How does one shame the shameless? I have just written a column for International Women's Day , and that's basically what I am asking myself and others? I shall post it in this space next week, but it is important to address this key question as a run up to the 'GREAT EVENT' which has been reduced to a pathetic, commercial joke, with several opportunists jumping in to take advantage of the female consumer. I saw several saree stores offering special prices to mark the occasion. And I was appalled when an event company asked me whether I'd be free to participate in a televised panel discussion on domestic violence, sponsored by a leading jewellery brand! The fat man who drives this brand is a cunning fox who misses no opportunity to milk any and every chance to 'upgrade' his image. What better way than to associate himself with a bleeding hearts issue that will make him feel good about himself?? Jewellery and domestic violence?? Isn't that obscene? Everyone will hope to make money out of this programme - the event management company, the channel and of course, the fat man himself. Prominent ladies will also fall over backwards to show how socially committed they are ( besides - doesn't it feel great to be on tv?). Another media savvy jewellery designer has managed to rope in the usual suspects to walk the ramp for her ( I am sick of these meaningless shows, and do I really want to see a bunch of ghastly , over made up socialites preening on the ramp , pretending they are doing this for 'charity'?) Such bakwas! If these ladies would 'sacrifice' just one pampering massage (upwards of 3000 bucks) and donate the amount to paying the annual school fees of a slum kid, that would be more laudable. I always suspect the motives of these do gooders , who are out to garner publicity through their supposedly 'charitable' endeavours. Nobody bothers to examine their accounts or demand transparency from them . Who knows where that money goes?? Though I can offer a few guesses. Weekend Bazaars etc are a part of the same racket. Affluent ladies of leisure get their darzis to make two dozen kurtis, mark them up ridiculously, sell them to friends, recover their costs, keep a hefty profit, and donate a pittance to charity. The media dutifully covers these events and talks about the 'cause' and how wonderful it is of these women to participate etc etc. The 'cause' is them!
Glad to note 'Aham' is going full steam ahead with the S.I.T.A Sena. The 'Seeti Bajaao.... Khud ko Bachchaao' slogan I've suggested to him, is being worked on as well.
Oh.... what did I think of our local Red Carpet looks on Saturday? The only people who got it right were Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri.