To destroy a nation all one needs to do is to destroy the youth. The impressionable young minds can be easily programmed to accept illusion for reality, and perceive base conduct as noble ethics, writes Prof HC Pande
The current hullabaloo over the movie Pathan and the spreading agitation has turned into a national debate on a non-issue. The colour of the dress worn by an actress is the bone of contention, with the Saffron Soldiers on one side, and, the Freedom Firebrands on the other. In the din and dust raised in the debate, one cannot hear the voice of reason nor see the real issue. The disquieting, and, all-important issue of colour, in reality, is the forest of the darkening shade of blue.
Over the years the movies have moved from black & white, to multicolour, and, now, largely to a single colour, all, the shades of blue. The blue films injecting a slow, but, sure poison in the minds of youth, diverting their attention from the social, educational and economic problems being faced by their developing country, and, their own constructive self-development issues and channelising it towards indulgence and covetousness.
Freedom of expression, a much abused phrase, is used by the filmdom dons, the satraps of the screenland, to cover up what is really their greed to make more money by exploiting the natural weakness of human beings for easy and indulgent life. In the chase of the lucre their thoughtless use of this powerful media, is becoming, covertly, a serious hurdle in the all round efforts of development of the newly emerging nation. Apparently, to them the freedom of expression means the freedom to make money, whether such expressions distort the cultural mind-set, or, act as opium clouding the reality, is no concern of theirs.
To destroy a nation all one needs to do is to destroy the youth. The impressionable young minds can be easily programmed to accept illusion for reality, and perceive base conduct as noble ethics.
A nation attempting to get up on its own feet, after centuries of serfdom and neglect, needs young muscles to take the strain for standing erect, and, youthful energy for marching forward. The spring tide of overflowing spirits is like a mighty river in the flood time. On one hand, the river when systematically dammed and its waters channelled into penstocks, to work the generators, becomes a major source of convenient and much needed energy, yet, on the other hand, untamed, uncontrolled and undirected the river causes only destruction and death. The youthful energy, therefore, has to be tamed by instilling discipline, controlled by exposure to ethics,and, directed to specific goals of national development. This is pretty much like domesticating wild horses..They have to be saddled & reined,given wholesome feed and have blinkers put on them to make them a utilitarian workforce.It is the blinkers that enable a horse to remain focused on the directed path by shutting out disturbing side-views and running amuck.Human beings are not horses and blinkers can not be put on them,therefore,akin to side views,distractions around have to be minimised.This is where the movie Mughals are letting down the nation.The forest of the blue filmdom is the issue and not just a tree or two of saffron colour.
(Prof. H C Pande is Vice Chancellor Emeritus, BITS, Mesra)
