The other day, my mom was muttering something about Jaya Bacchan; she appeared little furious too. “Why did she have to say so? What was the need? Then blame Raj for saying something in return”, she was talking all this in Marathi to herself while doing some kitchen work. I asked her what happened, what is wrong? And she went on again why unnecessarily Jaya Bacchan had to comment. It seems Jaya Bacchan had said something about the Marathi speaking people – the Maharastrians. She (my mom) then reached out for the television remote control and started gliding over various news channels. While I am adept at surfing the net, my mom is equally skilled browsing the TV channels… :-). She somewhere managed to locate that incident on a news channel, it was easy actually, the news kept flashing continuously in loops – that is what news channels do these days, any news is a breaking news, and it will hog you until you have completely forgotten about your existence. Aishwarya Rai falls from a bicycle and sprains her leg – breaking news!, then surely Jaya Bacchan sarcastically attacking Marathi people indeed has to be the bursting news, not only just breaking.
During some function for her son’s movie – Drona, in which even she has acted; Jaya Bacchan spoke in Hindi, which was fine. However, further saying that, “hum UP ke log hai, hume Hindi mein baat karni chahiye (we are from Uttar Pradesh and should speak in Hindi). Maharashtrians should pardon us for speaking in Hindi”. Now, was this required at all? You were there to talk about the movie and its music probably, and you should have done that, why rub against the wrong things, said my mom. Yes, even I feel that Jaya Bacchan’s comment was unnecessary. It is now obvious that Uncle-Nephew duo (separately) would hit it back, and they will give it hard, at least the younger one will.
Not that I completely agree with Raj’s ideologies of going on rampage with the north Indians, but at the same I also feel that Jayaji was wrong when she said those words. Hindi is our national language; you have all right to use it when you want, where you want. However, anything derogatory against any community is wrong, even if it is unintentional or sarcastically commented or even if you belong to the Bollywood’s first family. It was Raj and MNS that Mrs. Bacchan should be having problems with, and not the entire Maharashtrian community. Jaya Bacchan has certainly invited trouble. I wonder if her apologies or her husband’s blog would help anything further. Balasaheb has come out with an editorial in his Sena mouthpiece Saamna, where he warns Jayaji not to provoke Maharashtrians, and he comes out with justifiable facts in that article (wish I could publish it here on my blog, you may source it at http://www.saamana.com/2008/Sept/09/Index.htm under the editorial [sampaadikiya] page section). Posters and effigies of Bacchans and their movies are being torn and burnt down. This was inevitable Jayaji, you just gave an excuse to the MNS gang to go on rampage. You could have nicely enjoyed the music launch, felt happy for your son’s (doubtful) success, and moved ahead. However, you thought of being revengeful by jokingly passing some comments about the Maharashtrians. Why? That joke of yours is now going to cost you some sleepless nights and some serious business loss to your son and husband. The statements you made Jayaji, were seriously not required, I still do not understand the need for those utterances - I feel hurt (a Marathi speaking true Mumbaikar that I am) as much as I was moved by the violent attacks on North Indian taxi drivers, milkmen, vegetable vendors, and so on.
We all know what is democracy but we don’t understand what it is.
Comments
However, what you all missed here is that I am not trying to justify MNS or either of the Thackeray's stand. I do not consider the mass voilence by the MNS sena as a merit or as any kind of good done to the Marathi community, on the contrary it creates more rift between the communities. What my point here is that Jaya Bacchan's comments were not required. She could have remained silent if she really wanted to avoid the tussle.
Even I am against any kind of violence, even in its slightest form. But when you know MNS very well, that they can find any damn reason for getting into disruption, why provoke them at all, why pinch them at the wrong spot and then blame them over and over. That function was not the right place to be sarcastic.
Yes you do not become a donkey or a monkey when someone calls you one, but when in a quarrel one word against you, even if it is "idiot" will surely fume you up.
Cheers
Amol
Amol has just put across his point of view and he hasnt sided anyone. He is hurt being a Marathi person but at the same time does not propose violence or any kind of hatred against the north Indians, in fact he has sympathised with them who were a target of vandalism few months ago.
We live in democracy and we have the freedom of speech so anyone can go ahead and say anything. This is what Amol is trying to convey in the last line of his article - "We all know what is democracy but we don’t understand what it is"
Do you have an answer? Answer me come on, now answer me.
But to think of it there are many things that many people do not need to do!! Alas, this is how it works. And may be this was planned, what better publicity to make sure your sons movie is in the news!
Good blog Amol :)
Regards,
Amruta
Thanks