Indian celebs attain divine status

[Guest guest]

Indian celebs attain divine status

India Times Broadband

http://broadband.indiatimes.com/News/Indian_celebs_attain_

divine_status/indepth/msid-2155799,curpg-3.cms

or

http://tinyurl.com/2f7jm9

 

[Here's a bit of analysis of the larger phenomenon of

portraying public figures as deities.]

 

Film stars and politicians from all over the world ought to

envy their Indian counterparts. For, our Desi actors and

leaders not only enjoy the adulation of the masses, but are

also venerated by their fans. They're treated as Gods,

worshipped with pious chants, incense sticks and even prasad.

Whoever heard of a church dedicated to Abraham Lincoln or

even Marlon Brando for that matter!

 

From depicting Sonia Gandhi as the eight-armed goddess

Durga slaying the " demon of terrorism and corruption, " to

performing yagnas for Amitabh Bachchan's speedy recovery,

Indians are going that extra mile to prove their adulation.

Whether one dismisses these fans as overzealous sycophants

or politely calls them 'admirers', they are very much a part of

the Indian social fabric.

 

Politicians being equated to deities can be traced back to the

days of Indira Gandhi. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari

Vajpayee once called her 'Goddess Durga' for displaying

astounding diplomatic-military skills during the liberation of

Bangladesh. The recent instances of Congress leader Sonia

Gandhi portrayed as Goddess Durga and now as Maharani

Laxmibai of Jhansi are classic examples of how celebrities

are worshipped in our country. It's strange that in a country in

which people slit each other's throats at the mere suspicion of

blasphemy, such strange acts are somehow gaining

popularity.

 

Recently, in an effort to flatter the Rajasthan Chief Minister

Vasundhara Raje, a BJP worker printed a poster depicting her

as Goddess Annapurna. Her 'devotee' not only put up the

poster in a temple but also worshipped her daily! The poster

portrayed 'divine' Raje showering blessings on her ministers

and in turn being blessed by Vajpayee and LK Advani,

portrayed as Lord Vishnu and Brahma respectively. These

'celestial' politicians not only ruffled religious feathers but

also caused considerable embarrassment to BJP leaders in

New Delhi.

 

Vajpayee may not be in the limelight anymore but a 35 kg

Ashtadhatu idol of him will always remind one of his 'God'

like status. Enthusiastic supporters of Vajpayee consecrated

the idol atop Satyanarayan ki Tektri in Gwalior. Not to be left

behind, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's admirers have

jumped on the bandwagon too. One fan composed 'Laloo

Chaalisa' in which the RJD chief has been likened to Lord

Hanuman! Well, it keeps getting more bizarre. As if

representing AIADMK chief Jayalalitha as Mother Mary

wasn't enough, her fans have gone to the extent of chopping

off their fingers and tongues as offerings to 'Amma'!

 

This phenomenon probably started when actors-turned-

politicians like the late NT Rama Rao and MG

Ramachandran portrayed Lord Krishna and other deities on

the silver screen. Their larger than life characters instantly

clicked with their highly emotional Indian audiences. Such as

those die-hard fans of superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who built

a temple of their celluloid God in Dumdum, Kolkata. But

surpassing all adulation are actor Rajnikanth's fanatic

followers who have managed to take idol worship to a whole

new level.

 

When queried about this trend, practicing psychiatrist Sanjay

Chugh said " I would attribute this phenomenon largely to the

generalised low self-esteem and negative self-image that

Indians have en masse. " Dr Chugh elaborated that people

who don't suffer from low self esteem wouldn't bother about

the celebrity status of others. " Another factor that has a role to

play is the lack of role models for Indians, " he opined.

 

Psychologist Samir Parekh also expressed his concern. He

said, " It is definitely not healthy when fans go crazy over

personalities, to the degree of putting theirs and the lives of

others at stake. But then it cannot be prevented. Also, not all

fans behave in such an abnormal manner. The extent of

worshipping a star varies, and ranges from normal to

pathological behaviour. "

 

As divinity acquires a new meaning and new faces, it

certainly is a time to rethink our 'faith' in the system. And till

these demi Gods don't have all our prayers answered, lets

continue to pray to the only one we call God!

 

 

, " Devi Bhakta "

<devi_bhakta wrote:

>

> [About a month ago, I posted an article on the backlash over a

poster

> portraying Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje as Goddess

> Annapoorna (see thread link below). Well now the Times of London

> reports it's happened again -- this time with Sonia Gandhi, leader

of

> India's Congress party, portrayed as Goddess Durga. - DB]

>

>