Culture Briefings

The new voice for the youth

Today is Gandhi Jayanti — Gandhiji’s  137th birthday. Growing up in India, Oct 2 was a reason for celebration. We recited the national anthem on the school grounds and had one-act plays and song recitals usually depicting the freedom struggle and Gandhi’s philosophy. The motive was noble, but the impact was zero. My friends and I looked forward to holidays like these because it meant a half-day from school, exemption from homeworks or (if it the holiday fell on a Saturday) no Physical Training class. It also meant we would be allowed to dress in our choice of clothes instead of the school uniform. And as far as I remember, even my teenaged cousins remained quite unaffected by such nationalistic sentiments and instead of showing up late for college as they usually did, they just skipped college on such days. It was a generational attitude.

But yesterday I was talking to a friend in India who mentioned that this year people were actually quite excited Gandhi Jayanti.  Why ? Read on.

‘Lage Raho MunnaBhai," a bollywood movie about a one-time crook who resorts to the Gandhian philosophy to win his ladylove has been responsible for this newfound interest in Gandhiji and the Gandhian philosophies. In the movie, the protagonist, Munna Bhai, appears on a radio program where he inspires his listeners to observe the path of truth, non-violence and tolerance. He invties his listeners to call in and promises to solve their problem by Gandhigiri. (Gandhigiri is a conjoint of two words: Gandhi + Giri, where "giri" reflects highest, top-notch or zenith) So when a sucidal son who lost his father’s meagre savings in the stock market calls in, Munna Bhai, pushes him to confess the truth to his father. Another time, a young woman was about to meet a prospective husband and wondered how she would gauge him on the basis of one meeting. In each instance, Munna Bhai provides a solution to their problems with grace and clarity that Gandhiji would have used.

The movie worked because Munna Bhai spoke the language that this generation understands: casual, vernacular and sparkling with wit and comedy. What the history textbooks failed to convey, Munna Bhai with his troop of comical goons did it in a way that was convincing and endearing. And like most Bollywood movies, this was generoulsy sprinkled with playful songs and a happy ending.

Bollywood movies have profoundly influened the Indian populace ever since the very begining. If you ask me, I have a bollywood movie I associate with every significant period of my life and my assumption is, most others do as well. Bollywood has not only inspired trends and fads, (Kajol’s sarees from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Anu Agarwal’s ‘Ashiqui’ ribbons) but also controversies and riots. But the charm of Gandhigiri attriuted to Munna Bhai, is probably one of the first trends to have (IMHO) a positive impact on the nation’s psyche. As Taran Adarsh, movie critic puts it, "“Hardcore moral preaching doesn’t sell, but if you package it with entertainment, it works."

Students in colleges over Bombay had organized quiz competitions based on Gandhiji.

"Members of the Council told DNA that in order to make the competition more interesting, they have decided to divide it into two parts. “The first part will observe participants answering questions on Gandhi’s life and his work. The second part would be more exciting. Taking cue from the film, Lage Raho Munnabhai, the judges will ask the participants to solve a particular problem through non-violence and truth,” said Kulbhushan Yadav, USC deputy general secretary. - DNA

Another group of young students have founded Gandhigiri.org. Flooding with optimism, they ask ‘If Munna Bhai can, why can’t we do gandhigiri ?"  Here’s a post by a forum member:

Ofcourse critics question the sudden optimism and wonder if it’s only a passing fad.  The movie (also!) probably provided ample fodder for political cartoonists for months. I can’t tell you either if this is only a trend or if it’s here to stay — but on a personal front, this movie did give me a different lens to look at the world with. This powerful of an impact can and should only be applauded. These are good times for India — and movies like these, only make it better. (The movie is tax-free now, btw)

And perhaps, students aren’t as disenchanted with Oct 2 celebrations as I was a decade or so ago.