Is Hybridity so hypo-valent?
Katrina Kaif made a telecast apology in case anyone was hurt by her observations on Being Half-Indian.
Isn’t there too much apology going round in this country despite a Constitutional guarantee of Free-Speech?
Yes… yes… we know that free speech does not mean insulting and arrogant speech.
But one Harbinger of a new constructivism in a Sate west of India, can speak ill of migrant population without any protest from any one except from a harbinger of a new era for the oppressed classes.
A neophyte politician can walk over some part of a northern State and all over its political leadership without feeling the need for saying sorry to an elder and more respected messiah of dalit groups across India.
A liquor baron can be unapologetic about an advertisement offending a community’s sentiment.
A member of that community, can show off without remorse his agro-attitude in sport by slapping another talented fellow-player.
Wealthy and powerful politicians can stash away the country’s wealth in Swiss Banks; God-men can amass amazing treasures in their bedrooms; academics can plagiarise doctoral thesis; doctors can deny first aid to accident victims; restaurateurs can mix stale food and adulterated ingredients and serve them at mind-boggling prices to unsuspecting revelry-makers—all, all without an apology.
But Katrina Kaif must say sorry immediately because her analogy for half-Indianness was another half-Indian, Rahul Gandhi. Analogy–wise there couldn’t have been a more appropriate and known-face than Rahul baba. Show us another Indian who is half as well known as Rahul Gandhi who can better illustrate Katrina’s point.
India has Anglo-Indians and other Hybrid persons as its citizens. This hybridity is a point of national pride. It shows how the system has learnt to accommodate and value all-comers.
Another kind of hybrids are religious converts. Proselytizing of different kinds has gone on for long and continues without hindrance. Political converts can do it faster than a juggler at a beach.. All this is accommodated , if not welcomed heartily.
Now genetically manipulated hybrid, high-yielding produce is becoming highly valued.
If Katrina Kaif of hybrid parentage asks why she is singled out and repeatedly asked this question about her parentage; and illustrates her point by referring to Rahul’s parentage, what HAS she said that can injure or insult Rahul Gandhi, or the political classes ruling the country, and create controversy? Isn’t this a Rupert Murdoch-like media creation, grab-the–head-line policy of Indian TV?
Katrina was very quick-witted in referring to Rahul Gandhi, nothing less. She should be complimented for that. Instead she is cornered into an apology.
Let us ask Rahul… are you ashamed of your parentage and feel injured or insulted?
Let us ask Sonia Gandhi whether she is injured or insulted for parenting a hybrid son?
Surely Sonia and Rahul are proud to be mother and son; and surely they are proud to be Rajiv Gandhi’s biological heirs and political heirs?!
Whatever the political climate of India is, surely India does not disown the hybrid and its value. Todays India is not an ancient Sanskrit India. It is an Anglo-India that speaks English, plays cricket, parties on Scotch, sends students to Oxford, follows the fortunes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United without a sense of hybridity that is nothing short of astonishing. The country knows when the hybrid is valuable, and when it must be given short-shrift.
Those of us who oppose Sonia as prime-minister, oppose Rahul Gandhi as prime minister NOT because he is hal-Italian but because he has not yet experienced the totality of India. When that happens, he will be as much a prime candidate for the top job as any any one from the biggest slum of Asia.
Being Half-Indian does not mean bad; it only signifies some apprehension about the suitability for a purpose at this moment. Once suitability is established, Being Hybrid sheds the illogical prejudicial perception of a negative. If unsuitable, being fully Indian adds nothing positive.
The media ,making so much noise should know, Katrina has established her suitability in every way. Do not compel her to apologize for nothing. India needs all the hybridity it can gather. It is the pristine purity , the inbreeding that has let down the country
Aano bhadraah krataveyantu Vishwtah.
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