Netflix’s ‘A Suitable Boy’ & Modi era

Recently binge-watched a six part mini series directed by Mira Nair on Netflix, titled “A Suitable Boy”, an adaptation of Vikram Seth’s novel of the same title. And while I am neither a movie critic or reviewer, nor a fan of watching series with a backdrop of the post Independence era, I was still moved to write about it. To lay down my emotions on paper with nothing but words. It isn’t extra-ordinary, or brilliantly amazing, neither the characters are made to grow on you nor the plot is meticulously twisted, then what was it, you may ask.

It was Relatable, I would remark.

I usually don’t prefer series or movies that lay down the post Independence India theme with 1950s timeline because I don’t relate to it’s story or characters, and I don’t know if I watched it for Tanya Manikalata who played the character of Lata in the series or the fact that this series was on number 1 on Netflix, but I know for sure that I don’t regret watching it.

Being an Indian Muslim Women, it was shocking or rather depressing to relate to the newly Independent India even after 73 years. The political clashes, the Hindu-Muslim riots, the hatered based on religion, the stigma layed down on love between hindu and muslim, lack of women empowerment and discrimination, what was there is still here, now and growing more than ever.

It’s been 73 years and we as a Nation are still dealing with the same issues, we haven’t grown together, the lack of secularism is till there, the hatred and fear still reside or worse, it’s reoccurring.

When in the first episode the issue of Mosque was depicted, where the muslims demanded a peaceful place to pray, for those who still stayed in India, and the Raja started establishing a mandir in its direction to make them deprived of this right, I remembered the recent demolition of Babri Masjid and the Supreme Court’s judgement and acquittal of the accused.

As Maan went to the village with Rasheed, and acknowledged the miseries of farmers and labourers, the atrocious behaviour towards womens and workers, it wasn’t surprising or new. I thought about the Farm Bill 2020, the egregious condition of the working class amidsts pandemic, the walks they took barefoot and with empty bellies to go back to their hometowns as they were dealing with unemployment, lack of resources and ignorance of the Government and society. I remembered the Hathras case and other numerous sexual harassment as well as domestic violence cases. How I wish to get shocked by the problems of 1950s shown in the series, but unfortunately I was’t, I am rather acclimated to it. I have been there, heard it, been a part of it…even after 73 years, I have still seen it.

And as Rasheed told Maan “Aur bhi dukh hain Zamane mai mohabbat ke siva” (There are many other sorrows in this world besides love)… Indeed Rasheed, Indeed.

In the later episodes, as a communal riot emerged as Muslim and Hindu mobs were crossing roads, and one of them pushed the other, my mind instantly went towards the Delhi Riots. As Maan and Firoz were running together to save their lives, I connected with them and my eyes filled with tears as I remembered the misfortunate event that took place in Jamia Millia Islamia on 15th December 2019. Being a Jamia Student I remembered hiding under the table in the old library of my campus where Delhi Police showered us with tear gas shells.

When Maan and Firoz gets caught by the angry mob, and one of them asked Maan to say Gayatri Mantar to prove he’s not a muslim, and Maan obliged and did the same to save his and Firoz’s life, but Firoz couldn’t say it being a Muslim. I remembered the viral video on the internet that showed two people in the car, forcing a Muslim man to say Jai Mata Di, and were constantly abusing him.

As the main plot evolves, we see Lata falling in love with his schoolmate whose name’s not known up until the time when Lata’s friend warns her to not meet the guy, as he a Muslim, named Kabir Durrani. But Lata follows her heart and as predicted her mother took her away from the city to find her a suitable boy, and definitely not a Muslim. Tanishq’s advertisement flashed across my mind, the controversy revolving around how it depicts so called ‘love jihad’, whereas all it does is showcase communal harmony, and how they had to shut down the ad because apparently it hurts the “sentiment” of people. It’s been 73 years, and communal harmony still hurts the sentiment?

In the first episode, as the establishment of the mandir was taking place, it was already mentioned that there were bound to be protests regarding the same, still the government didn’t uphold the security levels and gave direct orders to shoot if the protesters didn’t stop. Not shockingly, it was a peaceful protest until the police started shooting, 20 people died. And as we see later in the Parliament meeting, the government was nonchalant to this action of police. Remember again, the attack on Jamia Millia Islamia, peaceful protest, tear gas shells and bullets… similar isn’t it? Potato-Patato, same thing…no?

Well, I believe nothing much has changed, the situation in 1947 and Modi era are almost the same, one way or the other. Except that in 1947, India was a newly democratic and independent country where freedom of speech was introduced, Jamia was a symbol of resistance and nationalism and people were the priority of the government. Whereas in Modi era, India is a newly non-democratic country, where freedom of speech is a myth, Jamia is an anti-national University, Islam is terrorism, people are least of the priority and Modi is God.