Am I part of “Nepotism” too?

All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others – George Orwell, Animal farm.

There was a clueless boy who struggled to complete Engineering, wasted 2 years after graduation with job hunting. Eventually, he managed to enter the corporate world, worked for 10k salary for 2 years and finally stepped into a stable life. Have you ever felt that it is only your hard work and perseverance that got you to where you are currently in life? Of course, they are crucial elements. I too had the same feeling until I reached a point where I believed that I was blessed to be stable in life.

“Nepotism” became a familiar word to most of us. Especially given the backdrop triggered by Sushant Singh’s suicide case filled with a series of controversies and outbursts in Bollywood. A well-known fact is that nepotism exists everywhere. Films and politics are two areas that are more visible. Most of us like me hated the star kids who had a very easy entrance and existence in the industry. It was as if they had all the luck.

I know a Malayalam movie named “Varane avasyamund” released this year; produced by Dulquer Salman, directed by Anoop Sathyan, and lead actress was Kalyani Priyadarshan. All the three products of nepotism. The movies cast and crew had a list of proven artists and it was an absolute entertainer and a commercial success. When Dulquer Salman was asked about star kid’s easy entrance to the movie, his response was: “You don’t need to think of it like star kids are snatching away your chances. And there are opportunities for everyone.”

Even though his response seems justifiable at first sight, I cannot fully agree to that. There are plenty of passionate, talented aspiring actors struggling to enter the industry but failing even after attending a marathon of auditions. On the other hand, the entrance ticket is a piece of cake for the star kids. Directors and producers are more than ready to make films with them. Another interesting fact that the Indian audience love their favorite stars so much that they extend the love to their kids as well. Not only from the diehard fans, they are also accepted by the majority of the audience with their charm and screen presence. We have the examples of numerous star kids who had a very easy entrance, but displayed pathetic performance in the initial movies and gradually improved. As time passed, they became stars and when questioned about Nepotism, they respond: “My entrance into the industry might have been a bit easier as you say, but I stay here because I worked hard!” Of course, Sir/ Madam, you worked hard, but there are plenty of people more talented, passionate and ready to sacrifice everything, but do not get a single chance.

Relaxing in my apartment’s balcony, I can see a slum where around 50 families live. There is a vast barren land surrounding the area. They do not have washrooms and we see kids, women and aged people using this barren land as toilets. This vision is clearly viewed by people from all 14 floors in the building. Why is the government not providing toilets to these people before spending on sculptures and metros? Thanks to the Trump visit, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation authorities build a wall to cover or rather hide a stretch of slums on the American leader’s route. Nevertheless, the slum dwellers near my building are not as lucky. A 17-year-old Assamese boy cleans cars in my apartment. There are several boys in their early 20s working as security guards in the same apartment.

Seeing them made me think more about the pathway to reach my current state. Is it just hard work and perseverance? No. The fact that I was lucky to be born in a family that provided better infrastructure and facilities cannot be ignored. This was one of the major aspects that differentiated me from them. I had better opportunities and circumstances. These boys and the slum dwellers could also have reached far higher if they had the same chances as me.

The other day I was discussing about slums in Dharavi in Mumbai with my friends. One of them stated: “Government needs people from slum to do certain jobs like sewage cleaning which others hesitate to do.” Now just imagine yourself as one of them, and the society then thinking they need slums to be maintained to clean the sewage and their children to continue doing the same.

Connecting back to where we began…“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”
Are we not part of nepotism in some way or another? What can we do to make sure everyone gets basic right to shelter, food, and education? We can take responsibility to support those who are unprivileged.

• Distribute the slum dwelling kids basic food and maybe a toy on their birthdays.
• Offer free education to the underprivileged.
• Provide girls in slums with basic clean toilets and proper sanitary napkins just like our sisters.
• Arrange for safe and comfortable shelter for the old people in slums.

I am reminded of a famous dialogue from “Pathemari”, a Malayalam movie: “Our life becomes meaningful when we are able to make someone’s life better, make someone happy.”