Netflix’s ‘A Suitable Boy’ & Modi era

Safiyat Naseem
November 9, 2020

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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.

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News Network
March 22,2024

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday produced Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal before the Rouse Avenue court and sought a 10-day custody in the excise policy-linked money laundering case. "Kejriwal was the kingpin of the scam," the ED reportedly told the court after the AAP chief was produced before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja around 2 pm amid tight security. 

ASG S V Raju was appearing for the agency, while Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is representing Kejriwal. 

Raju in his argument said Kejriwal was "directly involved in formulation of the (liquor) policy... he was involved in handling of proceeds of crime as well in the Goa election campaign."

"The expert committee was constituted but it was a sham committee. The policy was made in such a manner that it would enable the taking of bribes and recoupment of people who gave the bribes," the ED counsel said. 

Kejriwal was produced in the trial court shortly after he withdrew from the Supreme Court his plea against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy-linked money laundering case. Kejriwal's counsel said he would contest the remand proceedings before the trial court and then come back to the apex court with another petition.

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News Network
March 21,2024

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Israeli military siege, hunger, and diseases will soon become the main killer in Gaza, says commissioner- general of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Philippe Lazzarini, who heads the UNRWA for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, took to X on Wednesday to vent his concern for the growing hunger and spread of diseases as a result of the Israeli siege on the besieged strip.

He said starvation and illness may soon be the main killer in Gaza.

"This fabricated and catastrophic level of hunger can still be reversed by flooding Gaza with food and life-saving assistance," Lazzarini said.

"More than ever humanity requires political will,” the UNRWA chief added.

In a press release on March 19, UNRWA said that “famine is imminent in the Gaza Strip, especially for isolated populations in northern Gaza deprived of humanitarian aid.”

The statement noted that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), in a latest food security outlook, concluded that up to 1.1 million people in Gaza are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

“Nutrition screenings conducted in February by UNICEF and UNRWA show that rates of acute malnutrition among children in northern Gaza and Rafah have nearly doubled since January,” it said.

The Israeli regime has accused UNRWA staff of being involved in the October 7 attack by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas against the occupied territories, prompting a number of its western allies to suspend funding for the UN agency.

On Wednesday, an agreement was reached by US congressional leaders and the White House on a massive funding bill will continue a ban on US funding for UNRWA until March 2025, Reuters reported.

Earlier this year the US, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria and Romania  decided to cut their funding to the UNRWA, considered a lifeline for the Palestinians in Gaza.

France had also announced that it does not plan a new payment to fund UNRWA in the first quarter of 2024.

Condemning the suspension of funding, Lazzarini had said, “It would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an agency and an entire community…, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region.”

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News Network
March 28,2024

Mangaluru, Mar 28: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP has warned the individuals and political parties against the poll code violations during private events. 
 
“Private events such as marriages, birthdays, housewarming ceremonies, and other non-political programmes do not require any permission. However, one should ensure that there is no violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) at these functions. Permission is needed if the events are attended by politicians or candidates,” the DC said. 

He said that these gatherings will be under the surveillance of MCC teams, as there are chances of luring voters by campaigning and supplying food, said the DC. The district has 38,386 new voters, of which, 19,619 are men.

He said that the notification of election in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency will be issued soon, and the filing of nominations will be held between 11 am and 3 pm till April 4. 

Only five persons, including the candidate, will be allowed to enter the returning officer’s chamber to submit the nominations. A facilitation centre will be opened at the DC’s office. 

The expenditure of the candidate will be counted from the day the candidate files the nomination.

The DC said that the district is not an expenditure-sensitive constituency. Assistant expenditure observers and expenditure observers will monitor the expenditure of the candidates. An expenditure book will be provided to the candidate to record expenditure incurred, he explained.

Further, he said that no election materials can be printed without the name and address of the publishers, and the number of copies printed. Separate permission should be availed for procession prior to the submission of nomination papers from the ARO office, through the single-window system.

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