The Upstart Pink Chaddis

Continuing my grand tradition of blogging about things long after they take place, I draw your attention to some astoundingly dumb MSM commentary about the Pink Chaddi Campaign.

First is this Pioneer editorial by Kanchan Gupta. It isn’t even worth a fisk – just three questions:

  1. Did Kanchan Gupta even bother to visit the facebook group before he wrote this?
  2. Does Kanchan Gupta seriously think that the Coalition of Loose etc. Women is actually promoting alcoholism and promiscuity or does he suffer from sarcasm deficiency?
  3. Does Kanchan Gupta even know that something called sarcasm exists?

Then, there was Sagarika Ghose’s editorial in the Hindustan Times (linking to IBN site ‘cos the HT site is throwing errors). After spending a considerable amount of time trying to extract meaning from her ramble, I have concluded that she is accusing the Pink Chaddi Campaign of being frivolous,

Which is why the battle for freedom and the battle for progress must be a sensible and a rational one; it can’t be a trivial battle where we fling coloured underwear at maniacs.

the modern youth of today of flaunting their modernity and youth,

Maybe India’s young instead of trying to be like characters from Sex In The City, should try to emulate Sarojini Naidu and Jawaharlal Nehru. While the ghastly cultural hoodlums must be dealt with sternly by the law and handed out exemplary and speedy punishment, the lifestyle norms we choose, especially in public places, must be attuned somewhat at least to our surroundings.

and for good measure, suggests that everyone follow in the footsteps of the elites of the 1950s.

We must learn from the Nehruvians of the 40s and 50s who were incredibly westernised, but deeply rooted; many of whom were rich but lived modest tasteful lives. They drank, they smoked and they romanced, yet they were discreet and embodied a tradition of Indian elitism that was rooted in both excellence as well as tradition.

I suppose that as the senior editor of a channel which has popularised the SMS poll as a form of discourse, and maniacs screaming at each other as a form of debate, Sagarika Ghose is well placed to comment on the frivolity or triviality of a particular exercise.

As far as the point about flaunting modernity or being discreet is concerned, I think it’s a remarkable idea and should be followed to the hilt. If you are fortunate enough to have liberal parents, or rich enough to own your own farmhouse where your servants can tend to all your guests, you can enjoy your drink. If you’re merely aspiring middle class and need to go to public spaces for your leisure – you know, like most of Sagarika Ghose’s viewers – you should just suppress your urges or you might spark off a revolution. (Note: Ravikiran has plaigarised my blogpost and backdated it. Cheater!)

Anyway, to ward off painful arguments in the comments, let me also say:

  1. The dichotomy of alcoholism-promiscuity / sobriety-traditionalism was started not by the Pink Chaddiers, but by the Ram Sene. In that case, if people respond to it by saying that they’d pick being drunk, promiscuous and ridiculous to being suppressed and not allowed to exercise their freedom, that’s entirely justified.
  2. Yes, the Pink Chaddi Campaign is frivolous. So? Indian public protests are usually trivial and accomplish nothing. At least this one was amusing and creative, which got it much more footage and participation than it would have otherwise. And who’s to say that it won’t be the platform for something much more productive some time down the line? A collection of passionate people has its own value.
  3. In case you plan to use the “how would you feel if it was your sister!” argument, please note that a) I don’t have a sister, b) what my hypothetical sister does on her time is not your concern, c) what my hypothetical sister does on her time is not my concern, either.

0 Responses to The Upstart Pink Chaddis

  1. […] the Pink Chaddis campaign, Aadisht writes on why the MSM (once again) doesn’t get sarcasm. Ripping apart op-eds by Kanchan Gupta and Sagarika Ghose would get us sued again for libel, […]

  2. Kanchan Gupta says:

    Your comments only prove my point. Meanwhile, relax, I won’t sue you or other pink chaddiwallahs for their frivolity! Promise.

  3. TTG says:

    I have got to say, how do these people become Newspaper editors. Talk about missing the target completely! Seriously, Kanchan Gupta seems to be Sarcasm-impaired. The appropriate response to those Ram Sena bastards would have been to stuff hot pokers up their assholes, without the benefit of any lubrication. What the women (and men) did instead is respond in an extremely civilized and befitting manner and slap them right back in the face. Who the bloody hell is anybody to tell me whether I have a right to drink a pub or not? Kanchan Gupta obviously thinks he has that right. I don’t care if it’s modern or not, western or not, or frakking homosexual or not. I like the taste of beer, and I don’t see why me, and a woman friend cannot sit down and relax after a day’s work. Obviously, Mr. Gupta seems to be bathed in Orange White & Green and can tell me what I can and can’t do. The fight was about ‘CHOICE’ you nitwit, not about celebrating alcholism or pubs. Sheesh. I’ll tell you now, and you heard it here first – if any of these right wing nazi goat fornicators dare try this nonsense in my hometown, I’ll stab them to death with the venetian wine-glass left over in my westernised hand. What they did to those women was OUTRAGEOUS, and to think you’re getting your pink panties in a twist over someone sending panties, is just ironic.

  4. dina says:

    the fact that the campaign was started by daughter of a congress minister and also they are now extended it a new video campaign in Bangalore means it was clearly politically motivated and as bad as Muthalik’s campaign

  5. Aishwarya says:

    How come you get the hilarious commentors and all I get is boring, sane ones? 🙁

    (Yes Dina, the two campaigns are clearly morally equivalent. Sending someone a box of underwear is entirely the same thing as beating them up and demanding the right to control their movements.)

  6. dina says:

    @Ash, i may not have the luxury of growing up in a metro or studying in a English medium schools, so bear with my poor English and even thinking… don’t scoff me….i was comparing sene’s marrying off on street plans with chaddi campaign, both had political gains as goals..earlier pub incident is disgusting

  7. skimpy says:

    @TTG these people become newspaper editors because they are not brilliant enough to find higher paying jobs

    @madwoman because your essay on this topic was long and boring and unreadable. this one was short and crisp and readable so more interesting people are reading this and writing more interesting comments.

    @dina madman is arguing on your behalf only. that despite you not having grown up in a metro or studying in english medium schools, you should have the right to lead your life, which is contrary to what sagarika ghose says.

    @kanchan gupta what points do these prove?

    @madman strong sister argument

  8. Aishwarya says:

    …I think I’ve just been called an elitist for failing to assume that someone was only capable of “poor thinking”. WIN.

    @Skimpy So with a little editing I too can receive stupider comments? Joy!

  9. dina says:

    @Ash, dont take elitist to be a slur, i meant the opposite, thats what every slumdog aspires to be….and few things i read in the American blogs, one dont demean your blog readers and second dont try to compete with other bloggers (atleast not openely)

    • Aadisht says:

      dina, it could be politically motivated. The thing is that it’s attracted a following which is detached from the original politicians, if any. Plus, just because it’s politically motivated doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing – so was the telecom revolution.

      Aishwarya, indeed! Yours is the bigotry of high expectations. You heartless plutocrat, you!

      Skimpy, I disapprove of your condescending remarks about my girlfriend’s writing style. Cease and desist I say.

      TTG quite.

      Kanchan, K.

  10. Aishwarya says:

    But Dina, if I can’t demean my own readers, who can I demean? And if I can’t compete with my own boyfriend, who can I compete with?

  11. […] is right or wrong, but “the right to choose our own lifestyle, any lifestyle”. Aadisht and Ravikiran believe that Sagarika Ghosh is being elitist […]

Leave a Reply to AishwaryaCancel reply