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Rahul Gandhi perfectly epitomises ‘nepotism’ and the lies we tell ourselves every day

The debate on nepotism started by Bollywood has its implications on Indian politics too.

By Maitreyee
|
Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, July 24: Everyone seems to be googling words like nepotism, favouritism ...and many more, and yes of course, farrago (some time ago), to understand and re-understand what we all know so well, but scared or least bothered to talk about them openly.

The practice of nepotism and favouritism are so rampant--right from our homes, schools, offices, cricket, Bollywood to politics, we have almost internalised them. As if some form of a prasadam from the Lord and thus has to be omnipresent.

Rahul Gandhi

So, what is wrong if a doctor's son becomes a doctor and builds a start-of-the-art hospital from the precincts of his father's clinic? What is wrong if a journalist's daughter becomes a television anchor and debates on the most controversial topics of the day?

What is wrong if a farmer's son ploughs the little land left with him and continues the circle of poverty in his family? What is wrong if a manual scavenger's son carries human excreta on his head like his parents did?

Nothing looks wrong, but everything is wrong, just scratch a bit, our ugly truths are enough to make us uncomfortable, indeed every uncomfortable.

A country where the majority, consisting of Hindu population, still supports the varna (caste) system--forcing especially the poor, marginalised and lower castes people to continue with their families' trade--someone needed to start the debate.

Finally, thankfully, someone thought to attack the culture of nepotism with such ferocity and honesty that it has made a whole lot of Bollywood and rest of the country wake up and pinch themselves to say, "Yes, we practice nepotism shamelessly. But, why the hell we need to talk about it?"

The very debate on nepotism has been started by an unlikely person, although not surprising to see badass Kangana Ranaut to attack the sons and daughters of Bollywood veterans, who for long has been riding high on their "papas" and "mummies", but always pretending as if they deserve to be there (most of these Bollywood 2nd and 3rd generations can't act or direct).

Kangana is not an activist, a philosopher or a politician to highlight social ills and malpractices, but she definitely has the spunk, knowledge and understanding to present before us again and again, issues we blissfully like to ignore.

The actor has not only choosen to walk on a very different path by picking up unconventional roles and giving some of the finest performances in recent times, the odd-ball from the "small-town" has taken on the behemoths of Bollywood whenever she has spoken on controversial subjects.

Right from how "shabbily" male actors treat their female counterparts to the ongoing debate on nepotism; Kangana has always shown us the mirror to look deeper into our ugly realities.

Her straightforward and no-nonsense attitude has not been taken lightly by the "bosses" of the industry, who for long have been pampered by their "yes men". Thus in defence of nepotism, we are listening to some bizarre theories including the practice of "eugenics" from the "sons and daughters" of Bollywood.

Unlike, others who probably would have by now bowed down in front of Kapoors and Khans' khandans (families)--looking at the kind of offensive against the actor--Kangana refuses to keep quiet.

The more vitriolic the attack on her, the more sincere and earnest she comes across with her precise understanding of the nature of nepotism which has for long denied many talents their rightful place in the big bad world of Bollywood.

In doing so, Kangana has steadily grown into a "poster girl" of rebellion against the rich and powerful.

Now, just shift the angle of nepotism debate towards the Lutyens' Delhi, where the crème de crème of Indian politics thrives, strobe light would definitely stop on Rahul Gandhi, the 47-year-old scion of the Gandhi family.

The reluctant politician, who has been instrumental in writing the obituary of the Congress, is the perfect example why following one's family trade is not always the smartest career choice.

Rahul's opponents, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, have attacked him and the Congress for practicing dynastic politics or parivarvad in rajniti (politics) shamelessly.

However, every political party, including the BJP has a host of young politicians, who are again in politics because of their mummies, papas, grannies, grandpas, uncles, aunts...

So, when they say, "nepotism rocks", in a way it is correct. Unless and until, those who are guilty of following nepotism don't admit it exists and try to do something to end the culture, politicians like Rahul will continue to remain among us by "default".

Thus, the farrago of lies that we tell ourselves every day before going off to a peaceful sleep might turn "nightmarish" someday! Can we hear some boos for the nepotism camp, now?

OneIndia News

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