Jai Ho sang India as Oscars dropped Slumdog Millionaire‘s way. It was a day of celebration indeed and India was on cue, a fact dutifully reported all day long by all media channels. Larger than life images were aired again and again for all to see. India walked the legendary red carpet in more ways than one. Bollywood heroes and little slum kids in smart tuxedos and designer dresses walked side by side. For a few hours at least all differences seemed to have been forgotten.
I do not know how long the Slumdog euphoria will last. How long will it take for India to slink back into its usual indifference. And quite frankly I do not know what the real excitement is really all about. Slumdog was undoubtedly an excellent film and deserved all the kudos. it got but what I ask myself is whether anyone really looked and saw what lay behind the stunning pictures and lilting music. What actually set my thoughts this way was the reaction of a friend after he saw the film. He was simply horrified at the blinding scene in the film and was aghast to learn that this was the rule rather than the exception. And I guess this must have been the reaction of many, as in India we rarely look beyond what we want to see.
I watched the film again, this time trying to look beyond the glitz and glare, and realised that Slumdog Millionaire touched upon many issues that I have tried to highlight for many years now be it the abhorring plight of the beggar racket, or the desperate predicament of women caught in the spiral of the flesh trade, or the hijacked childhood of little children born at the wrong time in the wrong place. The film touched upon these issues in a poignant way but then follows its course and transcends into a story of love and hope, culminating in its Kodak moment both in the film and in reality: the boy getting his girl on a railway platform or the final walk on a red carpet!
My story does not end there. I have tried over the years and to the best of my ability to take the story further and highlight the uncomfortable reality that permeates our social fabric. What I mean is vindicated in the success of Slumdog Millionaire. It has taken a film made by an outsider to see what lay under our noses. I only hope that we are able to keep on looking and seeing.
Anouradha,
What you have mentioned is very true and an extremely shocking reality indeed
There is the very challenging aspect of the way in which syndicates are operating, making
Children beg for alms; this is not only as reflected in this film; it is prevalent elsewhere also as
it has been heard
Just imagine the syndicates deliberately crippling Children for their selfish gains; this is
extremely cruel
When I saw in the film, how young Children are deliberately wounded – crippled, so they could
be made to beg for alms – it was a very painful realization
One hears about it; but when perceives this, it is very most challenging and one;s heart
reaches across and can feel the intense pain and anguish that the Children must be
experiencing; just imagine young Children made to go through all of this, very cruel
There were no words; I was speechless and deeply shocked; just imagine the Children who
should be able to enjoy this wonderful life are made to fend for themselves and actually much
more for others
What offense do the Children commit to get trapped in such dire circumstances – in such
terrible plights and most unimaginable of conditions is very frightening and disturbing
Would those individuals who instigate this complete syndicate, put their own Children to go
through the same circumstances? The answer is an obvious no and the hurried answer would
be answered immediately by these individuals
They would safeguard their Children and mete out the most cruel punishments onto these
Children; who are innocent and wish to grow up as responsible citizens; but alas certain
individuals tend to take advantage of their intentions and persuade them to adapt to a life of
begging – and most shocking of all they literally cripple the Children
What could be more cruel than this?
I would say that these individuals who perform these type of actions are punishable to the
maximum extents
If they evade justice and remain hidden various barriers, they can never – for sure – never
escape the Justice that is meted out by Nature
When the time comes to pay for one’s deeds; these individuals will pay not only one price,
they will pay price upon price upon price infinitely for these sinful actions that they commit
They might laugh it off and say who has seen what; but Nature is recording all of our actions
and as ignorant as these individuals might be now, when they realize their mistakes, it would
have already become too late to make any amends or seek any pardon since there is no
forgiveness for such type of actions
The Law of Karma which is consequence related clearly says that one has to pay for one’s
actions and there is no evasion; regardless of how powerful any individual might be, when the
time comes for accountability where it concerns one’s mis deeds not amount of appeals can
heal
Nature is impartial and will punish those who commit such type of actions very severely and
infinitely
This was a film, people will talk about it; after some time, the matter will subside since some
other aspect will be discussed accordingly; but the plight of Children who suffer lingers which
is a very harsh reminder of the times we live in
People might say, don’t just talk and take action; but where can one be able to reach and
resolve all of these matters singularly?
This is a coherent action that needs the full fledged awareness and participation of so many
people that it is able to not only stop any such actions but is able to provide sustainability,
literacy; education; food; clothing and shelter to those who cannot afford (underprivileged – I
don’t know if this is the correct word, since this might hurt the reference? but it is true that
what one meal a person eats might be a complete day’s meal or even a complete two day’s
meal or more to those who are deprived or even more)
They need education importantly; they are willing to learn; they need to be able to enjoy the
basic privileges at least which all people so fortunately enjoy
They need food and shelter and since they are growing Children, naturally they need
nutritious food and not just food that might be left overs;
And then obviously they will need employment to help support their respective Families
All the above and more are very challenging since this is not only here; it might be prevalent in
various parts of the World that we might not be aware of
What we can do is pray, hope and wish that there will come a time that the awareness will
grow
That there will come a time; where meaningful and effective resolutions will be identified to
effectively manage and eradicate these type of circumstances
Hopefully certain meaningful steps will be taken in this direction of alleviating the
circumstances and providing succor; very much needed relief; long term measures that sustain
and adopt a preventive approach that combats the situation to the best effectively possible
It is easier said than done and this type of a situation might be prevailing in different parts of
the World; one may not be aware of the grim reality and seek to ignore it not because they
do not care, but just because when they do take the initiatives, there might be an emergence
of a subsequent similar syndicate operating subsequently else where in another guise; under
another pretext; this is extremely challenging to attend to, but as it said that even if a small
ray shines through, this would be like the sunlight and a blessing for those who are
very unfortunately experiencing the very most challenging times of their lives day in and day
out, there is not one day – but days and days continually, endlessly that stretch across with
agony and the sincere Hope for a resolution to be found that could help manage this more
adeptly and effectively
Eradication is another matter since it needs to get to the roots to effectively combat the
factors that precipitated prevalence of such scenarios and circumstances; in fact
scenarios or circumstances is not the proper word; rather unfortunate scenarios and very
unfortunate circumstances and much more challenging realities
The point is a resolution after resolution and not to dwell solely upon highlighting the
deficiencies; since for those concerned they wish to study; they wish to go to school;
they wish to grow up and enjoy at least the basic of amenities without having to fend for the
syndicates under duress
It also occurred to me just now when writing these few words that with the acclaim that this
movie has received, perhaps certain Institutions could be set up that could help provide
much needed relief and build schools and provide clothing and shelter to the unfortunate
victims
Enable their release from any bondage or captivity that they might be held in and ensure that
they are able to have the privilege to live their lives as they aspire to instead of being
subjugated to attend to various tasks at the behest of the syndicates
My intention is not seeking to offend anyone’s interests; but solely seeking to reflect upon this
aspect from the resolution point of view since if one were to inquire from the concerned what
they would wish to have, they would time and again express their desire for a better life
A better life that is generally a normal day to day life for any one but for them it is a dream,
a hope that will Hopefully manifest with the assistance of People who could be able to
effectively support this cause and by the true and loving grace of God
Jai Ho
Love and Light
God Bless
Vashi