Yellow Culture Intrudes in Bangladesh
Dr. Muhammad Abdul Mannan Chowdhury
We are facing a grave cultural crisis. Sexual harassment, rape, violence, naked concert, nude dances, cyber porn culture, porno-films, eve-teasing, drug addiction etc. have become the regular events of our society. If such events are allowed to continue uninterrupted, the future of our existence will be at stake; our serene culture and golden Islamic tradition will be completely ruined. In such a critical moment, we must not remain silent. We must take positive steps to protect our culture from complete ruination. Allah (SWT) said, "You do not throw yourselves by your own hands towards ruination. Perform good deeds nicely. Allah (SWT) loves those who perform good deeds." (2:195). Viewed in this perspective, below is an attempt to analyze the nature and causes of cultural aggression with some practical examples and to suggest some pragmatic measures to overcome the crisis so as to protect our culture and heritage from total collapse.
A vulgar show was staged at Dhaka's Army Stadium on December 10, 2010 in which Shahrukh Khan appeared in front of roughly 25,000 people. The show was watched live by millions of TV Spectators, as Bangladeshi Channel Baishaki got this show on their live broadcast. In this show half nude Russian girls were exhibiting their exposed bodies to public in the name of dancing. The Bangladeshi flop actresses like Shimla also went at the Army Stadium wearing a western type dress, almost exposing their bodies. Shahrukh Khan alone took US$ 3, 00,000 for this show while another significant amount of money was taken by other members of his team. It is said that most of the Russian girls who accompanied the entourage of Shahrukh Khan were suspected to be sex workers in Mumbai. (http:www.weeklyblitz.net/1168/Shahrukh-Khan-vulgar-show-in-bangladesh).
Event Management Group Antar Showbiz organized this event. This organization already arranged a series of big show with major international artistes like Adnan Sami, Shaan and the band Junoon. The main target of this show was to smuggle crores of money from Bangladesh in the name of organizing such entertainment event, especially at a time when countrymen were suffering badly from financial crisis and poverty. The elders in the family were feeling ashamed and uncomfortable when their children were watching this vulgar show in TV. Sanskritik Aggression Protirodh Manch (SAPM), a cultural forum and some political parties seriously protested against this vulgar show.
Indian films are now at the epicentre of the culture wars. The critics were incensed by the wanton sexuality in Indian films. They are corrupting our youth. Satellite television is everywhere with 20-30 channels. Indian films are everywhere in Bangladesh. There are about ten Indian channels, showing movies and movie songs round the clock. VHS tapes have been eclipsed by the VCD, on which Hindi films are the biggest sellers. It is said that there is an increase in rapes in the city of Dhaka due to the influence of Hindi films and TV series. The newspapers argue that everyone is watching the sex sizzle on the screen, but their reality is nothing like it – so they are driven to rape.
We are quite appalled at many of the shows in Indian TV channels that are apparently for children. The Indian channels are full of contests when ten year old girls are dressed up and made up like Bollywood actresses, gyrating to some hit Hindi songs, making all those suggested moves in front of an ecstatic audience and approving panel of judges. Then there are singing contests where again, little boys and girls sing out their hearts some raunchy Hindi number against the backdrop of a gaudy, glittery stage. We also find the identical shows in our own channels with the same ridiculous dance sequences performed by preteens, wearing layers of makeup and making moves that would put any Dhaliwood film extra to shame. Where are the children, we begin to wonder. Oh No! They have been replaced by mini-adults.
Proper cultural exchange is a powerful tool for minimizing hostility between nations or communities. However, it is quite surprising to note that even in this age of information technology, India is not as liberal in exchanging information with Bangladesh as one would expect. On the other hand, Bangladesh has a very lenient policy in allowing cable operators to transmit all the electronic media (almost all channels of the Indian TV) of India. But in West Bengal, the cable operators usually do not transmit any Bangladeshi TV channel programs presumably due to some restrictions imposed by the Indian government. This, in turn, largely deprives the Indian people in general and the people of West Bengal in particular of a more vividly understanding of the Bangladeshi people. Indian policy in this case is more inclined to a sort of cultural intrusion or aggression than the creation of healthy cultural exchange.
Similar is the case with the exchange of books. A walk through the College Street, the biggest book market of Kolkata is a case in point. In this famous book mall, it is not easy to get books published from Bangladesh. Even the books of eminent writers like Humayun Ahmed, Shamsur Rahaman, Syed Shamsul Haque, Showkat Ali, Imdadul Hoque Milan, Al -Mahmood, Nirmalendu Goon are not available due to some restrictions on book import from Bangladesh. As Subimal Basak, a dedicated editor of a little magazine in Kolkata said, "The central government of India is cautious about Bengali nationalism. That is why it does not want to develop any long cultural ties with Bangladesh."
The sexual harassment or stalking of women has taken the form of a menace for our society. Increasing numbers of women have been falling prey to unwarranted and unsolicited attention from wayward youths, who have clearly developed the feeling that they can get away with their sinister activities. Of course, a principal focus, all the way from the citizen's level to the government, has been a raising of awareness of the issue and the ways and means by which it can be rolled back. Allah (SWT) said, "Say to the faithful so that they control their eye-sight and protect the special organ of their body. This is the best for them. Certainly Allah is quite aware about what they do." Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, "There are more than seventy branches and sub-branches of faith. The highest branch is to say 'La Ilaha Illallah' ( There is no God but God) and the lowest branch is to remove the obstacles from the road. "In this connection I like to mention one event of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Once Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was riding on an ass during the Farewell Hajj. A young companion was sitting on the ass behind him. The companion was looking at a beautiful woman. Prophet (SAW) turned his (the companion) eyes straight. The companion was again looking at her and Prophet (SAW) turned his eyes straight. When Prophet (SAW) turned his eyes straight for the third time, the companion stopped looking at the woman any more. This implies the fact that man should not look at woman with a sinister motive or without any good reason to do so.
Both the state and the family have to play their role in offsetting the menace of sexual harassment. The legal and punitive action against the stalkers should be enforced strictly with no exception or relaxation. The laws against eve-teasing or sexual harassment should be widely circulated so that people from all walks of life can become aware of the fact. The provision to punish stalkers through an operation of mobile court is a positive step in the right direction. However, the concerned authorities should be careful in ensuring that the innocent do not suffer and the laws against stalking are not misused or abused by individuals or groups to settle personal scores. The law enforcers and security forces should be responsible to track down the elements who harass woman by threatening them or using abusive and profane languages by mobile phone. Above all, children must be imbued right from the beginning with the ideas of morality and a sense what constitutes a stable, educated and fair social order where men and woman are partners in all spheres of life. Beside schools, the parents have a role to play in this regard. They must teach their children the fundamental value of life in line with their respective religions and moral beliefs.
Our youngsters are being misled, but we are not protecting them. Cyber sex culture has already occupied the young minds. Many incidents of making porno films by cheating girl friends are reported by the news paper. The days are not far away when our children will take their sex partners inside our home and introduce them to us, like they do in the western world. We are facing culture violence in the form of a rising graph of rape and abduction of minor girls and young woman by social miscreants, so to speak. Among others, neo-colonialism and globalization may be held responsible for this sort of cultural aggression, so to speak. When the ex-colonies were becoming independent one by one in the aftermath of the Second World War, the neo-colonialists accepted the policy of cultural aggression as one of the tactics to maintain or sustain their influence and market. Specially, after being defeated in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Mozambique etc., the neo-colonialists became sure that at present it is very difficult to win by dint of military might alone against a nation. Rather, it is easier to weaken and bring under control the nation by destroying its culture. So, they infuse into the LDCs sexual pervasion, drug addiction, pornography and porno-films, mentality to depend on the neo- colonialists, brain-wash intellectuals etc. They try to divert the people of LDCs, especially to keep away the young minds from revolution or any change in life. The cultural aggressors think that preventive power of a nation will certainly be destroyed, if its culture is destroyed.
Globalization has gobbled the whole world. There is virtually no part on earth which has not been hit and bit by the enormous fang of the monster. All aspects of life have come under the sinister impact of globalization, growing and dwelling in the shadow of capitalism. It dazzles like the sun and blinds normal vision.
With its apparent grandeur, it ensnares people, though it is hollow in its core. Literature has now assumed new dimension in recent decades in the face of globalization, focusing on issues like diasporas, hybridity and cosmopolitan culture. It has been ushering in a system of internationalism dismantling the barriers of narrow nationalism. So, the dream of a world without borders hovers over the horizon which may be a matter of pleasure for some quarter. However, globalization has brought more hazards than comforts. A mechanical and materialistic view of life has been imported and incorporated, through the vehicle of globalization, into oriental space hitherto basking in the complacency of idealism. It has gnawed at the ethical base of this region. It has been a great loss for humanity: a colossal moral defeat.
Globalization preaches the philosophy of hedonism. Consumer goods are spread around and mantra is whispered: "Consume, consume, consume. You have no work other than consumption." Thus globalization has made the human soul spiritually sick, morally bankrupt and intellectually pretentious. It has posed a genuine threat to indigenous cultural and language across the globe. The dominant culture is out there to suppress the meek and mild. The affected, with the loss of their culture and language, fall into a vacuum, suffering from an identity crisis. They become alienated from and in themselves. Some may take it as a harmless outcome of the spontaneous interaction between multifarious cultural and linguistic imperialism or aggression.
Globalization has taught the world corporate trickery. The West is the breeding ground of big corporate scandals. Corporate culture seeks to influence the government machinery through fraudulence and corruption for the interest of the vested quarters, the bourgeoisie. It promotes the motto of maximizing profit, by means fair or foul. It suggests a heartless handling of business affairs, where human life carries no value. Life becomes mere a commodity. Money stands at the centre of all activities. Everybody runs after money when money itself is stationary. It flows to the people who have already got enough; it is not meant for the penniless, the subaltern, the marginalized.
Bangladesh will face a great threat to cultural autonomy unless pragmatic steps are taken to resist the silent cultural aggression which loomed large before the nation. There is need for the younger generation to understand and appreciate Bangladesh's cultural heritage and it is the responsibility of the older generation to ensure this continuity of culture. Cultural aggression is multi-faceted. Its machination range from distorting history to changing the way people dress. People even change from simple ways of address and greeting. In this connection I like to quote the remarks of some eminent personalities of our country made in a seminar on "Protecting Bangladesh's Cultural Identity", so as to realize the nature of cultural domination by the neighboring country upon us:
Eminent economist Prof. Mahabub Ullah said. "There has been a dehumanization of our culture resulting in horrific crimes like murder committed by the younger generation. On Pahela Baishakh, processions are brought out with models of peacocks, the national bird of India. What is wrong with our national bird doel? This was not a part of our culture. This is not the Bangladesh we sacrificed our youth for." Political analyst Dilara Chowdhury said, "The blatant effect of cultural intrusion is the impact of Indian TV channels, especially on children. They are not only imbibing Indian culture, but also the uncultured side of Indian culture in clothes, language, habits etc. This is having a negative influence on our country and nation. We do not call for ban on Indian TV, but some restrictions."
Asma Abbasi, an academic and cultural personality said, "We no longer sing our traditional songs at weddings, but dance to Hindi film numbers. I was on the film censor board and we were quite strict about censorship. But what is the use? The things they show on the Indian channels are much worse. Look at our education, syllabus etc. It does not reflect our culture. They highlight various Indian characters, but no mention of the life of our Prophet (SAW). Let us not forget, our culture is not just Pahela Baishakh, but Shab-e-Meraj also."
Singer Arif Akbar said, "We rush to India for our recordings, but do not try to create more musicians and build up the industry here. Second grade Indian Idol singers come here for concerts and the multinationals rush to sponsor their programs. The media splashed huge pictures and reports about them."
Hasanuzzaman, Secretary General of Nandonik Natya Sampradaya said, "The country has become independent, but its cultural growth has been hampered. Everything has been politicized, even culture. We speak of enhancing cultural ties, but what has happened? It is a one-way road –Indian cultural aggression is obvious from the fact that Indian TV channels flood our TV screens, but our programs are not shown in India. Bangladesh TV channels are seen all over the world, in America, England, and Australia and in many other countries, but not in our closest neighboring country India."
Mahfuzullah, senior journalist and TV personality said, "Unless strength is garnered immediately to resist the silent aggression aimed at Bangladesh's culture, the culture of this country will lose its cultural autonomy. The older generation has failed to inspire the younger generation to promote and nurture national culture. Cultural aggression is multifaceted. Its machinations range from distorting history to changing the way people dress. People even change from simple ways of address and greeting. That's why today we see TV anchors faltering over saying, 'Allah Hafez' or 'Khuda Hafez' at the end of a program. The unique culture of Bangladesh which emerged after independence must be protected. We must be ever alert so that no alien or foreign culture swallows it."
Sadeq Khan, a senior journalist said, "Whatever entertainment and activities we may get involved in; at the end of the day the people go to the mosque. This is a significant statement in the context of our culture. We must actively endeavor to promote and protect our culture and heritage from outside incursions."
Ours is a young country and though slow, is still going through a phase of transition. Much is left unexplored, day to day discoveries in the country baffle us, and the waging wars between the powerful and the weak is an everyday issue. In fact, Bangladesh represents Darwin's quintessential concept of 'survival of the fittest.' The transition and discoveries in Bangladesh have always been flanked by the forever effort to protect our culture from foreign infiltration. In fact, the war against Pakistani military junta which was fought four decades ago, was not only to liberate our land and preserve our mother tongue, but was also an effort to safeguard our culture. The media, around the world, seems to be all bent on forcing children into adulthood to wear grownup clothes, talk like them, behave like them and even think like them. It is about time we let Children be just what they are supposed to be, children. We must stand on our own feet. We must preserve our own culture, identity and heritage. We must learn to borrow good things from other and reject all the bad things. We must love our culture, identity and autonomy. In this connection I like to mention one event to find solution of our existing cultural problem. Once an old man went to an experienced doctor and said, "Doctor! I do not see well with my eyes." The doctor said, "It is because of your old age." Then the old man said, "I also feel pain in my waist." The doctor said, "It is also due to your old age." The old man said. "When I walk on foot, I can not breathe well." The doctor again said, "Your old age is responsible for it."
The old man said. "My memory had become very weak. I can not remember anything." The doctor said, "It happens due to your old age." Then the old man became very angry and said, "Oh foolish doctor! Did you not study anything other than old age in your medical science?" The doctor said, "You have become angry with an innocent doctor like me. This is also because of your old age." Similar is the case with our cultural crisis. Our cultural crisis has occurred due to only one reason- we are deviated from the true path of Islam. We are not following the teaching of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah in our day-to-day life although we claim ourselves to be Muslims, the follower of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).We do not have 'Takwa' for Allah (SWT). We do not have true respect for the Prophet (SAW) and his ideals, we are not afraid of the Day of Judgment and for our endless life in the world hereafter. This implies the fact that solution to all sorts of cultural evils like excessive luxury, stupidity, audacity, drug addiction, sexual harassment, eve teasing, homo-sexualism, moral degradation, nudity etc. lies in Islam. Islam is the most practical religion. It is a complete code of life for all people irrespective of caste, creed, race, sex and religion of all the places of the world for all time to come. Needless to say, only the proper implementation of Islamic way of life can establish everlasting peace and happiness in Bangladesh through preservation of decent culture and noble heritage of our people. The government and all the institutions concerned have a vital role to play to do the needful in this regard.
(The writer is a Professor, Department of Economics, and Chittagong University)He can be reached at <amchycu@yahoo.com>
http://www.perspectivebd.com/yellow-culture-intrudes-in-bangladesh/ 
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