Of Stars and Shooting Stars 

             

By- Pamarty Venkataramana

 

 

Beyond comprehension to the saner ones amongst us is the general human nature to frown upon ‘worship of Mother Nature’ as being indicative of cowardice after loosely dubbing it as being ‘ pagan worship’.

 

In stark contrast is a very common behaviour to eulogise and worship human beings themselves,be it for assumed non-pretentious behaviour and for donning a role as as a film artiste or a sportsperson,a political figure or a ramp walking model.

 

This ‘posessed’ celebration of a few selected people in society is popularly called as the phenomenon of ‘fan moments’ and the ones being so adored are shamelessly regarded to be demi-gods or as ‘first among equals’ and are labelled as ‘celebrities’.

 

Those who discern the truth about such celebrated personalities see through the aura of the individual concerned and as such,do not succumb to the hype and hoopla surrounding their presence.

 

The reason for aberration of thought and hysterical obsession of the ‘fans’ towards their ‘celebrity’ is bordering either on admiration for a perceived super-human qualitative performance and actions which endear or epitomise the ‘herd-mentality’ where hearsay and blind ape-like behaviour literally creates a ‘mountain out of a mole-hill’.

 

I hasten to say that indeed there are some among human population who live to impress rest of society by their stellar or extra-ordinary presence. The aura and ‘rings of joy’ around their Being is visible to the mind’s eye leading to an awe-inspiring persona. They stand out from the rest of the crowd. Everybody has certain innate qualities of considerable importance but not everyone can tap into their potential nor outsmart competition. Thus,it is the spirit of human endeavour which differentiates the celebrity from his or her fan following.

 

Having said that,the purpose and intent of this essay is to check maniacal behaviour and ensure that megalomaniacs in this age of digital society and paid-media do not destroy sanity of society. 

 

How and why?

 

Lest the next generation or gullible folks were to succumb to trapeize-artistry of this section of society which defeats avowed objective of the Constitution,viz,  ‘to bring about equality in society’, it becomes essential to help dissect this ‘celebrity’ syndrome and thus enable unknowing ones to lead an upright life without subjugation of self-respect or forgetting about ‘dignity of life’.

 

To be blinded by devotion is one thing but to be allowing to be manipulated by unseen and unsung forces at play is sheer slave mentality: serfs and servitude remove the sheen and magic of something good. Their mass-hysteria occasions more damage to the celebrated person more than to themselves. paparazzi are just a shadow of dark,curiouser side of popularity.

 

What must be borne in mind is that all mortals eat,drink,sleep and live to die at the end of all daily ablutions performed in respective lifetimes just like anybody else on the planet : they are a part of the same human race.  reverence is good but servitude reeks of an inhuman trend. To dominate others of a species is one thing but to douse spirit of individuality of a chunk of population is banal.

 

Animal instincts ensure law of Nature subsists but predatory practices are abhorrent to evolution of mankind as a civilised species. 

 

As all world is passing through a phase of transitional difficulties and age-old time-tested values are being trounced,it is relevant to make others aware about the ills of slavery,bonded labour : the spill-over effects of supposedly dismantled system of colonialism are screaming loud and weaning away independent-thinking. 

 

The cacophony of shrill voices crying for ‘freedom of expression’,’right to free speech’ and ‘human rights’ including ‘ abolition of caste system ‘ or ‘caste and minority based reservation-system’ as also ‘ State subsidies and freebies’ are reflection of this chaotic state of our society. 

 

Corruption is a hydra-headed monster and it has a pernicious ripple-effect on all sections and across generations of society. The hideousness and hypocrisy of perceived goody-goody image-building exercises of any such ‘celebrity’ ought to be pierced. The veneer and veil of double standards once removed will expose hollowness of all such misplaced faith,beliefs and a resultant collosal waste of energies,time and lifespan by the mass of followers or fans. 

 

Scandals and scams reveal the plain truth –

‘all is not as true as is being exhibited’. The emperor’s new clothes is a classic story and its continuous relevance in modern societies is indicative of how Goebbels machinery has graduated to assume gargantuan proportions in internet era.

 

Ominous. 

 

Therefore,all right-thinking people should ensure that merely opposing status-quo position does not make left become right or vice versa. As George Orwell’s pig wisely declares-‘ all men are born equal but some are born more equal than others’. Merely because few are specially enabled or some are socially  disabled does not mean we should measure might as being right or the accumulation of wealth (or a lack of it) as being a virtue. Inferiority-complex and superiority-complex go hand-in-hand. 

 

In the end,suffice it to say that younger generations of contemporary society should not be enamoured by aura of a cinematic film or dramatic representation nor by media presentation of a larger-than life image of whosoever it be – be it a mafia don,a film star,any political figure or achievers of any field merely based on third party depictions or mass perceptions. Form a considered opinion only after studying behavioural patterns,management styles and attitudinal performance of your own celebrated persons. Otherwise, it would be as good as being a red herring or part of the wolf’s pack if not ending up feeling sheepish after the star ends up as a shooting-star or a comet.

 

Wake up, society. Awaken your inner self. Contemplate before you meditate. See through masked faces and marketed auras.