Brewing Hot Espresso Coffee with the Cricketers: Another One Bites the Dust

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Image result for koffee with Karen - KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya from the Indian Cricket Team
Image credit: DNA India

by Mrittika Nandy 18 January 2019

Koffee with Karan, a show that has garnered high Television Rating Points (TRP’s) over six decades on Star World is currently the core contention of debate and deliberation. Been on the electronic platform for more than 6 decades with a prominent face from Bollywood, Karan Johar (renowned Director of Hit films and an acclaimed author of An Unsuitable Boy, 2016).  His talk show brings forth personalities from Bollywood who share the deep and dark secrets with a tinge of humor from other side of world. A world which most people understand in the form of rumors, link-ups, box office collections and of course sexual harassment accusations with reference to #MeToo Campaign.

Aired on a Sunday around 9 PM, this show offers an interesting dynamics vis-a vis choice of actors who sit on the couch and “reveal secrets”.  Some of the secrets people are aware through newspapers and magazines. The show portrays rich and beautiful people participate together for 45 minutes ‘to have a good time’. One of the highest points of the show is when celebrities discuss their personal life and respond to questions listed in rapid fire. The format of the show is very much western but unfortunately doesn’t catch up with the essence or even the standards of ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’. The Indian audience would have been delighted had their been a show which shares good and positive thoughts and recharges the Indian workforce for the coming week. Unfortunately, good scripts and good shows don’t make it to the Idiot Box!

In the first week of January 2019, this show aired an episode featuring sports personalities: KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya from the Indian Cricket Team (National). Rahul and Pandya frequently feature in the Indian cricket team for their phenomenal skills with the bat and bowl respectively. Unfortunately, they are currently having a dry season in down under, (India- Australia Cricket series). Never in the history of Koffee with Karan, has there been cricketers featured and ‘who spoke and got carried away with the show’. From the minute show was aired, the Indian audience became aware of Pandya’s bling side, his inspiration from West Indies / Black culture and coarse ways of defining/ objectifying women. Incidentally, Rahul whose Intelligent Quotient (IQ) is comparatively higher than the other two (Pandya and Karan Johar) became the second lead in the show with his mellow down misogynistic comments.

Its true that Koffee with Karan objectives women, body shames women and often makes vile observation and comments. It was Mr. Karan Johar who started off the show with asking about the links up with women followed by discussing and dissing the list of women they (Pandya and Rahul) have been linked with. In the middle for about a couple of minutes there was a mature discussion about Cricket especially with regard to their 1st Century or Five-wicket haul. Unfortunately, every achievement of these cricketers had a dark side. Rahul categorically mentions that his first hundred was in a state of inebriated and his first hundred was special. Although, he does apologize the act he has done prior to the game. Unfortunately, Johar disses it by saying everyone can have a day off from a high rush adrenalin game.

But when it comes to Pandya, who proudly claims that he is class 9th drop out and boldly shares the secret of losing virginity with his family. His family being ‘weird and cool’ has consistently applauded his efforts and honesty to share personal information. He also adds that in party, one of the family member asked Pandya about his relationship status with the girls. To which Pandya replied that he has connections with all of them. It almost appears that Pandya treats women as their personal property for enjoyment and living up to the notion of carefree life. This is very much reflective Indian men mindset with regard to women. He also adds that he ‘stalks’ women on Instagram and often parties with them in nightclubs or pubs. Pandya thought for such comments and opinion, he would be lauded and appreciated for his ‘one sided-broad’ set of knowledge on the other gender.

There was point on the show, when Rahul and Pandya claimed that they ‘hit on women’ at the same time, but it depends on her whom she choses. It is extremely strange when women in India are fighting for tougher marital laws, gender equality, revealing the truths of sexual assault and others. There are these men who bring the entire ‘He for She’ campaign to square one. Having a zilch knowledge as to how to treat another sex, these men who are also idols for younger generation lack the basic concept of respect and equality. What’s more is that they are cricketers who would represent the country further in International tournaments.

Furthermore, flashy newspapers do articulate the sparkling life of these cricketers with respect to their connections with Bollywood artistes. This relationship has become even more sordid one when Indian Premier League (IPL) was introduced, wherein a host of Bollywood actors brought teams such as Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders, Preity Zinta’s Kings Eleven Punjab, Shilpa Shetty’s Rajasthan Royals and others. These cricketers post match would attend late night parties and even went ’onboard’ with some cheerleaders and actresses. However, most of these classified information found an appeal on blog posts but not as headlines in leading newspapers.

With the release of such misogynistic expressions, and by taking a part in talk show- it has done more harm than good to their reputation and stature. It shows that no matter how many more record-breaking campaigns are organized, or women based associations are established- the mindset just never changes. Well, certainly is the case with these personalities from different walks of life.  Failure to follow a moral code of conduct really shows the kind of patriarchal based mentality women have to swim and survive. They are genuinely at a loss of words, reputation and everything else. The Board Control Cricket of India (BCCI) has taken disciplinary action against the players. They have been suspended from the remaining set of matches form the current India- Australia tour. However, this isn’t enough! They must explain as to why such kinds of statements were being made on national television?  Who had given them the permission to participate in the show? Does it really justify making such statements on national television when they are considered to be demi-gods in India? How come they have no remorse or guilt for such an act, other than posting apologetic posts/ tweets on social media?

Interestingly, BCCI unilaterally should have taken a disciplinary action ever since the episode was aired. Moreover, a disciplinary action against the players is basically a fall out of the social media flak they have received. It’s the social media wherein they were first put on trial and then was followed by suspension. Not the other way round. Additionally, when the Internet called out for their unapologetic crass behavior, what was further more shocking are statements of fellow cricketers.  Where were they when the troubled waters went above their head? They should rather be apologetic that they are members of the same fraternity and also in the future may be a part of the playing eleven. Hypocrisy and shocking at the same time!

Our ethical or moral values cannot be determined by the outburst of comments/ opinions on social media. There is just no justification to the fact that the other sex must be treated as second-class citizens. It completely negates the fact that our Indian constitution believes in the ideals of equality and liberty. We must move forward in terms of progressive thinking especially with regard to female sex. There is a need to sensitize men in the country not to objectify women or even pursue them with misogynist comments. Women are not mannequins on display for their families or in-laws, they must not be accrued as just a ‘modern, homemaker, convent educated girl’. It this stereotype that first kills the compatibility followed by marital prospects. They must be identified as woman of substance, personality and venturing into the degree of independency and spiritedness.  The abstract notion about women must be demolished and new concept of women is finds prominence in different aspects of life. It’s the new wave of feminism that’s blowing smoke on social media and will slowly engulf the not-so progressive mindset.

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