MERA RANG DE BASANTI MOVIE
The first 30 minutes or so of the movie oozed energy, and that too energy of the modern Indian youth. Having a charming student of International Development with me last Sunday for a movie on domestic under-development - is not an over-statement. So, when I went to watch a largely anticipated Hindi movie, aptly titled “ Rang De Basanti” (Paint it Yellow?), I was reminded of what JFK’s speech highlighted, right from the times of Indian history to the modern era. JFK’s words hold quite true, “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country”. However, patriotism is not just about how the world look’s up to your homeland but also about how your own country-men and women see each other. Patriotism is a state of mind, an experience in itself. Maybe patriotism, for the youth of modern India, is left to cheer a win for the country in a cricket match Or wishing they grew up as heir’ to Lakshmi Mittal (with all due respect, who’s nationality is non-Indian and merely pertains to an Indian origin) Or wearing a dashing tri-color khaadi kurta to the college (by the way, is that a permitted fashion statement by the democratic Government “freedom of speech” India?). Because life is good for now – carefree, “happening” – friends, parties, flings … sab bindaas hai aur sab chalta hai! Yes, I’ m no one to condemn or preach.
Trapped in the “mouse trap” cubicle’s in call centres today, the youth of India may not generally ponder over these questions. There-after, how we grow as people, what freedom means to us, how does responsibility shape, what we learn from that youthful energy, what we do with that whole experience, how we handle the real-world situations and when we realize the social perspective to it all, are some questions that the youth congregation must, if not does, face. Where I’m going with this prelude is that the evolution of youth commences from a paathshala (school class room), a starting point in one’s life for imbibing knowledge. It takes fortitude to risk for a worthy purpose.
Soldiers and fire-fighters, for example, are willing to risk their lives for their country or to save others’ lives respectively, but their motive is not to become “martyrs”. However, years gone by, and as I now recollect those events, there is a difference between taking your own life and putting one’s own life at high risk for a purpose.
To me, like most other students my age, it was more centred around exams being exempted by the school authorities due to the riots and an unconditional promotion to the next semester. At that time, I was unaware and unconcerned with the intricacy of the situation. I was in school when the Madal Commission protests swept across.
MERA RANG DE BASANTI SERIES
His action sparked a series of self-immolations by college students and led to a formidable movement against job reservations for backward castes in India. In October 1990, Rajiv Goswami, a student of Delhi Univeristy (India), attempted self-immolation (and later died after a prolonged illness) protesting against the implementation of the Mandal Commission’s recommendations. Dam nikale is desh ki khaatir bas itna armaan haiĮk baar is raah mein marna sau janmon ke samaan haiĭekh ke veeron ki qurabaani apna dil bhi bola