From radicalism to soap operas

Our interpretations and perspectives of 'normal' or 'common sense' as we define it, are invariably influenced and (in a more appropriate sense) to some extent 'manipulated' by existing predominant cultures and social practices. A student of sociology might beg to differ however, contending that 'common sense' cannot be defined by absolute homogeneity, and what may be 'all right' in the eyes of one person, may not be 'okay' for another individual within the same community or the society, bearing dissimilar ideologies. Nevertheless, keeping the two dichotomous and unarguably conflicting views juxtaposed to one another, it would not be incorrect to derive the conclusion that every independent social being possessing a certain degree of freedom of expression and (or) opinion, is affected by prevailing social norms, and the impact of these intangible forces, although underrated, are as strong as ever. A simple, uncomplicated example could be from the era of British Raj when Dhaka (or Dacca, to be precise) was home to many orthodox Muslim families who enforced strict 'purdah' ( veil) on the womenfolk whenever they stepped out of the boundaries of their household, into the public foray. Any archived photograph depicting the 50s or 60s showed that this was indeed a 'common' phenomenon.  Fast forward 50 years into the future, our stereotypes have undergone radical transformations.
Gone are the days when entertainment was held synonymous to iconic  creations of literary genius Humayun Ahmed, be it the cult following of 'Baker Bhai' from the widely acclaimed play 'Kothao Keu Nei' or the despised  Mirza  from 'Ayomoy'. The young fan base of Mcgyver has long disappeared and children no longer anticipate telecasts of Sesame Street. The pervasion of satellite network has marked the beginning of a 'cultural revolution', catalysed by rapidly changing social frameworks of the new millennium. Suddenly the radio at the nearby tea stall which used to sweeten our lazy mornings with daily doses  of Shahnaz Rahmatullah or  timeless melodies  of Hemanta started blaring 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' or any other Hindi number that was 'in'. What began as an innocuous cultural pluralism, however, gradually took the form of what we observe today as 'cultural aggression'. Children these days speak fluent Hindi, a social crisis reflected by unassuming mothers, who simultaneously devour the storylines of 'Star Jalsha'  or  'Star Plus'.
A recent survey made by the Department of Population Science, University of Dhaka, revealed that among 90 per cent of women who watch TV, around 60 per cent are addicted to Indian soap operas, specifically the shows aired by popular West Bengal's channel 'Star Jalsha'. These shows have only penetrated the average Bangladeshi household to the extent that homemakers literally strive to imitate the couture and lifestyle depicted by conspiring women decked in expensive Banarasi saris and Kundan jewelries. With rising purchasing power and incomes of the middle class, a simultaneous change in their taste and preferences are inevitable, a glaring manifestation we see during the Eid season when the shopaholic women throng the malls for the desired 'Pakhi dress' ( named after a soap opera character) or 'XYZ sari'. From an economic perspective, we are well aware of the repercussions of an undesired dependency of the domestic market on uncontrolled influx of imports. Cheaper imports from our neighbours are likely substitutes to home produced goods and therefore fall far behind in an intensely competitive market.
The recent spates of gruesome murders that have sent shockwaves across the nation are unfortunate evidence of how desensitised and indifferent we have become to fundamentalism and intolerance. While the media highlights them as attacks on a 'Hindu priest' or a 'Buddhist monk', it is crucial that masses interpret these heinous crimes as a violation of human rights, rather than distinguishing the victims for their varying religious beliefs and ethnicities. A murder demands justice, and whether the victim is a Hindu, a Muslim, a Buddhist or a secular is insignificant. These innocent men are our brethren, and discriminating them on the basis of their beliefs will only make it easier for these radicals to breed strife and chaos. Our generation is witness to some of biggest genocides against humanity- the Syrian and Palestinian conflict namely and as violence continues to escalate, death and bloodshed will eventually become a 'common' aspect of our lives.
Perilous times loom ahead for our society, and unless we put ourselves in a position to control the transitions, be it cultural or political, there is scant hope for the future. Rather than retracing the steps back to our roots (which is a highly utopian and unrealistic proposition), we must take inspiration from what we have left behind, while addressing current crisis. The fine line between empowering and endangering ourselves has become more blurred than ever, and if not dealt with wisely, will have adverse consequences. As Sigmund Freud precisely put it, 'Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength.'
Indeed, we cannot discover our strengths unless we are fully aware of our weaknesses, and to be able to do that, there is no alternative to unity.
Because united we stand, divided we fall.
The writer is a 2nd year BSS (Hons) student of Department of Development Studies,
University of Dhaka.
 [email protected]