Understanding philosophy behind evolution of any mindset is more worthy, than, merely reading historical facts which were, are & would always be contentious & questionable.
So, why there’s hubbub around movies alike The Kashmir Files or The Kerala Story? Is it really because of portraying of distorted historical facts in it, or, is it because the Liberals/Leftists were/are uncomfortable of Islam being shown as committing coercive proselytism or ethnic cleansing of other communities? Or,
is it truly mere the propaganda of Right, or, indeed a historical fact that kept/keeps occurring, and thus, the Right use it as an ammo to rather prove themselves correct via such media to galvanize support?But how similar flicks became mainstream phenomenon? Is it because of, since Independence, excessive Political Correctness of Politicians in India, that led to the sudden uprise of anger amongst other communities in recent times who wanted to unveil what political correctness did in the last seven decades? Or is there any political or vote bank angle of both Liberal/Leftist & Right?
Firstly, the same people who exude(d) anger against Hindutva, are contending for different Regional parties to come together, to stake claim at Centre, under the disguise of a common minimum agenda, which is a political myth; as amalgamation & assemblage of regional parties too, would be more concentrated towards regional growth; thus contradicting themselves by being against Hindutva, as the latter too is merely fulfilling its quest alike former, but seeking growth at the national, & not at regional level. Eg: how regional: Tamil or Punjabi/Sikh or Bengali or Bihari or Lingayat or Malayali or Dravidianism or Others, and their pride or quest to stake claim in the mainstream, is any different from Hindutva (collectively those who associate with this) claim at national level? Contending Federal Structure isn’t a cogent argument.
Secondly, should India be considered as diversified, or, ought to have been considered proselytised; seeing its past history of religious invasions, colonialism, conversions; & hence commence its debate from that perspective? Taking also into consideration that Right of one nation never supports (financially or otherwise) the Right of another nation (except in case of OIC, & few sections of the West). But again, for how long?
Thirdly, there’s a difference between seeking unity in diversity on the foundation of historical truth (no matter how bitter that is) VS seeking unity in diversity on the foundation of contentious historical references, in which case the latter never works. Thus, if both the Missionaries & Islamic Schools of thoughts didn’t have any origination roots in India (which is true), then what was the point of adding distorted facts earlier in the history books of they being having? Merely to assuage for Votes (>20% Vote share matters in Elections)? If Brits did unjustifiable acts, then what’s the point of seeking British Politicians’ views on Democracy, when it itself a Monarchy; or is it even worth asking feedback from the likes of BBC? In fact, doing this, ended up giving rise to farther side of Right more & regionalism, & that too, in a more expansive context, as they proved historical writings -> questionable & contentious! Imagine, Americans being told that their political godfathers were Koreans & Iranians, then how they would've reacted? Similar thing Modern Liberal-Left & even Communists, intended to execute in the name of love all; that triggered anger amongst others.
Now, what analogy can be drawn between MTV, Vh1, Channel V, and, present day Silicon Valley? Ans: They all indeed found their voluminous numbers & audience once, eventually, in modern times; but by slowly losing the platform’s original aesthetics, for good! Similarly, Indian Mainstream might not be a place for true Artists, but more of representatives of regionalism, communities, countries (of enemy states or otherwise); and further, it too always found its voluminous audience & numbers eventually, within or beyond borders; but, in the end, slowly at the cost of Art!
© Pranav Chaturvedi 2023