Dream Girl's Shree Krishna Mahotsav at Mathura :: Remoulding the Krishna Narrative in Promiscuity

Transcending from one's professional identity to assume that of a responsible public representative in the sphere of popular politics is somewhere an arduous task.

A typical case in point is the Member of Parliament to the 15th Lok Sabha from Mathura, who just couldn't go beyond her 'dream girl' identity of yesteryear celluloid that she still maintains her official Twitter handle as @dreamgirlhema even after being elected as the representative of a spiritually profound and culturally significant constituency of India.

So far so good. Developing an ethereal spiritual consciousness from an innate material one is an entirely personal journey. However, her latest and only visible initiative towards the constituency she represents is bound to haunt her for times to come as it got entirely out of sync both in spirit as well as in expression. 

Shree Krishna Mahotsav, organised to mark Sri Krishna Janmashtami this year has emerged out as an exercise in sheer vanity. Replete with cheap Bollywood teasers retorting to the trivialization of the Krishna narrative and interpreting it from the singular lens of promiscuous romance, came out to be the core of the entire representation of Krishna. The due depth and desired demeanour was dastardly deficient. Neither the time nor the venue and nor the context was somewhat relevant for undertaking such an audacious  enterprise stooped into vulgar slangs and sensuous gyrations.

The job of a public representative is probably not to entertain but to educate the people he/she leads and represents. Yes, the tool of edutainment can be duly employed in this exercise but not at the cost of abrogating the due sensibilities and established & well recognised spiritual and cultural facets associated with a legend whose life & times define and determine the worldview of a billion plus humanity.

Had this extravaganza been organised by a private organisation, it could have been sidelined and rejected as an aberrated misdemeanour emanating out of some or the other myopic vested interests. However, when a public representative belonging to the ruling political party of the country organises the same and relishes every moment as a hyperactive participant and dedicating it to the poor farmers (whose traces were not be found anywhere on the event venue) inviting a host of senior personalities from across the spectrum, she tries to bring an official sanction & legitimacy to the entire narrative which is nothing but dangerous.

The outcomes and presentation somewhere also suggests the line of thought of the ruling disposition.

This not only smacks of sheer contempt towards the sacred sensibilities of a significant but silent lot but also the utter lack of creative imagination and inability to use a public platform of such giant magnitude to invoke a sensible chord of communication for national transformation something to which a substantial set of people have dedicated themselves to.

On a personal note, the representative concerned has failed to evolve beyond the dreamgirl image which somewhere led to this tragic manifestation of self as well as the society she represents.

Shree Krishna Mahotsav could have been an occasion to champion and communicate the unfurling of the vision as well as blue print of future development of Braj Bhoomi which was chosen by the Hon'ble Prime Minister to mark the completion of 1 year of his government which has been heralded as a visionary and action driven one from almost all quarters.

Shree Krishna Mahotsav could have been an occasion to sensitise the Bollywood damsels and their on-reel consorts having an astounding influence on the younger generation about the splendid magnificence of Braj in the realms of culture, art, music and life philosophy which drive and govern and influence and inspire and instigate a vast ocean of humanity.

Shree Krishna Mahotsav could have been an occasion to expound the ecological-economic and educational narrative of a majestic living tradition to the entire world. What was presented can be termed as a stale routine cocktail which Bollywood's cheaper version has championed over the decades.

Shree Krishna Mahotsav could have been a classical rendition of the philosophical resplendence of Braj Bhoomi beyond the titillating theatrics and performances which still guides a mammoth set.

People from various walks of public life are chosen by political parties to represent people in order to bring diversity and depth to the unfurling public discourse in sync with their larger ideological precepts and convictions. This however needs an ascendance from being a member of a particular professional fraternity, and to gel its innate trends and traditions to that of the very people he/she has been chosen to represent. This is a gradual process replete with great responsibility and is the test of leadership.

Merely changing the physical attire multiple times during a professional extravaganza might not suffice the ordeal of standing upto the aspirations, ethos and dyamics of a living society as rich as that of Braj. The Dreamgirl might have done due justice to her professional fraternity but has somewhere orchestrated a great harm to the image and respect and standing of the constituency she represents.

She still has 4 years to correct this and use all her grand clout and charisma to bring about a substantial transformation to the Land of Shree Krishna which providence has ordained her to represent in the Indian Parliament. She simply would have to invoke the artist in her beyond other assumed identities.