We reported earlier on Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty’s venture into the Celebrity Big Brother house in the UK. We thought things were going smoothly for her when reader Jai informed us that Shilpa was part of a reshuffle in the house where
“8 housemates voluntarily transferred into an adjoining, and significantly dodgier, “servants’ quarters”, with the intention that the 3 remaining celebrities would be treated like royalty by them. It appears that they all selected the lucky 3 on the basis of them having the highest status in the real world — Shilpa was one of them, along with Jermaine Jackson and a famous director called Ken Russell. So that’s an interesting indication of how they view her.”
Jai signed on again, despite starting a new job (congrats jai!), to let us know how things were progressing for Shilpa and the gang. It seemed she had bonded with the other major stars on the show, especially Jermaine Jackson and Dirk Benedict (Face from the A-team) who was crushing hard core on the Bollywood star. At the same time it seems, Shilpa was also the victim of a lot of bullying and even some acts of racism from some of the housemates (especially the ladies). Over the past few days, fellow participants have called Shilpa “dog, “”The Indian,” and have even mocked her accent. One of the Bullyers according to the Daily Mirror is previous Big Brother winner Jade Goody. Goody, who supports Act Against Bullying, an anti-bullying charity, was swiftly given the boot by the the charity because of her actions. Act Againts Bullyying called Goody’s behaviour “unforgivable”.
Jade’s mother Jackey too got in on the anti-Shilpa act. According to Caroline Malone, who was recently evicted, “Jade’s mum Jackiey hated Shilpa and constantly referred to her as “The Indian” which I found horribly insulting. Jackiey made life purposely difficult for Shilpa – shouting at her for no reason, criticising her cooking, attacking her for being bossy.” (link)
Hey, you don’t like someone? Call them names, use their race, ethnic origin, or anything that makes them different and mock that as well. Have your mom call them names, and have your boyfriend call them names too. That solves everything. It turns out Jade’s boyfriend Jack Tweed— who is also currently in the house, and was alleged to have called Shetty a “paki” when Jade’s mother was evicted last week; Channel 4, the channel on which Big Brother airs, has confirmed that Tweed didn’t call Shetty a Paki, but instead the clearly more civilized, “cunt.” Last night Shetty was in tears and is quoted as saying: “I’m the only one they are mean to, I don’t know why. Nobody is mean to anyone else except me.” (link)
The Hindustan Times reports that many viewers think Shilpa is being targeted out of jealousy. I was quite surprised to hear that Shilpa was being paid more than everyone else $680,000, against the standard fee of $610,000. She has also been more popular in the media than other participants, mostly B- and C-list celebs (link). Even though I am a fan of the reality tv genre, I am constantly amazed at how foolish and idiotic adults can act on these shows. Things have gotten so bad in the house for Shilpa that the BBC has reported that British Media watchdog Ofcom and Channel 4 have received almost 10,000 complaints about the racist behavior and bullying thus far. Showing solidairty with his Asian sister and his many British Asian constituents, Leicester East MP Keith Vaz even tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons against the alleged racist behaviour on Big Brother. The motion reads: “…This House views with concern comments made about… Shilpa Shetty by other housemates; believes that Big Brother has a role… in preventing racist behaviour…; regrets that these comments have been made, and calls on the programme to take… action to remind housemates that racist behaviour is unacceptable.” While Ofcom has indicated that it is looking into each complaint of racist behavior on the show, no matter how much investigation they do, it won’t change the resentment/negative feelings that seems to exist in some segments of British society. You can’t investigate that away.
Its all over sky news at the moment. And now we have around 10-20 out of work nutjobs burning effigies in India. I just hope nobody gets shot in the ensuing riots or it will be our turn be embarrassed.
What do I mean by non-elite Indians who speak English? I mean they speak English at home and in situations where they would use the language they were most comfortable with. By “not elite” I mean middle class Indians in cities who are not affiliated with Bollywood since that was the topic at hand, don’t run a lucrative business, and don’t hobnob with high society. I’m not including myself in this because I grew up in Hyderabad where everyone knows each other and anyone that goes to certain schools or works for certain institutions ends up hobnobbing with high society by default, even if the high society kids are being chauffered to school and your dad is dropping you off on a Bajaj.
they ought to shut this show down before it gets any worse..this is ridiculous!
Amitabh, as far as I remember, we have agreed to disagree on this before, but I do think you’re crossing the line here. Please stop defining ‘Indian’ for everyone else. You have no more or less “right” over India than I do. Period.
As I always say, English today is an Indian language, like any other. It’s fine if you don’t agree, but again, please do not insinuate against people who choose to use it that way.
It does not matter whether the Brits or Yanks or Aussies consider English an Indian language (though they should and eventually will). The older generations in India looked to the Brits for “validation” of their English (BBC English and stuff), but today it is used and modified in India without any corresponding need for validation.
Sure, there is always an elitist aspect to using English, but again, it’s an individual thing. There are people who look down on you if their English is better than yours, but there are people who don’t. And there are people who’ll find some reason to look down on you no matter what!
Brown, thanks for the factual backup. I once met a nice old man at a church sale, who responded when a woman standing next to him commented on how good my English was after I said I was from India, “Well, what do you expect? India has the largest English speaking population in the world!”. I could have kissed him.
A great book to read about the whole Indian English debate is Braj Kachru’s Asian Englishes: Beyond the Canon. He makes the most eloquent argument that I have seen for why English no longer can be considered merely a Brit/American/Aussie language any more.
is this aired anywhere online or in the states? seems hilarious. Maybe they’re mean to her because they saw 24 and realized that she could be a Kal Penn type.
Desishiksa,
Happy to help, the arguments made by some like Amitabh on such discussions are preposterous. I hope this doesnÂ’t ignite an Indianess debate and take the attention away from the topic at hand.
Me too. I apologize for my role in any threadjacking that may have taken place and shall desist from making further comments for now (mainly because I am going to work).
Wonder what caused this Greer gem? As a Tamil, Shetty has certainly had to deal with discrimination at home in suburban Mumbai. Perhaps Ms. Greer should get some nice kaapi at a Matunga restaurant. ManiÂ’s serves lovely idlis in the morn. ItÂ’s right next to Poddar College. Alumnis include certain Ms. Shetty.
I’m not sure how I feel about this.. First of all, Shilpa comes in with her diva attitude. She wanted to teach people about HER, HER country and HER life – and used this to be a ‘crossover’ star. I don’t think she went into this ready to share and learn about others and gain from the experience.
With that said, there is not excuse for derogatory and racist/sexist comments.
However, let’s step back and see this is a reality show. They always put a southern conservative in a house with a gay guy from San Fran or a Muslim. They want to stir up emotions and then talk about the homophobia, xenophobia, etc.
This is voluntary situation by the participants and the environment is fostered by the TV producers. (Why do you think Real World has a bunch of gorgeous, lusty kids working in Las Vegas clubs?)
Shodan # 60. Ms. Shetty is not Tamil speaking-she may be born in Tamilnadu but her mother tongue is Tulu.
As a Tamil, Shetty has certainly had to deal with discrimination at home in suburban Mumbai.
I don’t think she’s Tamil. Going by her surname, she is Bunt, the Tulu-speaking community which also includes, incidentally, Aishwarya Rai.
My Dad always got really mad when he/we saw award shows or star’s interviews in English. He even wrote a letter to the “Times of India” – letters from readers, section. TOI even published it. He is not against the language English at all.
Aishwariya is a Kannadiga! (sorry, feeling a little home pride there)
The UK question is interesting. Here’s a glimpse into why I think the racism in the UK to Asians is abhorrent:
oh, i forgot one more thing: British humour, which is completely based on poking fun of other people. Where is the line drawn between being humourous and being abusive?
Hari Kunzru’s brief riposte was toothless and disappointing.
I thought Kunzru’s piece was better; I think Greer is wrong when she says that Shilpa is riling up her housemates in a calculated fashion. I think Shilpa’s mixture of nerdiness, pomposity, and impeccable good manners (a peculiarly Indian combination of traits, as Kunzru pointed out) is causing her chavette housemates to react with bewilderment and outrage.
You mean, she hasn’t been emasculated.
oh, i forgot one more thing: British humour, which is completely based on poking fun of other people. Where is the line drawn between being humourous and being abusive?
Hey, Borat turned abusive humor into a small fortune.
musical, risible, Not really focussing on the Tamil part. Mumbai is a multilingual city (despite claims to the contrary from sons of soil types). With same problems/advantages of any other melting pot. GreerÂ’s comment reeks of ignorance.
Yeah, she remains as masculine as ever.
Manju
Neal
.
That’s the kind of casual misogyny I was talking about.
Look Mr K, I’m all for a little casual misogyny form time to time, but in this case it was just a casual reference.
As am I, but the difference is that I don’t find it anything to celebrate in myself. Everytime a woman speaks bluntly, she’s accused of being masculine, etc. And what your hyperlink to “The Female Eunuch” has to do with it, I don’t know. I mean, if we’re going to play the game like that, I could accuse Vijay Prashad of being white, and then link to “The Karma of Brown Folk.” Pointless.
I’m aware how shrill this sounds. If that’s the price, so be it.
Like bloodthirsty Romans?
i agree with amitabh. i think it is a bit funny as well. not without precedent. tolstoy documents te elitist fixation with french in his books and occasionally uses it to comic effect. if i read amitabh right, he was not questioning english’s usage in india – it is just comical to interpret knowledge of a language (any language) as being indicative of superior learning/breeding. i have been in uncomfortable situations when a person spews out some gibberish in “english” in the mistaken belief that he/she is sounding more credible. another perspective – whenever i go to quebec the point is driven home that my communication skills in french are abysmal – a lesser community would make me feel like a shoe upon perceiving my weaknesses (as with the elitist indian society) or make fun of my pronunciation – not so. most people politely move to english (rather than have me dingdong their mother tongue). in india (i’ve done this experiment) i’d be treated with derision as something for the servant class to handle.
btw – to stay on topic, that shilpa woman has a nice round gaand.
in other words….these bully reality shows have become our modern version of the Arena of Death
KXB–good point! that “humor” which is considered “British” permeates the whole world, doesn’t it? but in Britain it is considered “British” and only “British”
Desishiksha (#43), I totally agree. I speak English at home, and Hindi is not my native language. I dislike the expectation that all Indians should speak Hindi, and I really hate the implication that speaking English is some kind of snobbery.
Kush had a point. I don’t think any of us are objecting to the use of English per se. It is the attitude that accompanies it that can be questioned. I have seen many highly intelligent vernacular students get rejected from interviews (colleges, jobs) simply because they did not have the requisite fluency. And this goes beyond individual discrmination. This attitude is the reason why a Jnanapith award winner in a native language has his books sold for Rs. 100, 150 while a writer in English has his/hers sold for Rs.600 – Rs.900.
This is incredible, way to discuss the issue at hand.
Mr. K:
I think greer makes your point…
…in her book. she very playfully/provocatively analogizes the female condition to castration. so i just went with her analogy. Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of opportuites in the future to scold me for my misogyny, but in this case, you are mistaken.
kxb — i guess like cohen, big brother is doing the same thing?
Desishiksha (#43), I totally agree. I speak English at home, and Hindi is not my native language.
You guys have 100% twisted what Amitabh said in earlier comments beyond recognition. Nobody derides English or imposes Hindi. RK Narayan wrote in English but his heart was as Indian as anyone else will ever have.
Amitabh was pointing out that some of the actors inspite of living off “Hindi” film industry, adored by Indian speaking Hindi and other native Indian languages totally eschew the Hindi and other distinctly Indian lifestyle in public. Some of it looks very shallow and hypocritcal. He has a very valid point.
Years ago, I saw Satyajit Ray speak. He was a pucca English sahib but the man had an eye and sensibility of all things Indian.
Diverting Amitabh’s point out of context is complete lack of understanding what he was conveying in his comments.
thank you. we try .
kxb — i guess like cohen, big brother is doing the same thing?
Not exactly. Cohen basically took advantage of American hospitality – he’d behave like a jackass, or say something obnoixious, and the Americans were too polite to correct him. Big Brother is largely self-selected – people are not filmed under false pretenses unlike Cohen, whose objects of ridicule will not see a dime.
Wtf? I was pointing out the silliness of using the term “emasculated” in this situation.
I mean I guess you could argue the word itself is misogynist since it associates “masculine” with being strong and steadfast. But that would be a threadjack of epic proportions, so let’s not.
Amitabh, How did you miss the pretentious Aishwarya Rai who was complaining “Why do people think I dont know English” on Oprah.
Manju, you are beginning to achieve a literary style which crosses Naipaul with Wilde (I think). 🙂
84 Kush and earlier Amitabh,
What is this distinctly Indian lifestyle you allude to?
Does it mean wearing kurta pajama, lungis and dhotis as opposed to trousers/shirts? Should they only eat Indian food?
Like desishiksa mentioned, if it happens in India, it is Indian. Societies and lifestyles aren’t frozen in time and continue to change and evolve. When English incorporates Indian words and accepts them as English – pundit, guru, yogi, shampoo etc etc, why can’t Indian languages do the same.
As for the perception of these stars, do you know them? So John Abraham being vegetarian (is that more Indian since as a chrstian/muslim hybrid, he has chosen to be vegetarian) or Saif Khan saying that his family from Pataudi were very proud of him when played a soldier in L.O.C.
Also, when they speak to the vernacular media, they do so in Hindi or are translated to HIndi. What is the big deal here? Maybe it is the fact that Abhishek talked about the songs on his iPOD in an interview which is not readily or cheaply available in INdia (I may be mistaken), he comes across as American. How dare these people from desh own cool gadgets. Only thos living West can have that lifestyle….
Of course all the strife and other hullabaloo on big bro is what the producers would like. That it has racial under and over tones is incidental. Shilpa is more accomplished than her fellow residents but not enough to bring down the house. I think pretty good move from big bro to get her into the show. The unpleasantness you see on the show is a face of ignorance, jealousy, and insecurity. big bro is probably pretty happy.
About Amitabh’s comment on hindi cinema stars’ non-hindi attitude, I think Kush responded best. And I don’t know how it is awesome that hindi cinema awards be conducted in non-hindi. Also, I do watch a bunch of bolly-tv, and can totally vouch for the fact that barring maybe 5% of interviewed actors, they can’t construct a full sentence in hindi, let alone a whole conversation. I object to it because 1. its fake to see them act in a language they can’t speak unscripted and 2. I’d just like to sometime hear a bolly conversation in hindi.
BTW, I don’t have hindi fluency expectation from those desis whose first language is neither hindi nor english. But you should see what happens when an interviewer happens to ask a question in hindi – the star begins with hindi, and I swear – no more than 5 words of hindi pass across their lips when they give up and go into english – now we’re cookin’! The few that I’ve noticed are able to express themselves in hindi are manoj vajpayee, bipasha, john abraham, srk, and a bunch of older actors.
To those that say speaking english in india isn’t necessarily elitist, I say ‘bring awn the flames’ cos I say it is! Try reasoning in hindi at a hotel anywhere in the hindi-speaking-majority place in India, and then switch to english and you’ll notice the difference. Jobs – its a leg up in any job – sweeper on the road even. English makes one more valuable in almost any job or situation in India today, and it is aspired towards, and yes, it is elitist.
I only know hindi and english so my experience is limited to the use of these two. Not sure how the use/knowledge of english in non-hindi-majority parts of India works out.
I think that is why only less than 20% of India’s population speaks English. Its a people’s language, people !! Dont you get it??
Thats why we dont let brick-maker and the shoemaker’s kids into our English medium schools. Its a people’s language so the shoe-maker’s kids probably knows it already.
I mean you have to be blind not to see, the language based class system that is prevelant in India.
Sorry about the threadjack, but this was not Amitabh’s point at all. I don’t think anyone here dislikes english, so please do not make such insinuations.
As Amitabh said, 95% of the Indian actors are more comfortable with english. Now, if 95% of Indians spoke english in their daily lives (heck, even 50%) , I won’t have a problem with that. But I doubt more than 10% do.
As for the perception of these stars, do you know them?
FYI: My aunt’s brother (mamiji’s bhai) was married to a bollywood actress for a brief while. Hint: She was really good-looking, and was known for vampish roles. I must confess that she presented her in day-to-day life in a very traditional way, and spoke Hindi in a very modulated, sophisticated tones. Email me and I’ll give your name too in private.
It is not common for Mumbaiker’s (I am not from Mumbai) to know actors/ actress. Go to ex-SMer Manish’s blog @ Ultrabrown, he hobnobs/ runs into them with them often. He even shares the gym with Bipasha and Rishi Kapoor.
Correction: It is not uncommon……..
d00d doesn’t Shilpa like have a black belt in karate.. she oughta kick some ass
The NYT had a squib about this yesterday, as well as an announcement of the Abi-Aish engagement… hooray for Bollywood, I suppose.
Big Brother and shows like that live off the casual bigotry that throwing cultural opposites into a camera-ready house entails. I don’t know if what’s happening with Shilpa is a little more than the producers bargained for. I don’t think this is worth burning effigies and street riots though. It’s unfortunate and I hope she’s not too traumatised by the experience!
The other issue about the “Indian”ness of Bollywood actors is an ongoing conversation, yeah? In my view, it has nothing to do with whether or not racist attitudes are somehow earned or deserevd.
random thought: bipasha is such a funny name. it makes me think of two saudi sheiks sitting or a two humped bactrian camel.
Whats so funny about Bipasha-its the name for River Beas (Vipasha in Sanskrit, Bipasha in Bengali).
Kush:
Did you mean, “its not un-common”?
However, i wouldn’t buy that-i have many friends from Bombay/Mumbai-and none of them have ever spotted a star. So, am not sure if its that common for a “common Mumbaikar” to see the stars.