OMG, What have they done!

 

In 2002, when I visited the National Police Academy (NPA) at Hyderabad to attend a seminar on National Security, we were taken to see the sound and light show at Golconda fort. This was started in 1993, much after we had passed out from NPA. It was the first sound and light show I’d ever seen. I was stunned! 

It started with a mesmerising ghazal by Jagjit Singh: 

एक गुलशन था जलवानुमां इस जगह,

रंग-ओ-बू जिसकी दुनिया में मशहूर थी,

बेग़मों की हँसी गूँजती थी यहीं,

शाह की शानोशौकत में भरपूर थी … 

There was a beauty of splendour here

Its fame enthralled many all over the world

The place used to echo with the laughter of queens and princesses

It bore witness to the kings’ pomp and pageantry … 

[Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vTT-EucsqA] 

Then, Amitabh Bachchan’s voice took over, “Come, friends, come this way please …” 

The show was for one hour. With questions and answers, Amitabh Bachchan took us through the entire history of the fort from the time Prataprudra built the fort in the 11^th Century through its development by the Kakatiyas, Bahmani Sultans, Sultan Quli and so on. The narration included reenacted conversations between certain key personae in history and with tremendous sound effects like that of horses galloping and neighing, war drums and so on and differential lighting focusing on different parts of the fort at different levels in sync with the events being described, it transported us to the bygone eras which we felt we were ourselves inhabiting during that hour. The coloured lighting focused in turns on Diwan-e-khas, Rani Mahal, Sultan’s chambers and while being narrated, a lit-up fountain suddenly sprang to life. So did a beam highlighting the Koh-i-Noor diamond which is supposed to have either originated in the Golconda mines or adorned the Golconda vaults initially. 

When the one and a half month siege of the fort by Aurangzeb was depicted we felt we were inside the fort with the vast Mughal army barracked outside. When the negotiation between the queen and Aurangzeb happened and Aurangzeb extracted a heavy price for lifting the siege, we were flies on the wall watching and listening to the exchanges. 

The romance between Sultan Qutb Shah and Bhagmati and the risks the former took to meet her, defying royal edict against it, was poignantly portrayed with great sound effects and exchanges. 

Golconda fort has a unique architecture and built on several tiers/ levels. This made for riveting details in the narration. It has a seven kilometer surrounding wall, four drawbridges, eight gates and 87 bastions. The fort has an amazing acoustic system which is a technical and engineering marvel. It was designed in such a way that a clap at the entrance is transmitted a kilometer away to the main fort three levels up but could not be heard a meter away. This was for announcing arrivals and warning against attacks. The gates were designed in such a way with narrow entrances and giant iron spikes that the elephants couldn’t charge and bring them down. That is why Aurangzeb resorted to sorrrounding the fort for one and half months in the first instance and later, for eight months. 

When the show ended after an hour, each one in the packed audience burst into spontaneous applause. 

Later I saw the sound and light shows at the cellular jail in Port Blair and Lal Qila in Delhi but those were just not a patch on the one at Golconda fort. Whenever anyone I knew was visiting Hyderabad, I used to urge him to make it a point to catch the show at Golconda. It truly showcased the brilliant talent of India in art and music, its famed "soft" power. I wanted to see it again too. The opportunity came during a recent visit and the experience was heart-breaking. 

For reasons completely unknown, the authorities have taken something utterly brilliant and replaced it with a tedious, almost unwatchable excretion of half an hour duration. My first indication came when I saw most of the chairs empty – it used to get really crowded earlier. Gone are the music and the Jagjit Singh ghazals. Gone also is the highlighting of the fort and its different aspects. The drama is missing in the narration which is now a flat reading. Some pictures are shown on a single wall – one may as well see it on a computer screen at home. The exquisite sound effects are all gone. There is nothing in the depiction about the technical and engineering marvel that is Golconda fort. And, for some reason, Shivaji Maharaj has entered the narration. 

Not only that no one clapped at the end, people had started leaving much before the whittled-down half-an-hour tedium ended. 

I came away utterly dejected and googled to learn why. Apparently, the change was done to incorporate 3D mapping projection with high-resolution projectors, laser lights and moving heads. Why it couldn’t have been done while retaining the earlier out-of-the-world narration, music and highlighting is one question I couldn’t find an answer to. What upset me the most was that the change came about just 3-4 months back. Had I visited just a few months back, I could have re-lived that beautiful experience all over again. 

I wonder why there hasn’t been any protest against this mindless modification. There should have been. There should be. For those who might like to get somewhat reminded of the old glorious thing, here are the links to what someone has posted on YouTube in three parts. The experience of sitting at the fort and the audio quality can’t be there but one gets the idea of how much better the old version was. As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” 

Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Lelmz3JS0 

Part 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfiSufcer3Y 

Part 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIv3ykTaRoU

[Queen Bhagmati entering the fort]

A perfect Tsunami

 

Back in 2008, a raging storm happened to people’s consciousness in the form of one Sarah Palin. She ran for Vice Presidency of the US and the world was never the same again. For a while. After calling herself a “typical hockey Mom,” she blithely went about mixing her geography, history and language as carelessly as some others mix their drinks but passed out a tad too soon on the couch of political life (this phrase was originally used by Kamala Das in a different context). 

In her great geography knowledge, she put Russia adjacent to Alaska: 

“As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where – where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border.” [This was to explain how she had great foreign policy experience because her state of Alaska was right next door to Russia.] 

“You can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.”

She had to put Afghanistan in close proximity to the US: 

“They are also building schools for Afghan children so that there is hope and opportunity in our neighbouring country of Afghanistan.”

Then there was her vast erudition in history: 

“We’ve got to stand with our North Korean allies.” 

When asked to name a(ny) Supreme Court decision she disagreed with, thus spake she: 

“Well, let’s see. There’s, of course, in the great history of America rulings, there have been … rulings.” 

As far as current affairs were concerned, she claimed to be very engaged with those things. When asked to name a single newspaper or magazine she read, this was her reply: 

“All of ‘em, any of ‘em that have been in front of me all these years.” 

Then, she gave unto the English language a unique word, “Refudiate.” When trolled, she compared herself to Shakespeare: 

“‘Refudiate,’ ‘misunderestimate,’ ‘wee-wee’d up.’ English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!’’’

This was the original quote on her Twitter account: 

“Ground Zero Mosque supporters: doesn’t it really stab you in the heart, as it does ours throughout the heartland? Peaceful Muslims, pls refudiate.” 

After the storm called Palin disappeared from the firmament, politics and life was dull and boring. For a good decade and a half, I’ve wondered, “After Palin, who?” Now we have the answer. I’m grateful to the BJP for unleashing one Kangana Ranaut who is threatening to become a perfect Tsunami. 

She started well in terms of history. 

“India gained Independence in 2014.” 

“Bheekh mein mili hui azadi koi azadi nahi hoti.” 

That was a while back. This has now been followed through with: 

“Pehle mujhe yeh baat aaj clear karne dijiye. Jab hume azaadi mili toh the first Prime Minister of India, Subhash Chandra Bose, woh kahan gaye? [Let me clear this first. When we gained Independence, where did the first Prime Minister of India, Subhas Chandra Bose go?]” 

Was Subhash Bose alive in 2014 – remember that year of our Independence? 

She is also a champion of women’s causes. 

“The Women’s Reservation Bill that grants 30 % reservation to women (in the Lok Sabha) is the reason why I have this stage today. Because of that, your daughter from Mandi has this stage.” – recent public address in Mandi’s Balh village. [It’s another matter that the bill has not been brought into effect yet.] 

Another sample. 

Regarding Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024: 

“The women in the country should thank the government for introducing the bill. I further request this government that no man should be able to abandon a woman after dating her for long. If he does so, he must pay for her maintenance and give her alimony and casual hook ups and polygamy should be banned as well. Also, sexual intercourse should be banned for school-going children … The bill is important for the safety of young vulnerable women.” 

It doesn't matter that the bill was about cheating in examinations and not cheating on female partners and wives. 

Now she is delving into the metaphysical too. 

“It can be said that Narendra Modiji is an ‘ansh’ of Lord Ram and Lord Vishnu who takes care of us.” 

I do sincerely hope that she wins from Mandi and gets to adorn our Lok Sabha. There will never be a dull moment thereafter … This is a GUARANTEE – mine!

Vasudhaiva kutumbakam

After traversing through the “entire linguistic science” of Vikash, Atmanirbhar, Vishwaguru, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Anusandhan and Tushtikaran, now we’re asked to deal with Parivarvad. In India, unlike in some countries, family plays the central fulcrum around which the society revolves. Suddenly, in poll season, family has become a pejorative term. “Parivarvad” is supposed to be what the 2024 elections are to be fought over, not electoral bonds, nor economics, foreign policy, social inclusion, social justice, etc.. Apparently, parivarvad or dynastism is the biggest evil plaguing India. While this might mean someone getting too many chances without having the merit, what I gather from the utterings is that if someone is in politics, no one from his immediate or distant family should enter politics for seven generations or so. Let’s see whether either of the connotations holds water. 

First, the prevalence. Possibly, during the hunter-gatherer phase of human evolution, leadership was based purely on ability and not on genealogy. However, the moment people specialised in different aspects of life, dynastism came into the specialised field of security and governance. The children of the tribal chief and later, those of the king, started training in governance from birth. 

This was not merely a tribal or ancient situation either. As per a 2018 study, political dynasties are present in over 145 countries including in more than half of the democratic countries. In the US, the Kennedy family is considered royalty. On my first day of orientation in Harvard University, our guide who was taking us around suddenly burst out crying saying that was a sad day for America because one of the Kennedy clan had died that day. The country also saw Prescott Bush legacy through Geroge Bush Sr., George Bush Jr and Jeb Bush. Myanmar has had Aung San and his daughter Aung San Suu Kui. In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak was succeeded by his son, Gamal Mubarak. Despite loud posturing by some parties in India, ALL the parties (yes, including BJP) with the possible exception of the Left parties have seen dynastic politics. Studies have shown that a full 25 % of the MPs in the current Lok Sabha are dynastic MPs. Congress has 44 % MPs with dynastic background but even BJP has 20 % such MPs. The renomination of dynastic candidates for the 2019 general elections stood at 67 % for JD (S), 50 % for SAD, 29 % for BJD and so on. Also, a full 35 % of the villages in India have been “ruled” by some dynasty in the entire post-Independence period. Parties themselves like to nominate and renominate dynastic politicians because of winnability due to name recognition, local networks and access to resources. 

Secondly, is it such a bad thing to have dynastic politics? Why should someone who has a parent or a close relative in politics be deprived of joining the profession? We don’t bother too much if a lawyer’s son or daughter chooses to or is forced to become a lawyer. Similarly for doctors, civil servants, bankers, teachers and so on. In fact, we find it quite logical. Further, there are a lot of things going for it also. 

A teacher’s son grows up with books around him all the time. A doctor’s daughter grows up listening to medical stuff around the dinner table and may also develop deep empathy for the patients. Similarly, a politician’s offspring trains for politics from birth, even if unconsciously. He also develops the close connections and access to the resources so necessary in the field. Further, dynastic politics can also be a way out of patriarchal pitfalls. With the Indian society being as patriarchal as it is even today, it could not have produced a female prime minister in its independent infancy if not for dynastic politics. Even so, she was dubbed as “Gungi Gudiya” then but turned out to be anything but. Similarly, other marginalised sections and minorities have found a way in and stayed on through dynastic politics. Dynastic politics also makes for a certain amount of stability, a quality much in requirement in the growing stages of a democracy. Further, a dynastic politician is more likely to be in for the long haul and would have a time horizon longer than the five years because he would be looking out for his descendants in the process. In contrast to this “stationary bandit,” the “roving bandit” in the form of the career politician would be averse to long-term development at the cost of immediate political gains. 

The problem with dynastic politics occurs when the designated successor is incompetent or corrupt directly as a result of being born with a silver spoon in the mouth and a sense of massive entitlement. This also leads to a disconnect with the masses, lack of resourcefulness and worldliness. However, if the person wins elections on merit or because the electorate prefers a dynast with all his flaws, where is the problem? 

It is seen that a large number of the dynastic candidates in India successfully win the democratic elections again and again. A survey by ToI indicated that 46 % of Indians don’t see a problem with supporting a dynastic candidate and, pressed for a reason, 45 % of them said that such candidates are “better at politics as it is their family profession.” The other problem of dynastic politics which is politics of largesse, patronage and crony capitalism is seen to apply equally to so-called non-dynastic politics. 

When our deep-rooted philosophy of “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam” is referenced with family, it should be a non-issue to put the family connection to the sword in an election. What should be more important is accountability. The ancestry shouldn’t matter.