Wednesday 25 February 2009

The Slumdog hypocrisy

I am intrigued by the euphoria in Congress on the success of the film “Slumdog Millionaire” (“Congress tries to bask in Slumdog glory” The Statesman: 4 February,2009).
According to the Congress party, the success of the film in winning Oscars is a sequel to the government’s ‘governance accomplishments’. I wonder whether the vast slum at Dharabi in Mumbai suburbs is considered an ‘accomplishment’ or a shame to any national government.
Congress wants to showpiece the vast slum area with its filth, muck and widespread deprivations, exploitation and ruthless trampling of human rights as an example of “achieving India”, so much so that the President and the Prime Minister came out in hailing the film.
I am glad the film exposes the hypocrisy of the Indian politicians in all its aspects and shows their 'achievements'. But these politicians, ruthless exploiters as they are, will take advantage of everything, from success to failures and convert them to their vote-bank. They are out and out exploiters too, like the ones shown in the picture.

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