Rang De Basanti

Rang De Basanti. 70 rupees per ticket. 4th row from back. I was with Avantika, Vivek, Kartikeya, Ravish, Neeraj, Rupali and Gaurav. The characters in the movie were becoming mature. They were waking up to life. We were in our final days of college life. We were sharing our last laughs together. The characters in the movie were well known to us. They were us. Everyone of us had dry mouths in the end of the movie and a thought in the back of our mind.


Three months before the movie 'hit' us, we were all sitting nicely in the winter sun, chatting. The practical examinations were going on, the college fest was 4 days away. Ravish pops in a 'masala' news item to us. A lecturer had asked students obscene questions in the practical examinations. We are all angry to hear what had happened. Furious but immobile. I don't know what happened to me, but I did not say anything to anyone. I just got up and started walking furiously towards the laboratories to find the 'culprit'. I wanted to confront him, maybe rough him up. Maybe. I did not say any word to anyone, I just darted to do what I wanted to. Maybe some volcano had erupted somewhere in the pacific that made me loose my cool. But that is a phenomenon that happens only in Indian comic books. We could not find the man who was to face the music. More information trickled in, he had also verbally abused a student and used physical intimidation. Girls reported that they were being purposely being asked to give their viva-voce last, when there was no one else in the labs. The IT 4th year, got together and wrote a very measured complaint against that person. We are asked to meet the Director the day after and testify against an enquiry officer. We had stood up for our rights. This was the first time I saw differences melt. Cirumstances ! We were up against the wrath of the faculty, particularly those who were friendly with our culprit. We did not care. We did get justice.

The winter months were drawing to a close. RDB had become a rage on the screen and off it. Some years ago, Jesicca Lal was shot in a South Delhi pub by two brats for not serving them drinks. The two accused were arrested and Shayan Munshi, who was present then, had told the police that those two arrested were indeed the people who shot here. Now, in the spring of 2006 , he declares that he made that statement under duress. The accused were released. Jessica had been murdered ...again. Delhi was outraged. Never had this city been so united in demanding justice. I had never seen Delhi in such a mood. RDB had inspired, influenced, ignited people's hearts and minds. Candles were lit at India Gate by those who supported the Lals. News photographers took photos to match the angles that were in the movie. The emotions were high ..... it was clear....Delhi was unhappy...protesting ....RDB style.

Youth for equality. This was not just a group .... this was a feeling. A feeling against the government's decision to divide the society into castes and creeds. Against the decision to raise the reservation percentage in institutes of higher learning. The doctors of Delhi had opened the front against this autocratic decision. Support trickled in. Peaceful protests everywhere. Everyone was making wise statements. The protests were without high temper. The youth protested in all ways possible, text messages, televised discussions, street rallies, talking to people at intersections. Surprisingly all the political parties did not have any comments on the issue. It seemed if the political capital had moved out from Delhi to Kanyakumari. AIIMS doctors were on a rally hunger strike. People from our college thronged TV Studios to make their voices heard. But the world of they youth is manipulated easily. The agony of the youth was very similar to that of DJ, Sukhi, Aslam and others. Many related their experiences of the rallies to the phenomenon called RDB. The songs of the protests? Khoon Chala...Khalbali...and of course...Roobaroo.

We were enchanted by the hangout places of DJ, Sukhi, Aslam and company. A road trip was the answer to our fantasies. We guys and Avantika drove towards Uttar Pradesh in an Indica and a Scorpio. First stop - Fatehpur Sikri. We explored every corner of the complex. We reached Taj Mahal, Agra in a hurry. The evening Taj was different. It was a very soothing sight. Each moment was inspriring. Back in our hotel room, we did the most enjoyable timepass in months. Bluff, a card that is all about lying was to be our source of enjoyment for the night. Avantika taught what the game was all about. I am a quick learner. I bluffed my way to ecstacy! Now I was playing games with others. I was enjoying it. The next day began with a visit to the visit to the Agra Fort. The view of the Taj from the fort is the marvelous. Better than what it is from the Taj complex itself. We drove towards the holy towns of Govardhan, Vrindavan and Mathura. On the way to each of the places and our short stint there, we got to know what India really was. Extortion in the name of forefathers and god is prevalent everywhere in the heart of India. Casteism is the law of the land. No one dares oppose it. India did not seems shiny in these places, where people had to live a restricted life. Suddenly my opinion against reservations in educational institutes started to change. I saw a reason now why reservations were required. But I am still against the increase of reservations, because these quotas are not for the oppressed. The rebellion is fading out but the anger is not....we are being divided again...we need a Rang De Basanti.