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What is this Cosmopolitan India, Karnataka, Bangalore???

In the last 6 years or so, we are seeing India changing completely!  Thanks for the words “Secularism”, “Cosmopolitism”, “Liberalization”, “Privatization” and “Globalization”!!!  Due to these words, India is loosing its identity day by day!

Examples like some journalist telling that, “America is outsourcing its jobs to Bangalore.  Therefore we should accept Hollywood films” is such a hopeless-demoralizing extent of anti-patriotic sense among Indians, really!  I don’t know, how such a statement was allowed to get published in country’s major newspaper!!!

Had the same journalist said, “We like Hollywood films, so please allow these films to be screened in Bangalore”, I would not have had any objections.

Please understand the difference between these two statements…  Please continue reading this article, after understanding this difference only!!!  I am not having “Anti-America or Anti-English” Agenda, I am just caring for my country-INDIA!

I request dear readers not to treat this article as any “regional” issue, please…  This is the problem of INDIA only and not Bangalore’s or Karnataka’s…!!!

I ask you all…

‘Don’t you respect your own country’s own state “Karnataka” and your own & one of the ancient Indian language “Kannada”?’

Karnataka is a part of India only, isn’t it?  Karnataka’s problem is India’s problem only, isn’t it?  Is America bigger than Karnataka for you???

I am asking this, because some Indians believe that, “America” is bigger than India and without “English”, there is no life on earth!  OK… I use English to communicate with all the Indians and for the convenience factors in websites & other Medias.

Can’t we survive if America does not outsource its jobs to us???  OR is it that the Indians who are below poverty line benefited from these outsourced jobs???

Please keep in mind that, even America is being benefited by outsourcing its jobs to us!  It is a mutual deal; let us not do any other compromises for that!!!  Instead, be proud of yourselves!!!  Even if you don’t get American jobs, you will sure survive in India, don’t worry!!!

America or English or Cosmopolitism cannot come and solve all the problems in India.  Our Indian government only (however corrupted it is!), our own people only, should handle our countries’ administration, law & order, water & electricity system, etc.  America cannot come and do this!  America is not maintaining the requirements of 100 crore population of this country!

At the most, America is satisfying the needs of some “self-declared” cosmopolitan Indians who work mostly in medicine & technological fields.  Do these people represent the whole of India?  Even then, are these people actually getting their deserved share?  If they work at rebuilding India, they could actually find themselves gaining much more than what they are doing now!!!

Many deserved people in the country are still not getting the opportunities needed to improve their lives.  Only upper class people of this country are able to provide their children the education needed for them to become doctors or engineers, whether they deserve it or not!!!  In western countries, we can see even a housemaid’s children getting proper opportunity to shapeup their career.  That is not the case in India; we are not seeing proper distribution of opportunities among us.  Yes, there is a gap in economic conditions amongst people in western countries also, but my stress here is the gap in the opportunities available between different Indians…

In the name of “Cosmopolitism” and “globalization”, we are only able to increase the barrier between different classes of people in India.  In addition, we are loosing our culture, traditions, languages, etc.  Anyhow, today’s youth are not interested in these things.  They are ready to forget the entire Indian culture and accept western culture.  OK… At least this is not resulting in improving our country’s fate by any means.  OR should we think that, if our individual life is settled somewhere-somehow, is it enough???  Can’t we think about our country???  Even my age is 26 only and my profession is currently software only!!!

In Bangalore, we are seeing so many migrants coming in.  We are so happy that, people choose Karnataka as the first choice, whenever there is a case of relocation.  We have accepted all foreign cultures, trends, cuisines, etc.  However, what is the response that we are getting?  Handful of assaults and accuses!!!

For just 2 months, there was delay in release of non-Kannada films, that’s all!  The situation has been restored now.  This issue (non-Kannada films), I don’t want to use this stage to discuss about it.  OK… there were mistakes made by Kannada film industry, but at the same time, there were mistakes made by others also.  Let me not go deep into it.  Even in Kaveri, Belgaum and other issues, Karnataka always looks like a villain to the rest of India.  There are many internals here.  Let me not go too deep into it.  Nevertheless, one thing I can notice here is that, there is lack of affection & love shown towards Karnataka by the rest of India.

People should also notice that, there is no regional political party in Karnataka as compared to other South-Indian states all of which have one, and also in other states of India almost each have one regional party!!!  Migration is more in Karnataka!  Compare the natives/migrants ratio in Karnataka with other states…  In addition, there is maximum acceptance of outside things in Karnataka…

On the other hand, Kannada is the 3rd most ancient language of India.  It has maximum seven Jnanapeeta awards to its credit.  Kannada’s literature is very strong.  Hence, the two extremes have given rise to these many indifferences…!!!  Please understand this.  Please don’t mistake that I am speaking about a particular part of India!

I am just asking that “Is it fair to criticize a country’s particular province by its own countrymen?  Is this happening in any other part of world?”  People who talk high about Bill Gates, George Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, etc, talk harshly about our country’s (not just Karnataka’s) one of the great actor Rajkumar!  Why is this happening?

Why should one think that Rajkumar has contributed to only Kannada?  OK, he might have acted in only Kannada films.  However, still some films from South were dubbed to Hindi language from their original languages.  That did not happen with Rajkumar’s films.  Then, it is the question of the rest of India not considering Rajkumar’s films as national level films, which is unfortunate!!!  Why should Rajkumar regret for that?

Sure, Rajkumar did not act in too many patriotic, military, borders kind of films.  Nevertheless, he acted in plenty of human relations, emotional, devotion-based, literature-based films.  Each of his films is a lesson to any human being (not just Indian).  India is not full of military, borders, problems, etc.  India is also the hub of literature, languages, traditions, etc.

That’s what Rajkumar’s films are all about!!!  They trigger rejuvenating feeling among people, so that they start believing in themselves!!!  The same story holds good for other Kannada films in which Rajkumar did not act.  Kannada films are not just about Rajkumar, even though he is the centrifugal force!  Sadly, none of the Kannada films is getting the deserved appreciation!

One of Rajkumar’s great film “Bangaaradha Manushya” made many settlers in City to get back to village and involve in agriculture.  I don’t know how many films in other languages were able to achieve this!!!  Another film “Naandhi” was about a person giving speech therapy to his hearing-impaired wife.  This film also won national award.  Rajkumar has acted in many such brilliant films like Babhruvaahana, Bhaktha Prahlada, Satya Harishchandra, Kasthoori nivasa, Saakshaathkaara, Kantheredhu nodu, Dhaari thappidha maga, Eradu Kanasu, Swarna Gowri, etc, etc.

Almost all 200+ films of his are masterpieces.  Otherwise, simply he has not become the pioneer of Kannada Films, while others are struggling to get anywhere near him!!!  And people should not mistake that, since Kannada films doesn’t have enough market at national level, he is the king of the island!!!  Believe me, he has enormous talent!!!

Rajkumar sure cannot speak any languages other than Kannada, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have talent!  I know it is not appropriate to speak about a person who has not been popular at national level.  However, I should also stress here that, if people like Amitab Bacchan, Kamal Hasan, Rajnikanth, Chiranjeevi, etc, are spoken at national level, Rajkumar also deserves it.  And really, none of the Kannadigas found the necessity of speaking about him at national level, they were quite happy about whatever he gave to them.  But since, people are criticizing him at national level, now they cannot keep quite, they must sponsor him at national level!!!

Rajkumar led the industry protestations, only because he was heavily requested to do so—whether it was his wish or not!!!  You can correlate this with, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi who fought for the same cause, even though their ideologies were very different!

Moreover, why should such things (local protestations) become an issue at national level?  OK… It would have upset few people’s wishes!!!  But why should the whole nation speak against a person like Rajkumar?  If people want to criticize him, criticize only for leading the protestations.  Why should they come to an assumption that, Rajkumar has acted in absurd films and he is a meager actor?

We cannot tolerate such things definitely, as again I say, he is not just a Kannada actor—he is an Indian actor.  Kannada is an Indian language only and it has not come from America or Jupiter!  Let us keep that in mind!

OK... We don’t want Kannada films’ market to grow.  Nobody need praise Rajkumar.  I know that people have blind & firm conception that Kannada films are a waste of time and every non-Kannada films are absolute qualities, which cannot be changed easily!!!  But at least please do not hurt somebody’s feelings.  Actually, Kannadigas are the best when it comes to accepting foreign languages, films, cultures, etc.

Everyone should know that most Kannadigas watch Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English films, more than Kannada films!!!  They watch all language award winning films that are telecast with subtitles in Doordarshan every week, including Oriya, Assamese, Manipuri, etc.  So please, no one need teach them about being tolerant about other languages.

And some people hurt so badly by telling that, it is non-Kannadigas who improved the city—Bangalore.  These are such humiliating statements.  I don’t know how the nation’s popular newspapers allow journalists to write such statements.  We are actually both happy and sad about ourselves, for wearing the tag “the IT capital of India”.  This has definitely contributed in Bangalore loosing its nativity and definitely, we could have survived much better if “Bangalore was not a silicon valley”!!!

Finally, as I said before, this is not just Kannada or Karnataka’s problem.  Today, Bangalore is getting spoiled.  Tomorrow, it could be some other Indian city.  Why should we dream about “Cosmopolitan India”?  At least, what is the meaning of this???  We should actually be proud of so many languages, cultures, traditions, etc.  Why should we degrade these things in the name of the great word “Cosmopolitism”?  It is the name by which, the western culture, language, language-accents and traditions are savored to Indians, due to which we are loosing our own identity…

Actually, the migrants coming to Karnataka should have learnt the local language, should have followed the local culture & traditions, which is not at all happening!  They give the same reason, same “Brahmashtra”—“COSMOPOLITISM”!!! However, whenever Kannadigas go out of their state, they strictly adapt to the conditions over there and soon learn the local language!

Kannada should survive in Karnataka, that’s all; Kannadigas are not asking anything more than this!!!  And also, other Indian languages must & should survive in their respective states of India.  This is my concern!!!

Actual definition of Cosmopolitism is “the ability of a person to adapt to as many ‘LOCAL’ languages, cultures, traditions, etc.”  But this has been wrongly defined as “the mixture of all languages, cultures, traditions.” OR “Accepting the western culture and degrading our Indian culture”!!!

Actually, what the Kannadigas are doing here is, “Anti-Cosmopolitism” (by accepting all foreign things).

OK… OK… not many people can understand these concerns.

Anyhow being a Kannadiga, I am so happy to say that, I am living amidst all Indians.  In Bangalore, we have all people—Muslims, Tamilians, Telugites, Malayalis, Bengalis, North Indians, Punjabis all!!!  We dance to “Balle Balle…”, we listen to “Back street boys”, we eat “Aloo paratha”, we love “Rosagullas”, we worship “Mahatma Gandhi”, we adore “Sachin Tendulkar”, we respect “Amitab Bacchan”, we admire “Kamal Hasan”, we feel for “Bhopal, Tsunami, Bhuj, Kargil, tragedies”…!!!  Only because we think that we are Indians!!!

But… But… what are we getting back???  Should this mean that we loose our identity completely???  Does this mean that India should not contain “Karnataka” and “Kannada”!!!  Then I think, this will be a loss to India also.

It is time for others to reciprocate the open-mindedness of Kannadigas and rebuild a PROPER INDIA and not COSMOPOLITAN INDIA!!!

OK… at least we don’t want other Indian languages to suffer the way Kannada is suffering!!!  Languages are the mainstay for any country’s development whether it is literacy (mother tongue education), employment, administration, entertainment or any other field!  With this, I think you may have understood the motive of this article!!!

People are shouting that, “Don’t kill the cosmopolitan culture in Bangalore”!!!  Their intention is to make this culture grow and destroy the whole of India!!!  Beware of these cosmopolitan Indians!!!  India is not “independent” still!!!

I wrote this article, only because many people have spoken against Kannada and Karnataka (Indian entities only!) at “national level”…

If anybody wants “Cosmopolitan India”, please go & settle in America or other countries and allow other poor Indians at least to live peacefully here, even if there is poverty…!!!

Actually, when you go to America, you will follow their local culture only, which looks like “Cosmopolitism” to your eyes!!!  This will remain as the biggest joke for the new millennium!!!

If not, then we would have achieved “A REBUILT INDIA”!!!

And if some people think that I’m “Anti-America or Anti-English”, they are completely wrong!  Just understand this…  Whenever there is a conflict in any part of world, first America comes & acts like a Big Boss!!!  But, when America itself is under tension (like Osama-Bin-Laden case!), who will come to it’s rescue???  At the most, Russia or UK or Japan!!!  But it never seeks any support from India!!!

But why should India not be capable to take that responsibility and be in par with a country like America???  And this can happen only if, we utilize our culture & resources, reunite & rejuvenate to build an unique & strong India.  But, not by blindly following “America”!!!

In this way, I’m caring for “America” also…

But… but… I would never tolerate “Cosmopolitism”!!!     

Somashekar T
Bangalore
somashekart@yahoo.com

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