We had just barely forgotten the treatment we were subjected to under an oppressive Raj when a racist Britain stared us in the eye and worse poked it. And ouch that hurts. So while about 176000-recorded complaints of racism in Britain (this doesn't include the usual everyday verbal abuses like dog, Paki and Indian that British Asians are subjected to) didn't even create a whimper anywhere in the world, let alone in India, the racist barbs that Shilpa was subjected to, created a bang...across continents. From London to Ludhiana, from Birmingham to Bylore (Shilpa's native place) people debated the racism row ferociously. While Ofcom (whatever on Earth that's!!!) recorded 40000 complaints, Channel 4 fielded another ten thousand or so (I didn't keep count after a point...ok fine I admit it...I can't count beyond 10000). As expected Ofcom promised stern action and Channel 4 dodged the issue, rather moronically (couldn't use any other word for the fear of being dubbed a racist).
Other than all and sundry reaching a collective agreement that there is not even an iota of goodness about Jade Goody (let's resolve to call her Jade Baddy when she comes to India - that's as unimaginative as dog by the way), and that what happened to Shilpa could either be a) racism, b) bullying and c) class clash (majority of the people I couldn't poll voted for this option) the row is really not helping the true victims in any kind (I speak literally)...not least in the way it has helped Shilpa. I mean how many times have you been called a Dog/Paki/Both and been paid money for it. It might be worth mentioning here that a strong section with a governmentality think that the notorious ISI was behind the incident and a miniscule percentage of people opinion polled also thought that Shilpa was just acting...fools.
Whether ISI actually had a hand in it is as debatable as the famed agencies role in making our athletes not perform at the Olympics. The aspect of the debate that's nagging me is whether Channel 4 planted the row. Sure they wouldn't have thought about the soaring TRP's that the ailing show registered soon after Shilpa started crying her heart out on the show. And if they did, where does that leave us - the media. If there's even an iota of truth in this 'allegation' then all of us fell for it. Hook, line and sinker. We bought a plant...a stupid but provocative plant and bought it in full measure...no half-bred glory here and surely no escape even. I can actually imagine the smart Channel 4 producers collectively laughing their way to the bank and of course directing the laughter at us...the editors, the reporters, the anchors, the studio panelists and even the audience.
I must confess, at one point I was more interested in CBB than Siddhu's you-bang-my-car-and-I'll-bang-your-head case verdict (trust me with Mr. Siddhu never failing to come up with a Siddhism the moment a mike is thrust his way, following the gifted celebrity can be as interesting).
So we come to the difficult part now...the moral of the story. This time around YOU the reader deduce it. What do you think of the whole episode? What have you learnt from the debate? What is your reaction to Britain treating Shilpa the way that it treated her? Do you think this was just the Queen's tough love for our Shilpa? And what do you think Shilpa should do with the money? Also do you have any imaginative racism accounts to share with us that we can use to boost our TRP's? Speak out, be heard and spit it out on the comments section. Just don't be racist. first published:January 29, 2007, 19:51 ISTlast updated:January 29, 2007, 19:51 IST
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Saddi Shilpa... brave Shilpa...hasn't she done us all so, so proud. Aren't we all impressed? From the Pappu of the Nukkad to the Lucky of the Chowk...everyone is all praise for the black-belt-good-looking heroini. To keep the Indian flag flying in the land of the generally bully/racist angrez is a coveted achievement. To keep the flag flying high in the presence of the likes of Jade Goody (what a foul mouthed lout, let her come to India...we'll also call her a Paki) is even more of an achievement. And bringing in precious foreign exchange home while you are keeping the flag flying high is the real killer. But as we all know, the televised and much debated path to glory wasn't as easy. She had to go through the pain of defending an undercooked chicken curry and the agony of a badly pronounced name (Shipaaaaaa). This other than being called a dog (how unimaginative), a Paki (that was really racist...never call an Indian a Paki...we'll burn the crap of out of your effigy) and other unaired/edited out racial slurs.
We had just barely forgotten the treatment we were subjected to under an oppressive Raj when a racist Britain stared us in the eye and worse poked it. And ouch that hurts. So while about 176000-recorded complaints of racism in Britain (this doesn't include the usual everyday verbal abuses like dog, Paki and Indian that British Asians are subjected to) didn't even create a whimper anywhere in the world, let alone in India, the racist barbs that Shilpa was subjected to, created a bang...across continents. From London to Ludhiana, from Birmingham to Bylore (Shilpa's native place) people debated the racism row ferociously. While Ofcom (whatever on Earth that's!!!) recorded 40000 complaints, Channel 4 fielded another ten thousand or so (I didn't keep count after a point...ok fine I admit it...I can't count beyond 10000). As expected Ofcom promised stern action and Channel 4 dodged the issue, rather moronically (couldn't use any other word for the fear of being dubbed a racist).
Other than all and sundry reaching a collective agreement that there is not even an iota of goodness about Jade Goody (let's resolve to call her Jade Baddy when she comes to India - that's as unimaginative as dog by the way), and that what happened to Shilpa could either be a) racism, b) bullying and c) class clash (majority of the people I couldn't poll voted for this option) the row is really not helping the true victims in any kind (I speak literally)...not least in the way it has helped Shilpa. I mean how many times have you been called a Dog/Paki/Both and been paid money for it. It might be worth mentioning here that a strong section with a governmentality think that the notorious ISI was behind the incident and a miniscule percentage of people opinion polled also thought that Shilpa was just acting...fools.
Whether ISI actually had a hand in it is as debatable as the famed agencies role in making our athletes not perform at the Olympics. The aspect of the debate that's nagging me is whether Channel 4 planted the row. Sure they wouldn't have thought about the soaring TRP's that the ailing show registered soon after Shilpa started crying her heart out on the show. And if they did, where does that leave us - the media. If there's even an iota of truth in this 'allegation' then all of us fell for it. Hook, line and sinker. We bought a plant...a stupid but provocative plant and bought it in full measure...no half-bred glory here and surely no escape even. I can actually imagine the smart Channel 4 producers collectively laughing their way to the bank and of course directing the laughter at us...the editors, the reporters, the anchors, the studio panelists and even the audience.
I must confess, at one point I was more interested in CBB than Siddhu's you-bang-my-car-and-I'll-bang-your-head case verdict (trust me with Mr. Siddhu never failing to come up with a Siddhism the moment a mike is thrust his way, following the gifted celebrity can be as interesting).
So we come to the difficult part now...the moral of the story. This time around YOU the reader deduce it. What do you think of the whole episode? What have you learnt from the debate? What is your reaction to Britain treating Shilpa the way that it treated her? Do you think this was just the Queen's tough love for our Shilpa? And what do you think Shilpa should do with the money? Also do you have any imaginative racism accounts to share with us that we can use to boost our TRP's? Speak out, be heard and spit it out on the comments section. Just don't be racist.
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