People constantly criticise the media for ignoring Hindu sentiment, Hindu culture or of being virulently anti-Hindu. That’s untrue. This year’s favourite hero is on television — Bhagat Singh (DD) looking remarkably like Ajay Devgan who played him in one film. Last week, we revisited December 13. No, not 2001 but 1928. In a retaliatory killing, Bhagat Singh shot a police officer. Subsequently, he alongwith one comrade, would steal into the Legislative Assembly and explode ‘‘bums’’ as they called it. With one crucial difference: ‘‘We are not terrorists,’’ Bhagat Singh says in a stirring speech, ‘‘we are desh-bhakts, krantiveer’’. Echoes of Bhagat Singh may be heard in J&K, in Gujarat and endlessly on TV. Since the Ayodhya crisis, last spring, the TV set has resounded with the drumbeats of aggressive (Hindu?) nationalism. We hear it every day from one source or another. Bhagat Singh’s invocation, in last week’s episode, was a voice from the past in tune with the present. Simultaneously, TV is celebrating Hinduism with unbounded enthusiasm. This year saw TV news channels commemorate religious occasions—the majority are Hindu—as never before with features and ‘live’ coverage of celebrations. And it’s by no means spiritual: on Karva Chauth, Diwali, even Eid, it was all about who was buying what where and at what price: gold, silver, stainless steel, clothes. Ms Row, discoursing on the Bhagvad Gita (Aastha Channel) is of the opinion that ‘‘.we are using God to get involved in every activity and worldliness’’. Simultaneously, drama serials, across entertainment channels, deal with Hindu families: the Viranis, Aggarwals, the Poojas, the Rahuls, etc. The most popular family dramas such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thhi, Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki (Star Plus) and Kkusum (Sony) are steeped in the Hindu way of life—from clothes to lifestyles. With rites and rituals aplenty. No one takes a step forward without first a pooja (preferably tulsi), a kirtan, a katha, an invocation, a prayer, a visit to the temple, a yatra (Ba of Kyunki and Baoji plus wife of Kahani went on one this year). Furthermore, all the major festivals or auspicious days - from a Karva Chauth, to Janamasthami, Dussehra, Teej, Diwali, Holi (a great favourite) are celebrated with much fanfare, over several episodes. Also, someone is invariably getting engaged or married, there are Hindu wedding ceremonies everywhere. Devi (Sony) is the apogee of this trend, beginning with the name of the serial. In this instance, Gayatri Devi, the main protagonist, almost does not breathe without rushing into the pooja room and beseeching God’s blessings. Thus, Hindi culture receives continual observance with much pomp and ostentation. Also, there are channels, like Aastha, dedicated to discourses on Hindu philosophy, religion, etc. Heena (Sony) is perhaps the only prime time serial about a Muslim family, Des Mein Nikkla Hoga Chand (Star Plus), the only one which concerns a Sikh one and as for the Christians, why, there aren’t any unless they are the butt of good jokes in Khichdi (Star Plus). The pity is that whereas Hindi popular cinema has tried to play a unifying role (think of Zanjeer, Amar, Akbar Antony), TV has remained indifferent. With over a dozen Hindi entertainment channels and seven Hindi news channels by early next year, television is very much a majority stronghold. Minorities might be appeased elsewhere but not on the box - unless your sole criterion is Narendra Modi and the Gujarat riots. Cricket: Nowadays, watching cricket is a full-time (unpaid) occupation. And by ‘full-time’ we mean almost 24 hours. Wake up at 3.15 am. for the India-New Zealand encounter, switch in and out of England’s tour of Australia, including the tri-series till lunchtime, then watch Pakistan in South Africa. If the latter is a day/night match, it carries on into the late evening, leaving you approximately five hours sleep before you wake up to the Indians again. Just as well rain stopped play in New Zealand and that matches are ending inside three or four days. At least you can snatch a proper night’s sleep. Write to shailajabajpai@expressindia.com
