usurp what it means to be an Indian in this day and age . Being an Indian is never easy – the very concept is full of contradictions! Just as Vir Das spoke of ‘Two Indias’ in his inimitable way, there are others who can identify multiple Indias – each complete and flawed.
Every Indian has the right to define his or her version of ethnicity. All versions are valid. The more Indians there are, the more citizens there are. No single India can win the race for supremacy or superiority over other Indias. We have lived with the suspended realities of countless versions of ourselves for centuries. And survive! So why this sudden overreaction? The argument “How dare he leave the country abroad” is hollow if not downright stupid. We occupy a virtual universe in which physical location is irrelevant. Vir Das may also have mentioned the Martians on Mars, and his post will still go viral.
I look forward to those who have described Vir’s performance as “toxic and inflammatory”, besides being specifically staged to ‘smear India on foreign soil’, accusing him of being a special feature. Pakistani service, who was being paid to run down to India in America. Soon he will be asked to pack up and move to a neighboring country. Because, in India today, there is no place for Vir Das.
Currently, at least on social media platforms, it seems that there are two distinct Indians at war with each other – Vir Das’ and Kangana Ranaut. Both individuals represent showbiz albeit in completely different contexts and fields. Both have huge fan support and enjoy cult status in the eyes of their followers. To the best of my knowledge, Vir Das does not align himself with any political party/ideology, and cannot be accused of playing power politics for personal gain. Currently, he is being intimidated and threatened by forces that have gone as far as to want him charged with anesthesia. Kangana called him a criminal and accused him of being a “soft terrorist”. Das is not yet blessed enough to receive political patronage, forget about protection. The Padma Shri Kangana Ranaut (whom I really admire on so many levels) is privileged enough to be protected by Type Y police, paid for by citizens, and provided by the State of Maharashtra. Vir Das is a lone ranger who speaks directly to his fans through material he wrote himself as a hugely successful popular manga series. Das is from Dehradun, Miss Ranaut is from Bhambla. In that sense, both operate outside the glamorous circle of the entertainment industry to which they belong. And yes, neither can be accused of benefiting from nepotism. There, the common ground ends.
Ranaut’s stern Instagram posts are designed to generate heat (refer to her recent ‘“bheekh” comment), Vir concludes her riveting monologue at the Kennedy Center intrigues more for love than to hate. He repeatedly called India “wonderful”. Their respective versions are patriotic occupying opposite ends of the spectrum. And yes, they both qualify as ‘breakers’ of the status quo. Honestly, we need both! Enough complacency, enough denial, enough pretense ‘AAL EEEZ WELL’. Hell, it’s not!
Vir’s ‘truth’ broke our hearts. So is Kangana. But for completely different reasons. Padma Shri Kangana’s version of history and the Independence movement challenges all accounts recorded by prominent individuals and attempts to change the popular and much espoused perception of Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of Nation. Her declaration of true Independence for India only started in 2014 (mistake – let alone the coincidences!). In a way, Vir asserts that the loss of Independence actually started in 2014 too! Both are entitled to their own opinion. Isn’t that what is widely recognized as an important arm of a functioning democracy where all citizens have an equal voice?
Vir’s comments about the state of women in India have outraged millions – those malicious critics have every right to feel outrage. But is he completely wrong to say what he has done about the safety of women in a country that is said to ‘worship’ women? Ditto when he talked about India’s under-30 population having to listen to over-75s leaders who propagate 150-year-old ideas to thunderous applause in the packed Kennedy Center. Is it the hired/paid mobs? Tickets to see Das at the Kennedy Center range from $29 to $59 – not cheap. It was a sold-out performance as evident in the clips he put out. He’s not extreme, nor does he play in galleries. He’s merely saying so – but hey, we absolutely can’t stand people doing that and smothering our complacency. Not available dramabaazi in its delivery. Are not ‘stuntbaazi’ one in two. At the end of those six minutes, most of us felt numb. Why? Because Vir Das cut too close to the bone – and we fear bleeding.
This is the power of a home theater performance thanks to its raw, unfiltered appeal. No road cover. Time for ‘mithai’ Melas is over.
He walked off the stage with the audience still clapping and shouting even more. None of this can be manipulated – authenticity wins in the end. His message has an undeniably positive connotation as he urges us all to turn our backs on hate and haters. Is that a crime? If it counts as one, then everything he talks about has instant value. Jai Hind!
(Shobhaa De is a writer, columnist, opinion shaper, and social commentator who is widely regarded as an authority on popular culture.)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever.
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