RDB goes to Oscars!!!
I happened to read this headline somewhere some days back. It instantly reminded me of the time when I had first watched the film. While I was really impressed by the film's intentions and for the major part, the execution of those intentions, I really did not seem to agree with it's basic premise. What the film suggested was,as most Hindi films tend to, a glorious quickfix to the problems faced by us - a revolution, in blood if needed. I had put down my thoughts about the issue in a mail to a friend and I feel that now is an apt time to re-open the debate.So, here goes....
I believe more in evolution rather than revolution - because I believe that evolution is the most feasible,if time-consuming, way of achieving lasting change.No doubt, revolution has its rightful place in the scheme of things but then the necessity for a revolution has to be seen in the existing context rather than simply proposing a drastic upheaval as the sole means to the end.As has been depicted rightly in RDB, there are a lot of things that have gone wrong and are going wrong with this country that is no doubt so dear to us; but a revolution seems to be a very simplistic solution to the problem,which I feel, demands much more pragmatism and a deliberate approach than a revolt of sorts.The entire idea of a revolution sounds very attractive and inspiring to an idealilst mind, but I am sure that the problems that we are facing are much more deep-rooted.
The earlier revolution for fredom succeeded because it was an entirely different era back then.The people had a very strong motivation and desire to revolt in the manner they did.After all, the desire to be free can be a very powerful force.Once you pine for freedom , it's really difficult for anybody to put you down.You will try all means possible to achieve what you feel is justified and rightfully yours.To add to it, the British government we were ruled by really added fuel to fire by committing all sorts of atrocities which I feel, need no repitition.
But today, the entire context has undergone a sea-change.While the earlier generation had tasted the bitterness of slavery,the hopeful uncertainty of the freedom struggle and endured the subsequent horrors of the partition, the youth today have not experienced any of these.Consequently, that fire in the belly to hit out at injustice has mellowed a bit.I have used the words "a bit" because I still believe that today's youth has that ability to change the world around them rather than just sit on their bottom and crib about how the world has failed them.But what has happened is that the motivation to fight for a cause has taken the backseat in comparision to the aspirations of a successful career, material comforts and of course, the all-pervading factor - money.
Another important factor, which I feel matters, is the changed social and political scenario today.While our grandfather's generation was ruled by a foreign power and our father's generation was an integral part of a newborn nation and thus inhabited a very different mileu , we are part of a nation that has attained a degree of maturity and hence, has a different set of problems to tackle.The problems that we face today ie: corrupt system,unemployment,falling moral standards etc. are ones for which there is no quick-fix.These are systemic problems, which by definition, are deep-rooted enough not to be solved by a revolution or two.What is needed instead is a more planned approach.I feel that to solve the problems with the system, you have to be a part of the system and not try to overthrow it and replace it with an entirely new one.I have enough faith in the existing system to say that it can definitely serve us well, provided the right people are in charge of it.While a revolution might serve to kickstart the entire process like a sparkplug in a car,it's not the means that will take us to the desired end.Our problems,I repeat, are not at all solvable by resorting to violence in the manner suggested in RDB.
As with any issue, there can be many opinions about this one,too. I look forward to having a constructive discussion with anyone who cares enough to contribute. You might want to take this up on your blog or at the very least, leave a comment. Please feel free to do so.
I happened to read this headline somewhere some days back. It instantly reminded me of the time when I had first watched the film. While I was really impressed by the film's intentions and for the major part, the execution of those intentions, I really did not seem to agree with it's basic premise. What the film suggested was,as most Hindi films tend to, a glorious quickfix to the problems faced by us - a revolution, in blood if needed. I had put down my thoughts about the issue in a mail to a friend and I feel that now is an apt time to re-open the debate.So, here goes....
I believe more in evolution rather than revolution - because I believe that evolution is the most feasible,if time-consuming, way of achieving lasting change.No doubt, revolution has its rightful place in the scheme of things but then the necessity for a revolution has to be seen in the existing context rather than simply proposing a drastic upheaval as the sole means to the end.As has been depicted rightly in RDB, there are a lot of things that have gone wrong and are going wrong with this country that is no doubt so dear to us; but a revolution seems to be a very simplistic solution to the problem,which I feel, demands much more pragmatism and a deliberate approach than a revolt of sorts.The entire idea of a revolution sounds very attractive and inspiring to an idealilst mind, but I am sure that the problems that we are facing are much more deep-rooted.
The earlier revolution for fredom succeeded because it was an entirely different era back then.The people had a very strong motivation and desire to revolt in the manner they did.After all, the desire to be free can be a very powerful force.Once you pine for freedom , it's really difficult for anybody to put you down.You will try all means possible to achieve what you feel is justified and rightfully yours.To add to it, the British government we were ruled by really added fuel to fire by committing all sorts of atrocities which I feel, need no repitition.
But today, the entire context has undergone a sea-change.While the earlier generation had tasted the bitterness of slavery,the hopeful uncertainty of the freedom struggle and endured the subsequent horrors of the partition, the youth today have not experienced any of these.Consequently, that fire in the belly to hit out at injustice has mellowed a bit.I have used the words "a bit" because I still believe that today's youth has that ability to change the world around them rather than just sit on their bottom and crib about how the world has failed them.But what has happened is that the motivation to fight for a cause has taken the backseat in comparision to the aspirations of a successful career, material comforts and of course, the all-pervading factor - money.
Another important factor, which I feel matters, is the changed social and political scenario today.While our grandfather's generation was ruled by a foreign power and our father's generation was an integral part of a newborn nation and thus inhabited a very different mileu , we are part of a nation that has attained a degree of maturity and hence, has a different set of problems to tackle.The problems that we face today ie: corrupt system,unemployment,falling moral standards etc. are ones for which there is no quick-fix.These are systemic problems, which by definition, are deep-rooted enough not to be solved by a revolution or two.What is needed instead is a more planned approach.I feel that to solve the problems with the system, you have to be a part of the system and not try to overthrow it and replace it with an entirely new one.I have enough faith in the existing system to say that it can definitely serve us well, provided the right people are in charge of it.While a revolution might serve to kickstart the entire process like a sparkplug in a car,it's not the means that will take us to the desired end.Our problems,I repeat, are not at all solvable by resorting to violence in the manner suggested in RDB.
As with any issue, there can be many opinions about this one,too. I look forward to having a constructive discussion with anyone who cares enough to contribute. You might want to take this up on your blog or at the very least, leave a comment. Please feel free to do so.
