Are you a Fan?

Cambridge dictionary proposes two definitions of the word ‘fan’, first one is a device used to move air around thus offering us respite from heat, and the other one is ‘someone who admires and supports a person, sport, sports team, etc.’ thus infusing heat in the enthusiast. The first noun is a thing whereas the other noun is a person. What grips my curiosity, is the way later one is being mutated to the former one.

In the past one decade, the fan mania has soared new heights where the verge of dedication is mind boggling. It has redefined stardom where the object of desire is elevated to whole new status which they themselves might have never dreamt off. Most often it reinvents the life of the star, wielding them with the power of motivating people. To accept that the entertainment industry thrives on this phenomenon will not be an exaggeration.

Of late the complete lack of consciousness on the behalf of the fans is a subject of worry. They attempt to be a replica of their idol to the extent that they opt for a reductionist attitude for their idol’s adversaries. The imitation is holistic, without an iota of brain used. It is popularised as this craziness garners a lot of capital, immaterial of the fact that it reduces fans to things who can be manipulated. This trend impacts people as it alters their way of life to a limit.

However, I am skeptical about this trend treading in the political arena which can have unanticipated ramifications. Politics designs the future of an entire nation and such fan-mania there, directly means concentration of power in a person than it the institution. If practised in a democracy it simply erodes the very soul of it leading to an authoritarian governance which may metamorphose into a dictatorship.

Politics is about consciousness, sensibility, decision-making, and deliverance as an entire nation is at its receiving end. It should hold no place for such frenzy as it deviates people from the concurrent issues, and the challenges of a better life, it rather converges at the charismatic persona of the icon. The icon is glorified, heralded as the epitome of revolution, a savior who diminishes everything else to the background. Can be popularly stated as “Indira is India, India is Indira.’’

Please let’s keep politics away from these fan-frenzies……