Does Poverty shape the world? — an afterthought after watching ‘Pyaasa’
A lyrical masterpiece, Pyaasa’s relationship with the audience can be summarized by one of its song, “Jane kya tune kahi, Jane kya mene suni; Baat kuch ban hi gai”. This song, only because the majority of the current audience is indeed as fickle as the one shown in the film.
The depicted scenario of the post-independent India is not strikingly different than our current situation. We may have improved our GDP, but we have not developed in the areas that our culture represents: Arts and the acknowledgment of it.
None of us will be facing a similar storyline in our lives. However, we all still face the same questions of Hypocrisy, Affection, Friendship and Poverty.
Poverty, got me thinking.
Poverty shapes a man, and the men shape the world. You may think that it is the Rich who shape the world, poor men hardly scratch to the surface of existence to leave their mark. We may not be poor, but nearly half of the world population (approx. 3 billion) is poor. But, who validates the Rich? Who declares the Rich as rich? By whose money and approval, do the Rich become rich?
In the end, the masses make the Rich. And, Poverty makes the Masses.
Vijay (played by Guru Dutt) encountered these harsh realities when he faced Poverty. Gulab, played by Waheeda Rehman, evolved because of her poverty. Vijay’s brothers and friends justified their actions by using ‘poverty’.
We do not have a close relationship with poverty to know what hunger is. But, we definitely have seen enough movies, child labourers and beggars on our streets to know what poverty does to a man.
I do not have any solution for poverty. However, the least we can do is not to discriminate by poverty. Teach our kids that they do not need to be friends with an unjust person just because they have a beautiful house. Do not make fun of your friends, only because they shop from someplace else. Appreciate the artists and their art, even if they lack the fame and wealth.
So, let us all be who we really want to be, and not what the society demands. Let us form that non-fickle society which respects individuality. And remember to remember that fame and wealth are not all that one needs in life.
P.S.: The other afterthoughts that the movie might invoke are: the irrevocable love of a mother, the hypocrisy of the art world, the hypocrisy of love, the fickle mindedness of the society, the pain of empathy, selfless love, the eroding moral values and the rise in the restlessness of the society.
I hope that the people who can do something about poverty, watch this movie and realize how important a job they have in their hand. #Jinhe naaz hai Hind par
