A lot has been said and written about the recent controversy over the kiss between Hollywood actor Richard Gere and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty. Almost all the TV news channels and morning newspapers were flooded with pictures and clippings of that incident. But, there are certain questions yet to be answered like: was Gere wrong in doing that? Should Shilpa apologise to the people? Or is it a mere controversy hyped by the media and self-proclaimed social do-gooders of our society? Let’s try and find some answers to these questions.

So, what is the big deal about a kiss? Well… I think if there is media intervention in any matter it is bound to get bigger by each passing minute. The sole reason for media’s extensive coverage of the incident is for the increase in TRPs. The TV news channels went on to show the complete incident repeatedly to capture as many eyeballs as possible. Media is fuelling the controversy by cashing in on the emotional side of the Indian audiences. In any case, India is a conservative nation which mostly gets agitated on non-issue matters while sidelining the other important and unaddressed issues. Media is playing along these sentiments of a common man and making the incident more of an entertainment package than any social cause raiser by any means.

Another question that is tickling me about the controversy is that why did it offend so many people who were virtually unaffected by it. There were effigies of Richard Gere burnt down by the people and protest marches held at many places. The justification given for such a rude behaviour was that a foreigner insulted an Indian actress in a public function and that enraged the people. Well… to consider a light-hearted peck for public entertainment purpose as an insult is a way too much. And moreover, Shilpa, the victim of ‘abuse’ isn’t even complaining. Shilpa Shetty requested the media to stop highlighting the issue. She firmly believed that it was for public entertainment that Gere acted that way and not to hurt anyone’s sentiments. Many more such incidents have been protested against by the so-called Nari Shakti Sangathans across India who seldom realise that there are other grave issues waiting to be addressed to.

After the incident was flashed across the TV sets and published in the local and national dailies, the so-called social activists and women rights’ members took to the streets to hold morchas wherever possible. They raised hue and cry for women’s dignity and respect in the context of the Indian society. Such activists and organisations seldom work for issues like sanitation, health care, women safety and most importantly women education. Such issues requires a lot of hard work and genuine effort for a cause and a lot more than just beaming at the TV channel cameras. And the man there are protesting against is a famous Hollywood actor who has taken up the job of educating and spreading awareness of a fast spreading disease ‘AIDS’, an issue which should be taken up by these social activists.

And lastly, should Shilpa apologise to the people of Inida? Well… no way, she shouldn’t. The man who wasn’t at fault has already apologised. And Shilpa is not the one responsible for all the chaos and hurt. It’s the media that fanned the issue for their own selfish purpose. It’s high time we learned to mind our own business and channel our resources for a more deserving cause.

Tanushree Chatterjee