Make that happy and safe to be gay; lesbian; bi-sexual; creative heterosexual; the list can go on. Designer Wendell Rodericks my guest on `Beautiful People' this weekend makes it a point to point out that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that the Delhi High Court recently said violates Articles 21, 14 and 15 of the Constitution is not just a gay law. In fact if you go through the conclusion of the 105 page order, the statement says "We declare that section 377 of the Indian Penal Code so far as it criminalizes consensual sexual acts of adults in private is violative of articles 24, 15 and 14 of the constitution." So whatever you are doing privately and willingly is legit now!
All eyes are on the Supreme Court and how it responds to the petition that it will hear against the Delhi High Court's order. What will be even more interesting is to hear the government's official response. Will the government talk on behalf of an inclusive, open minded, liberal Indian society or will it speak on behalf of a homophobic, narrow minded and cruel Indian society, is the question.
In an aside I think when it comes to changing social attitudes and mindsets the role literature and other aspects of mass culture play will be critical.
I was in my teens, in college, when I read `A Single Man' by Christopher Isherwood, a book that was written in 1964. If you can access books like that when you are growing up, or see movies like Brokeback Mountain more recently, instinctively, you will know where you stand on this divisive debate. Interestingly some friends who belong to the LGBT community say a hit film like `Dostana' that was about two men pretending to be gay, pushed the term `gay' and the idea of a homosexual relationship, into middle class drawing rooms. And the fact that the mother of one of those men in the movie(played by Kiron Kher) accepts her son's relationship has insidously gone some way in helping people accept these relationships as normal. Hopefully like Wendell says in 20 years time this debate will be dead. May his words come true, sooner rather than later.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Different Questions about Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson hasn't been on my radar for sometime now. For almost a decade I think. Of course as someone who grew up in the 80s, I know and enjoy his music immensely and believe he was a great entertainer, one of the greatest ever. A CD of his number 1 singles is in my car and I play it often. But that was about it. Even news of his comeback tour `This is It' stirred just minor curiosity.
So the global outpouring of grief at his death on June 25th came as a surprize. Especially when you go by the media coverage and references to his lifestyle in the past few years. His behaviour seemed to have become progressively bizarre and he was clearly alienated from common reality. And then there were those unproven but damning allegations that he was a child molestor.
So why then this overt, collective outpouring? Is Michael Jackson in death bigger, more powerful than Michael Jackson alive? Why is there this almost instinctive need to participate in a global televised memorial service? Is it about what we collectively, really feel for Michael Jackson or is it about the role assigned to all of us, one we willingly perform, in the age of mediated reality and celebrity? The role of the audience - of spectators - who participate real time as the drama of life unfolds before us? Are celebrities who live out and die exceptional, sometimes abnormal, lives in full public view the gladiators of the 21st century?
My final question is do we pity Michael Jackson and somewhere deep inside are we muttering a `thank you God', for our normal lives, or, do we envy him the power of his talent and the scale of his celebrity? And see his abnormal, mysterious and perhaps unhappy life as the tradeoff for the kind of talent,fame and money that he had had?
So the global outpouring of grief at his death on June 25th came as a surprize. Especially when you go by the media coverage and references to his lifestyle in the past few years. His behaviour seemed to have become progressively bizarre and he was clearly alienated from common reality. And then there were those unproven but damning allegations that he was a child molestor.
So why then this overt, collective outpouring? Is Michael Jackson in death bigger, more powerful than Michael Jackson alive? Why is there this almost instinctive need to participate in a global televised memorial service? Is it about what we collectively, really feel for Michael Jackson or is it about the role assigned to all of us, one we willingly perform, in the age of mediated reality and celebrity? The role of the audience - of spectators - who participate real time as the drama of life unfolds before us? Are celebrities who live out and die exceptional, sometimes abnormal, lives in full public view the gladiators of the 21st century?
My final question is do we pity Michael Jackson and somewhere deep inside are we muttering a `thank you God', for our normal lives, or, do we envy him the power of his talent and the scale of his celebrity? And see his abnormal, mysterious and perhaps unhappy life as the tradeoff for the kind of talent,fame and money that he had had?
Bandra Worli Sea Link : View from my window
Quick update on the Bandra Worli Sea Link. On Monday as the toll kicked in on the link, Veer Savarkar Marg (Cadell Road) especially the bit near the Hinduja Hospital, leading into the narrow one way stretch that goes past Mahim Dargah and connects to Mahim causeway, saw traffic density come down drastically. I live on that road so I can vouch for it. That's some good news. But the Bandra Masjid junction is a snarl - something needs to be done here. And the Worli end is a nightmare.
But if traffic on the bridge rises to the 45,000 vehicles expected daily - things should be even better eventually for the older roads. News reports say on day one 30,000 vehicles passed through.
But if traffic on the bridge rises to the 45,000 vehicles expected daily - things should be even better eventually for the older roads. News reports say on day one 30,000 vehicles passed through.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Mumbai Sea Link: Much Ado About Simple Bare Necessities
I am starved, like most Mumbaikars, for anything that will make living in the city just that little bit better. Something that will help Mumbai live up to its own expectations, to realize its potential to be a global city.
So when the Bandra - Worli sea link - the bridge that's become Mumbai's newest landmark - opened this week it was good news. Finally here's some new, improved hardware to support the city's software - its people and their spirit.
On Wednesday after an interview at the Taj Land's end, at Bandra, I took the bridge back to work in Lower Parel. Not the most rational thing to do. Bandra to Lower Parel via Mahim Causeway would have been the straighter, shorter, more efficient route, but like other Mumbaikars I found on the bridge that day, the decision was emotional!
The bridge, only four lanes of which are ready to use - two in either direction - was crammed bumper to bumper, cars packed with happy, proud Mumbaikars merrily clicking away on their mobile phones.
Stuck in traffic that day it struck me how easy we are to please, we have so little, that even the most basic amenity thrills us. The view is great but in a car, the railing obstructs it, so, so much for that. Parts of the part that is operational, are still work in progress. And it doesn't look spanking new ready to use. And while its a technical, structural achievment, anyone who has been on great bridges of the world - like the expressway that connects Hong Kong mainland with Lang Tau island - will tell you that that's relative.
And the Worli Sea face end - even after its regulated (when the toll gates open) will be a really nasty bottleneck. This is a good point to do a small lament for Worli sea face. Anybody who has done the North-South Mumbai drive will know how much fun it was to go by Worli sea face. To do the detour just for kicks. The broad road, a great view and with no shops - a stretch of Mumbai road that actually let you zip, is history. Thanks to the sea link - or the Rajiv Gandhi Setu, you can forget the fun drive or walk or butta evening at Worli sea face.
The worst part about the bridge, the politics. A day after the inauguration Shiv Sena protests the name and Congress banners with images of local M.P. Milind Deora and party bigwigs, hang on opportunistically. The most telling image - the digital signboard on the bridge that could have said Hello Mumbai, a day after the inauguration still said : WELCOME SONIAJI.
So when the Bandra - Worli sea link - the bridge that's become Mumbai's newest landmark - opened this week it was good news. Finally here's some new, improved hardware to support the city's software - its people and their spirit.
On Wednesday after an interview at the Taj Land's end, at Bandra, I took the bridge back to work in Lower Parel. Not the most rational thing to do. Bandra to Lower Parel via Mahim Causeway would have been the straighter, shorter, more efficient route, but like other Mumbaikars I found on the bridge that day, the decision was emotional!
The bridge, only four lanes of which are ready to use - two in either direction - was crammed bumper to bumper, cars packed with happy, proud Mumbaikars merrily clicking away on their mobile phones.
Stuck in traffic that day it struck me how easy we are to please, we have so little, that even the most basic amenity thrills us. The view is great but in a car, the railing obstructs it, so, so much for that. Parts of the part that is operational, are still work in progress. And it doesn't look spanking new ready to use. And while its a technical, structural achievment, anyone who has been on great bridges of the world - like the expressway that connects Hong Kong mainland with Lang Tau island - will tell you that that's relative.
And the Worli Sea face end - even after its regulated (when the toll gates open) will be a really nasty bottleneck. This is a good point to do a small lament for Worli sea face. Anybody who has done the North-South Mumbai drive will know how much fun it was to go by Worli sea face. To do the detour just for kicks. The broad road, a great view and with no shops - a stretch of Mumbai road that actually let you zip, is history. Thanks to the sea link - or the Rajiv Gandhi Setu, you can forget the fun drive or walk or butta evening at Worli sea face.
The worst part about the bridge, the politics. A day after the inauguration Shiv Sena protests the name and Congress banners with images of local M.P. Milind Deora and party bigwigs, hang on opportunistically. The most telling image - the digital signboard on the bridge that could have said Hello Mumbai, a day after the inauguration still said : WELCOME SONIAJI.
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