I went to see Shanghai today. I liked the movie, I guess.
This kind of movie makes me wonder or atleast makes me think. With all the reviews read already, I expected I would
be somewhat disturbed. But the minute I walked out of the theatre, I started
checking my messages, had yogurt, had a good talk with friends, discussed other
movies and things like that. I started driving back home. The minute I was
alone, I was not doing the usual talking, with myself. Ok, I have a habit to
talk to myself. A lot. I passed through this lane near my house, that lane is
kind of slum and it always stinks. It is of “rabari” crowd (shepherds, if I can
call them), so there are always cows on the street but not more than their
dump. I saw a two police jeep over there with few policemen trying to put a guy
in their jeep. The lane was crowded ofcourse and when I was about to pass them
through, I saw a gang of women shouting and walking towards the policemen. And
it hit me! It was exactly like what I saw in the movie. Those shady lights,
that stinky lane, that dull atmosphere, that chaos, the white police jeep and
armed policemen, all of that, right in front of my eyes. And I was shit scared.
I drove off as fast as possible, though I knew I am safe, I am in my own city,
and I would want to believe that it is safe. I thought what people must go
through when they are stuck in a mob or in a riot. I have seen few plays, have
read few stories, have even seen news stories of THE Riots, but I have never
been in one. Through this movie and this little incident I can now somewhat
feel what it would be like. (Though, that would be just exaggerating, because I
can never actually feel that and I don’t even know what police was doing there.
They could be simply arresting a thief.) But I know, things that happened in
that movie, happens in real life, bigger and worse.
Till today, I dint have any political views, I still don’t
have one. May be I am over reacting by even writing about it as the first thing
reaching home. May be I am just weirdly comparing it with the current
government. I am not quite sure. But yeah, there is this question within me,
that who am I? I mean I have always felt proud of my land, city and the
government. Government, because of all the progress that I see around, because
under that governing body my city became no. 1 city in the country to live in.
I just used to see all the development (“tarraki”). May be a lot has been
sacrificed for this “tarraki”. And I easily used to “live” with it. What sort
of person I am? I was never an activist or a die hard India fan, but I never
have had any political views! That’s scarier I guess. I don’t have views on people/party/body
who is ruling me, my city, and my country! WOW! Feels disgusting. And worse is
this feeling that there are many, many more people like me. Whom to blame?
School always made social studies and politics so boring. School made
everything boring. When did I have REAL education? Half of the things, or much
more than that, I am realizing and learning at the age of 26 for crying out
loud! According to the Vedas, this 25 was the age when we should have learned
everything, and that was written some 1000s of years back. So, Pragati kahan, aur kiski?
I don’t have any point as such for writing this. I might
even forget tomorrow and carry on with my routine. I mean it doesn’t have any
impact in my life. My life is complicated in my own small selfish world. But, I
would atleast like to have a VIEW! It might take forever for me to understand
politics or politician, it is possible that I might even get biased views, but
the point is I am atleast going to try. I don’t know if I can make a difference,
but I at least if I have an opinion I might do something about it…
PS: This film, I have to see again. Shanghai, I want to
remember you. I want to move out of a scene right there and then, and not get
stuck. This film, I have to see again.
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