The colour RED recalls varied associations. An overheated
metal or situation is red hot. The atmosphere is heated with boiling emotions
in an environment of heated arguments. Red is associated with all hues of
communism. It is colour red for a warning as in traffic signal systems. Ripeness
of fruits is often referred to as being red (red ripe apples). Of course the
colour of blood is RED.
‘Seeing red’ is also associated with getting angry and
loosing ones’ control. It is widely thought that 'see red' derives from the
sport of bull-fighting and the matador's use of a red cape to deceive the
bull. What is ironical is that the bull in a fight is angered by the movement
of the cloth rather than its colour. These bulls like all cattle are colour blind. Bulls charge at the red cape (called a muleta) because
they are being provoked and tormented, and when they see the vigorous movement,
they charge. Also the types of bulls used in bullfights are of a very
aggressive breed and raised to be this way, so any movement will cause the bull
to attack and it is the skill of the bullfighter (matador) that saves his day. The other reason
the cape is red is so that the blood does not show! Also the bold and powerful
color Red adds to the drama of the bullfight.
A similar Bullfight is being played out in Poschim
Bongla. The colour red is prominent while there is a blur as to the identity of
the bull and the matador. In all cases the victims are the poor Bengalis. Recently,
seeing red has gathered another dimension to its facets. Yesterday the
firebrand CM of Poschim Bongla, Mamata Bannerji walked out of a live TV
programme as she saw red in the audience because of the reddish questions put
to her by those present. She said “the audience is representatives of CPM and
Maoists”…and she says she has been voted to power in a democracy. That I say is
really seeing red!
What this has done is, it has left many of us gentle
persons red faced.
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