Wednesday, January 07, 2015
‘Ghar Whapsi’
Being not very good with the
alleged ‘National Language’ did not understand the meaning of ‘Ghar Whapsi’, so
took its meaning literally, which meant ‘Home Coming’. I was the most excited
about the whole jingoism as I felt it was a sequel to Modi’s ‘Acche Din Ayengey’,
which meant ‘Good days will come’. So I was elated and could not understand why
the nation’s alleged minorities were so worried. Used the word alleged for
National Language as the majority don’t speak it, even if they did, it was
dialects, then states demand state language to be given preference, so confused
how it could be ‘National’. Alleged minorities, as I never understood it, as I
thought all of us were Indians, besides Sonia Gandhi. So how do I become a
minority, unless it was a class created exclusively for her?
Thanks to skewed media that educated
me where it was Indians getting further classified on lines of religion, caste
and creed. So back to ‘Ghar Whapsi’, I thought my going home would be a breeze
with all the infrastructure plans. So I kept dreaming as always I would be
travelling comfortably in the trains of Bombay, not ‘Mum’bai as I refused to
keep Mum, and I will continue to support Modi. Shashi Tharoor once commented he
does not fly ‘cattle class’ on an Airline. Even his wife was not murdered or
slaughtered like cattle in the country. It was done in a ‘7 star hotel’ with
class. So I want to at least travel in trains and go home in class.
So I knew I have to bear some
discomfort for the ‘Acche Din’ and good ‘Ghar Whapsi’, only to realize that
‘Ghar Whapsi’ meant ‘Home Coming’ or ‘Forcing people Home’ to the religion of
their ancestors. Being religiously agnostic, I did not see that as a harm for
me, as long I could stick to my belief of it ending with what I felt was the
‘literal home coming’. Around this period came along a movie titled ‘PK’. After
seeing the movie I got even more confused as to which religion I should go back
to, as it was a realistic movie of how religion, Gods and God men were packaged
to divide people and their beliefs. So like other packaged grocery products I
buy, I started brain shopping and even window shopping at various religious
sites. Getting me even more confused in the process, as people praying there
were also confused. Everyone praying and ‘no one doing anything’, leaving my
poor Modi to do everything. The movie faced the wrath of the people with
vandalism, as it was alleged it was hurting sentiments of the people and in the
process the movie getting better and more publicity and ending to be the
highest grosser of revenues in the history of Indian Cinema. The movie had a
dialogue which allegedly provoked which said, ‘Jo dar gaya who mandir gaya’
meaning ‘those who fear go to temples’, resulting in the movie makers and Amir
Khan laughing their way to the bank. Not sure if they went to a temple after
that to offer ‘thanksgiving’.
Then came news of reports of
violence and vandalism of religious places and killing happening. Fear started
creeping into me, as will I be the next victim, due to a religious label I am
branded with and not something I fully subscribe too, but was just born into
it. As good as me being born in India and I cannot do anything about it, but
hope, wish and pray for Modi, that he succeeds and I would enjoy ‘Acche
Din’.
Ironically NRI’s (Not Really
Indians) were experiencing ‘fast track Acche Din’ as they would now not need
multiple cards of identity like PIO or OCI cards. PIO meaning ‘People of Indian
Origin’ and OCI meaning ‘Other Category Indians’. So people who have left (read
abandoned) India for better prospects gets better treatment and facilities and
I being Indian have multiple identity cards like ‘Ration Card’, ‘Voting Card’,
‘Driver’s License’, ‘Adhaar Card’ supposedly meant to be a National Id, and
finally with all these cards I would end with an ‘Obituary Card’. So I hope
‘Ghar Whapsi’ to my grave would be at least good and not something I would be
beaten and slaughtered into. So confident Modi will ensure if not my train
journey, my final ‘Ghar Whapsi’ would be peaceful, and I would enjoy ‘Acche
Din’ in my grave.
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