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regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

Before the rah rah about RiRi

The fault, dear farmers, is not in the stars but in ourselves that we are such undiscerning beings

Upala Sen Published 07.02.21, 02:24 AM
Rihanna

Rihanna Shutterstock

The fault, dear farmers, is not in the stars but in ourselves that we are such undiscerning beings. The disappointment at celebrities in India who appear to support the government stance against the continuing farmer protests is quite misplaced. It is not in the primary job description of cricketers, actors and nightingales to lend voice, ear and heart to people’s movements. So what if we the people contributed to their celebrity? So what if we the people applauded, adored and eventually deified them? And so what if all of it earns them dividends, intangible and tangible?

That’s on you

They didn’t beg to endorse your dandruff shampoo. You did. They don't care about what hair oil you choose or toothpaste or what cooking oil for weak hearts. No Sir. The cricketers played well and that lent taste to your bucket of Sunday chicken wings. That’s on you. Did Kohli not give a cramp stricken Joe Root a physio on field last week? He was being a sport in and on his chosen field. He was leading by example where he has been chosen to lead. Can you say as much about your choices? But to sigh like the Nor'wester and discuss and feel let down when he tweets truisms --- “Farmers are an integral part of our country” --- and talks about being sure of an “amicable solution” is unfair. That’s way off-field.

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OMG

The singers sang with feeling and you chose to romance on those numbers. That's on you too. And did Lataji not sing an ode to jawans once; it is said to have moved Nehru to tears. And now the elder has chosen to sing for India and Indians in general, instead of the kisan in particular. All the actors did was get into the skin of the characters they played --- Akshay Kumar played Krishna Vasudev Yadav in OMG, Ajay Devgn played Bhagat Singh in Bhagat Singh --- and you believed that was them. Kumar had reportedly dedicated Singh is Kinng 2 to Manmohan Singh. And so what if Devgn played the lead in Son of Sardaar and also tweeted equivocally last week --- "It's important to stand united at this hour w/o any infighting (sic)"? Kangana played Rani of Jhansi and you forgot that she commands an army of trolls when you settled down with strawberry popcorn?

Your fault. That’s all on you, you and you.

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