The second-most favourite topic of the social netizens, after their ill-informed
understanding of Galwan Valley, Line of Control and misrepresentation of Prime
Minister's speech, is 'nepotism'. (Facepalm) It all started with a rising actor
recently committing suicide. The entire nation gets obsessed with the rising
nepotism, especially in Bollywood.
Now, visualize this.
A king wished
his eldest son to become his successor. Everyone loves him, everyone is obsessed
with his enticing personality, and he got himself a queen too. The king has other
sons, [note, no daughter] but he wished only the eldest to govern. The young
prince has no past experience or excellence except killing a few demeans or being
a guard to sages as they perform homas. Yet, he was chosen as king-to-be.
Well, 'nepotism' was thence, not known. So, look at Google to find the word's etymology. An Italian word (nipote, which means nephew) was made famous by the French in the mid-17th century. Initially, the word was used as 'euphemism' when Pope Julius II, the second ruler of Papal states was chosen to lead not because he was suitable, but he was the 'nephew' of Francesco Todeschini—Pope Pius III, the first ruler-pope.
Has anyone ever heard the family in Windsor Castle have passed their mantle to an outsider? A Diana or Kate Middleton were inducted into the fold but not to the throne. The crown remained within the three family units, the Stuarts, the Hanovers, and the Windsors. So, it is difficult for me to understand the hoopla—why the outrage? Well, it's a foreign or Western concept. Okay, let me look at what is practised in India.
The kingdom of Magadha, for hundred and forty-three years, were with Haryanka, from Bimbisara (545 BCE) to Nagadarshakha (413 BCE). Later, the mantle of administration, whether the Afghan Lodhis or the Moghuls (that most take pride) were always within a dynasty; irrespective whether the successor is competent or not. The tradition continues. Nehrus, Yadavs (of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar), Gowdas, Thackerays, Scindias, Rao's of Telangana, Hoodas, Chautalas, Singhs, if have anything familiar—it is not the political ideologies but the bloodlines. Even the [alleged and famous] spinsters Mamata or Mayawati prefers their 'nephews' to succeed them.
Bloodline not necessarily flows within the politics even the house of industrialists, Wadias, Ambanis, Birlas, Jindals all have their successors from the family. So, if 'Bollywood' follows the same, 'hungama hai kyun barpa'? I recall, when I was in Mumbai, there was an Irani eating house on the other side of Andheri Station (West). I used to begin my day with their bun-maska or the keema bhuna with bun and the milky tea. The eatery at the prime location displays a board that reads, 'Since 1915…".
The gentleman on the counter was not ancient but in his fifties so, one day I asked, about the history. [Since it was raining heavily, I was not in a rush to office.] Quite reluctantly and with a gruff he responds, the café was founded by his late grandfather [some] Mazban. He points his finger to the board and quite proudly introduced himself as the 'third generation'.
Later, I found that all the Parsis and Irani cafés in Bombay (the Marzban, Behrams, Bastani) and Pune is family-owned. The servers (waiter) working in these eating joints do not mind training the next generation—one day who will be their boss, with business errands or castigates the owner-kid as 'nepo-kids'. They continue with their job.
Similarly, in Calcutta, sweetshops and roadside eatways takes pride in their foundation year and the founding father. The sweet-toothed Bengalees would flock before the stores of Bhim Nag, or Sen Moshai or Bancharam for their doses. A Nobin Chandra Das roshogolla is often taken with a veneraton though the man sometimes died in 1925. His family, his nephews, now run the business at different quarters of Calcutta. So, why nepotism is trending nowadays?
Family successions are quite a common practice. A Marwari or a Gujarati trader (no matter how small or big) would have his son or son-in-law sit in the galla. I had a Punjabi college-mate whose father runs a junk-stall in Dariba. Reluctantly, he would go on every Saturdays and Sundays to the shop and then, would crib the week.
Once, I dared [as everyone aware I am moofat] 'why do sit the shop when you don't like to'?
He promptly responded '…well, it is our family business shop; my father is old and suffering from cancer. I am the only son in the family. Who will take care of the shop, whether I liked it or not?'
A doctor wants the child to be a doctor, a lawyer wants his/her child to be a lawyer…everyone wants a successor that too belonging to the bloodline. So, if an ex-actor wants his child to become an actor, why label them as 'star-kids' or 'nepo-kids'. Agreeably, all are not talented but who goes to watch a talent in the movie theatre?
If talent or the story is what rules the public interest then a Sanjay Leela Bhansali's poor rip-off Bengali classic 'Devdas' won't be minting money, or an arthritic Peshwa queen won't jig her leg or do thumka in competition. The poor, mismatching representation of Ala-ud-din Khilji won't be blown the people [ironically, the man was an ardent follower of the Sufi saint Hazrat Nizam-ud-din]. Does that mean one needs to bear with it? Hell, no.
Ex-actors, who showcases or promotes his or her child [after nose-or-lip job or puffed] was once a commoner like you and me. So, there is room for everyone—whether talented or lacking. Everyone listened to their father or mother's childhood story. They would walk miles to schools, wear the old or lone piece of shirt, read under city-lights or save ‘annas’ by skipping the lunch to buy a book.
Times have changed, and none [exceptions are always prevalent] can’t say the narrate the same tale to their grandchildren or children. Today, you may not be privileged, but tomorrow, your generation will be. Does that make your child—a ‘nepo-child’? If yes, go ahead and protest.
PS:
When we gift 100 or 200 crores to a puffed-up star who kills people sleeping on the pavement or imbibe his gesture to rub his nose [as a regular snorter] with the thumb; are we eligible to talk about about ‘nepotism’ or reason that forces SSR to commit suicide. The dead actor might have left with a few question unanswered, and a pandora-box opened but how logical it is to blame the gamut of star-kids for his untimely death.
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