Column

Results to recent state elections — most of which went to polls after the terror attacks on Mumbai — throw up an intriguing skew which would have left the leaders of major parties and their strategists chewing cud in beleaguered thought — if not eating crow.

In Delhi Sheila Dixit won her third consecutive term as CMagainst all odds; in J&K, Omar Abdullah managed to stave off the challenge from the PDP strongly enough to regain power. Delhi had witnessed a terror attack also, and 26/11 had been a major plank deployed by the opposition; in J&K, apart from terror-politics, the BJP and PDP were also vociferous (though opposed to each other) on the Amarnath shrine matter.

All these were current and combustible issues, and by the usual standards of politics in India, the results to these two states at least, should have been quite the opposite. But neither the paranoia created over terror, nor harsh communal arguments (either way) appear to have worked, suggesting that the voters were perhaps looking at something else to make up their minds.

The general elections mid-way through 2009 should afford more hardened evidence to ratify or disprove this belief, but I reckon that the influence of young voters is already coming through strongly enough. There is clear scepticism about old rhetoric, if not old politicians. What young people are looking for could, in fact, be leaders and parties who can lead them out of pointless belligerence and address everyday needs. As much as security, people want improvement in living standards, jobs, health-care, education.

The credibility gap in the political class as a whole was manifest in the nationwide uprising of the public following 26/11. While every Indian is obviously concerned about terrorism, it appears that a large number of voters are not going to be so easily beguiled by the propaganda of fear. Terrorism is now a global malaise, and needs to be tackled with sophisticated intelligence, quick implementation of law, and a sustained effort towards building a society on mutual trust and interests.

This was reflected not only in the recent state elections in India but in a sense globally too: In Barack Obama’s triumph and Sheikh Hasina coming to power in Bangladesh. All over the world, there appears to be a rejection of anger and hate-driven politics as young voters look to change a harsh world. And this mood seems to be unsparing of ideology. Whingeing Lefties, hectoring Righties and carping Centrists are all being subject to a similar scrutiny: The voters’ question is candid and direct. What’s in it for me?

Aamir Khan’s worked his way to an eight-pack abs for Ghajini, Shah Rukh Khan boasts a six-pack, John Abraham has something in between, and Salman Khan has, well, however many. Sailing into the New year last week, I shut my eyes and passed into a reverie about the films I had grown up watching from the early ’60s; frail or pot-bellied heroes who would not only run around trees wooing buxom female actors, but also how easily they could fell mighty villains despite the obvious mismatch in physique.

In the past, the genre of hulk heroes belonged to Sheikh Mukhtar or (later) Dara Singh. A well-developed body was not considered essential for effective emoting in front of the camera; it might, in fact, have perhaps been considered a digression by the actors themselves.

Barring a few like Dharmendra, Sunil Dutt, Shammi Kapoor or Vinod Khanna, the prerogative of being well-muscled and strong-looking belonged to the bad guys. Indeed, the mismatch in size was what made the hero a hero; the odds had to be heavily stacked against the good guy to validate the triumph of good over evil.

All that has changed over the past 15 to 20 years, and I am happy on two counts. The illogic of a puny guy smashing a hulk to pulp is no longer valid, and heroes who take care about their physical well-being are also excellent role models for an unfit nation.

But then I also imagined some of the classics being remade. Would a modern day version of Baiju Bawra have a bare-torsoed, chest-44 size hero singing O duniya ke rakhwale? Would the future Devdas have to cavort with Paro and Chandramukhi while flexing his 20 inch biceps and 30-inch thunder thighs?

My reverie was broken. Bliss is not so easily gained. I must work harder to perfect the lotus pose.