This and that: sense and sensibilities II

There is a saying that “empty vessels make the most sound”...

It is the Indian way. Be it music, politics, humor, movies, a brawl, discussion (on TV and otherwise) or anything else it is loud and colourful while being less appealing to the senses and tickling the sensibilities. We see a sense for drama in all activities. The usually reticent MMS, PM of India, addresses the Nation on serious matters and says during his speech “money does not grow on trees...”. To this a CM (Modi N.) retorts “for the congress money grows on 2G and coal....” or words to that effect...both irresponsible and theatrical utterances, trivialising matters to nonsensical depths. In the rhetoric the purpose is lost intentionally and unintentionally.

But noise creation is in the gene of an Indian. His Gods revel in noise. Last evening as I returned home from office, I encountered a traffic hold up on a road which was a one way path precisely to prevent such hold ups. Vehicles were seen coming from the direction of no go. The procession of vehicles - cars, tractors et al - were accompanied by bands playing a cacophony of tunes from the latest movies. People were dancing on the roads in frenzy normally attributable to inebriation. Majestically perched on the tractor was an idol of Lord Ganesha being taken for the immersion. Who can grudge Lord Vigneswara the annual hold ups as he is instrumental in removing all vignam (obstruction) in our lives for the next year....but couldn’t we do with some less noise?

Most of us work in the extremes. If it is not a loud mouth interaction we indulge in small talk and skip the functional topics. This happens exactly in our debates and discussions aired on live TV. The discussions seem to be for the sake of discussions....but for a change last night there were two discussion which I felt were refreshing...one anchor was alternately airing an MLA from a particular National party leading a ‘Rajhdani’ rail roko agitation and irate passengers (aam adhmi?) expressing their ire. The spokesperson form that particular party was visibly embarrassed when asked “do you support this?” He of course was initially evasive but finally had to concede that the ‘the law must take its own course” in such matters! The second was by another channel about the killing of a democratically elected panchayat member in the Kashmir Valley. The panelist from the two major parties and one sympathiser from a minor party in the Valley had to admit that militancy controlled from Pakistan was still rampant in the Valley! In both cases there was something appealing to the senses rather than tickling the sensibilities.

Just sound bites will not fill the pot...we will remain hungry as long as the pot is empty...