Chaddi campaign: What next?

Dear all,

I know many of you are raring to go. I know it seems like the revolution is coming towards to you in an auto with a loud horn so why are we hanging around waiting?

We are not. We are just recruiting volunteers so when the next big push comes along, we will be slightly less crazy. Also, having done so well the first time round, we can't really fall on our face so quickly.

I truly believe part of what we are achieving here is staking a claim for our shared culture. Not the fake, monolith, imaginary culture that the right-wing groups insist we have, but the real stuff. It is messy, complicated, wonderful. Each of us define Indian culture differently. No one is wrong, no one is more right. But why slug it out when we can have some fun? Let us go out and win back Indian culture, one chaddi at a time.

It is incredibly important for us to reclaim our culture from the mobs and the manipulators. Today I heard a politican speak at the opening of the NGMA in Bangalore. At the opening of a museum for modern art, he accused artists of disrespecting Indian tradition. When artists tried to argue with him, he had the police escort them out. What next?

So reclaim your culture. Show the world how you live and why your way of life too is Indian culture.

So here is the idea. We each make a little video of ourselves. We make a video of ourselves doing something we love, something we think is definitely a part of Indian culture (and let no one dare disagree!). Speak into the camera. Say "This is Indian culture." Imagine the possibilities, you, your best friend, your grandmother, your 7-year-old nephew, your grumpy boss... each doing what you think is part of you, part of Indian culture.

The video collection (which we can host on a youtue channel) will be like the national integration ads some of us grew up watching, the ones made by Lok Seva Samiti. Except this will be wilder, funnier,less politically correct and most importantly, made by the LOK!

I will put up some suggestions soon. Meanwhile find youself a camera! Films can't be longer than a minute so get your act together and practice your fine, ringing, speaking voice.

All together now: This is Indian culture!


GUIDELINES!

1. Pick something you like to do and you think is a part of Indian culture.

2. Steal/borrow a video camera to make a one minute film.

3. Speak into the camera. Say, "This is Indian culture" in the language you are most comfortable in.

4. DO NOT UPLOAD YOUR FILM YOURSELF on youtube.

5. Send the file to freelancehabba@gmail.com

6. Use any of the following file types .wma, .mp4. (We will smile a lot if you send us .mp4) or .dat or.avi. Uploaded files and edited files are difficult to edit because of loss of quality. Raw files are great.