A new kind of Independence

The celebration of freedom on August 15 is more than just a reminder of India’s Independence Day, says SHERYL DIXIT.

This year, Independence Day in India will be celebrated in it usual style and splendour. The nation will rejoice in its 63 years of freedom, its economic and social progress and its increasing strength as a force to reckon with in the world. But there’s much more to celebrate than the usual march pasts and flag hoistings, because independence has taken on different avatars in the India of today. Let’s take a look at what makes India truly liberated.

 

Shaadi ho jaye?
Here’s one concept that’s rapidly going out of style, much to the relief of the country’s upbeat and in-with-it youth. India’s young men and women have finally convinced conservative parents that the best way to find a ‘suitable’ partner is to enrol on a matchmaking site. They list their own specifications including interests, hobbies, and what they desire in a partner and voila! The search is on! Of course, one does hear the occasional story of two interested parties who communicated long and hard until the ‘meeting’ stage, only to realise that it was both sets of parents representing their kids, who were blissfully ignorant of the entire exercise. And there are the jokers who download heavily retouched photographs covering the acne and correcting the vision, in the hope of getting a hit from a similarly phoney party. But what the hell, the best thing ever is that one can now confidently boast to friends that they met their partner ‘on the internet’. How much cooler is that than an ‘arranged marriage’!

Paisa phaiko
Yes, money’s flowing all around India like the tributaries of the Ganges. Restaurants and retailers enthusiastically overcharge, doormen at fancy hotels expect more than a mere Rs 100 note for parking your car and the ten paisa coin is now almost obsolete. You are even likely to cop a dirty look from the beggar or eunuch with palm outstretched at signal lights, particularly if your only offering is a five rupee coin. And the amazing thing is that people actually spend incredible amounts of money. A night out with a couple of friends could cost up to Rs 50,000 in a posh restaurant with a bar, but the noisy DJ belting out remixed Bollywood tunes would be a part of the deal. And that would be normal for some people in India, but would make us poor videshis living abroad wonder at the sheer indulgence of it all. So while you’re busy converting rupees into dollars while looking at kurtis in what you thought was a reasonably priced shopping mall in Malad, a bright young thing walks around randomly picking up stuff and toting up a bill that easily hits five figures. And she’s still talking to her call centre friends on her iPhone while you’re desperately trying to relocate your jaw that’s fallen to the floor. The nouveau richies spend money almost as quickly as they earn it, and the concept of ‘saving’ which I was brought up to believe is almost as old as India’s history, has somehow slipped through the cracks. Money means independence to this young breed of big spenders, and they’re happy to pay the price for their freedom.

Khana Khazana
Yes, India these days is in the throes of a Food Revolution. And this is not about national cuisine, it’s about the width and variety of international food now available. From an inspirational Italian restaurant in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad to a tiny, poky joint serving delicious Tibetan food in Anjuna, Goa, India now has it all. Move over dal makhani, sambar, rotis and even Indian Chinese, meals these days aren’t quite the same without Mexican, Thai, Cantonese Chinese, Italian, Greek or Lebanese gracing the weekly menu, even in one’s home. Naturally if one’s household boasts of a cook, he’s even sent to classes to expand his repertoire of dishes. Ramukaka can now cook the most delicious vegetable lasagne or chicken provincale, says madam with obvious pride. And that’s not all that’s changed. How about muesli for breakfast, the healthier option to parathas? Catering for a kitty party or a boys’ night in? Cocktail samosas, chicken tikka and pakoras are passé, bring on the tapas. Teatime treats are not quite Marie biscuits and masala chai any more. Bakeries boasting only celebrity clientele will sell you special brownies or scones – but only if you come recommended by one of their regulars! Ah, for the ancient delights of bun maska and cutting chai….

 

IT ka kamaal
India is known as an IT hub, and its nationals are making sure everyone knows it as well. Now even the istriwala gives you his mobile number, all you have to do is call him to find out when your clothes will be ready. Most likely they won’t be, but it’s worth listening to his ringtone, the newest Bollywood blockbuster theme song. Give him a few months and you’ll be able to visit his website and track down the status of your ironing. Payments though, will still have to be paid upfront in cash, because his neighbour the subjiwala is a well-known hacker. Independence through IT has never been more blatant than now, and is heading for some pretty competitive times. Travelling interstate by train via third class AC, you’ll find men of the family engrossed in their laptops, while their children fiddle with DSs and their wives talk incessantly on their mobile phones. Throw a stone and you’ll hit a Blackberry or iPhone with its owner looking at the screen in mystification. Flat screens, plasmas, Bluetooth DVDs, Wiis, Playstation – they’re all there, fighting fit and enjoying their time in the limelight. Also, let’s not forget the internet revolution with Facebook and Twitter, with everyone and his dog displaying their lives and sins to the world. In this, India isn’t alone of course, but I wonder if there’s any other country in the world in which its lead actresses have numerous profiles that they probably don’t even know exist!    

 The filmi duniya
Independence has hit Bollywood too, but in a different mode altogether. While the most prolific film industry in the world used to churn out commercial crap with all the unreal ingredients of escapism, there used to be the one-off movie that broke the mould. But now, things have changed to such an extent that the number of good movies coming out of Bollywood are worth way more than one’s three hours. Social themes are tackled with panache, topics like terrorism, abuse, disabilities, and the malaise in the education system are being highlighted in realistic, yet tasteful cinematic style. Bollywood has finally come of age, and it’s an independence that’s welcomed by the nation (and its unworthy compatriots residing abroad). Even the commercial no-brainers appeal with their gorgeous actors, stunning sets and locales, rhythm-filled music and of course, the ever appealing item dances. Unfortunately, all can’t be great in this mega-industry and the problem is with its actors. They’re talented, good-looking and mind-numbingly boring! Actors today display their lives on Twitter and personal blogs, leaving very little to the imagination of fans and to the gossip writers of film magazines. Live-ins are popular, but not shocking after the initial speculative excitement. Break-ups, make-ups, getting hooked are all a part of Bollywood, but seem to have lost their appeal. There isn’t that sense of intrigue or mystery about the acting fraternity any more, they’re all quite normal instead of being the quirky, temperamental creatures we expect them to be.

Hum do, humara do
The concept of a single unit family, while getting coming into vogue in the mid-90s, is now firmly here to stay. The concept of joint families is fast losing popularity, with a majority of parents and their children opting to live their own lives without depending on each other. By and large it’s working well, as rabid dislikes have now evolved into courteous dislikes between various in-laws, interfering parents and ungrateful children. Everyone enjoys a sense of independence as grandparents spend quality time with their grandkids without feeling that they’re being put-upon, parents enjoy the responsibility of yelling at their kids without having to endure disapproving looks, and the grandchildren enjoy playing one set of adults against the other. Wealthier families who still abide by the concept have now rebuilt their homes to include a floor for each branch of the family, and the rules of ‘sharing’ a kitchen and mealtimes taken all together is rapidly fading, regardless of what dada/dadi think. Besides, they’re too busy finding old friends on Facebook!

The list of things that now make India independent from a global perspective are just too numerous to recount. In sport, soccer’s stealing the march on cricket as the common man finds as much pleasure kicking around a ball in narrow alleyways, as hitting a ‘six’, which breaks an unpopular neighbour’s window for the nth time. For the rich, famous and their wannabes, golf, motorsport and yachting are now buzzwords.

But in the same perspective, there’s way more awareness of women’s rights, girl children are no longer considered a liability, people are willing to be generous for a good cause, there is a genuine desire to learn and educate and the coils of corruption are slowly, but surely untangling. Yes, India today is certainly more liberated that it ever was, since the advent of Independence in 1947. Jai hind…or is it Jai Ho?