Culturally Bankrupt ?

I have the good fortune of having the best of two worlds. My wife is (Malaysian) Chinese and I am (an Indian) Indian. Together our races constitute a good 40% or more of humanity. So, please dont fight with us. You can't possibly win. (We may fight with each other but that doesn't concern you lah !!!). We also have more festivals and celebrations than any other race. Of-course we spend almost 3 months celebrating some festival or the other but then we deserve it....

Yesterday we had the good fortune of having a few friends visit us at our new home in Melaka. Thanks to all of them for joining us on the 7th day of Chinese New Year which is considered extremely auspicious. I will not name names out of fear that I may miss out some unnamed. Mae and I send our gratitude to all who came to our humble home. Two cultures coming together. Wonderful !!! May you and your family have a wonderful year of the Tiger. Help the Tiger this year, whichever way you can. You will be helping the World. Cong Xi Fa Chai.

When I returned from Melaka, I was watching a Youtube video of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan singing "Is Karam Ka Karoon Shukr Kaise Ada?". This was a 4 part video and since I consider the man a giant in talent, I watched each moment of the video. To my horror, I saw that in the 4th part, a man walking to the stage and throwing Pakistani rupee notes in front of the master and his troupe as if he is tipping shoe shiners or lower beings. Imagine throwing money at Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan !!! I consider this sacrilage of the highest order.

Then, the video shows the audience, sitting like dumb ducks while the great master is singing the ode to his God in full emotional fervor. The audience had no emotion, no movement, all were like statues. Some were even looking sullen and disgruntled (what may be the reason? I don't know)..

What has happened to the "Subcontinent"?

Are we so culturally bankrupted that we cannot even appreciate the warmth, the richness and the depth of our own culture? Do we have to treat our best artisans like thrash? Throw tips to them like they were beggers?

No, you will say....These were Pakistanis that I mentioned. Indians are different.... Are they, really?
Well, when was the last time you actually saw a live performance and paid for it? Most probably you "enjoy our culture" in the cozy surroundings of home on TV. Paying only for the cable channel or tape/CD. That is not a crime, mind you, but if you really saw a cricket match in a stadium rather than on TV, you will know the difference. The energy is different. You are a part of "THE" event....If you are in a stadium, you are in the action, not just a "cable" spectator".

Artists have to eat too, you know? And should they not get paid well for their talent? Who do you think is more talented? Sandra Bullok who charges USD 20 million a movie or Amir Khan "The Idiot"?

We happily pay 100 USD for a Broadway show if we are around there, or GBP 70 for a Victoria Theatre show in London. That is a hell of as lot of money if you count in Indian Rupees. But that is different. Isn't it? Then we can make small talk but big boasts to our friends?" Oooh , you know we saw that play and so on and so forth...."

I ask you, as an example,...did you ever see Jagjit Singh performing live in Siri Fort Delhi ? My sister Lakshmi gave me this privilage. Bless her God. Fact is we have experienced a lot together. I also love to hate her. Mind you, Love is stronger than hate.

If you have experienced something like the live performance of Jagjit Singh or other great artists..., you will know what I am talking about... The artist gets his energy from the audience. The audience cheers the artist. One plus one becomes eleven. It defies logic but it is real. It is the same with culture...

If we claim that we have a "Culture", we should learn that there is a price to pay to claim ownership of it and to retain it. A price worth paying.

Lets learn this simple lesson and act accordingly. Ownership of culture comes with a cost/ price and responsibility. You want to have it and lay a claim to it? Then don't just talk but walk the talk. Pay for it. Not just in art but in everything that you call cultural !

Otherwise we will suffer a bankruptcy, worse than we can imagine..... Riches will be lost with time...

"Bada Hua to Kya Hua? Jaise Paed Khajoor, Panthi Ko Chayaa Nahin, Phal Lage Atee Door"...... Sant Kabir...Sufi Poet of India (who had no surname and therefore no caste, creed or religion). One of my favorite Indians of all times.

Translation....You may be big like a palm tree but so what? No shade for travellers and the fruit are too far up (to be of use to any one)??

So much wealth is in our culture and so little that we imbibe ? That joker who threw a few notes in front of the Great Ustad may be thinking that he is doing a favor..to whom?..

What bankruptcy is this ???

Cultural or mental ?