Columnists - Shobhaa Dee

Who is the Joker ?

Omkar Gaokar is just six-year-old. You may not have heard of him. After all, who is Omkar? He is just another little boy who has lost his father. There are thousands of kids just like him. But they don't make it to the front pages of national dailies. And their fathers' funerals are not extensively covered by news channels.

So, who was Omkar's father? A mega celeb — movie star, cricketer or politician? None of the above... Omkar's father was a far bigger superstar — Ajit Shivaji Gaokar was a naik subedar who died serving his country — a 34-year-old army man, killed in an exchange of fire with Pakistani rangers on the Line of Control. He had served with the military for 14 long years but had spent just 25 days in the J&K posting. He died in action at Rajouri — yet another victim of political crossfire.

Akansha, the 29-year-old widow he left behind was inconsolable as she wailed, "I have lost the one person who means the most to me." Even Ajit's 74-year-old father of seven sons, couldn't hold back those tears as he mourned the death of his 'favourite boy.' It takes a tot to show the others the true meaning of fortitude. Only Omkar refused to cry, saying he doesn't want to further upset his mother. Besides, he has a huge job ahead of him — he has promised to 'take care' of his family.

At the tender age of six, Omkar grew into a man overnight, compelled to perform an age-old ritual — the one act that any son lives in absolute dread of — the last rites of his father. The young boy's eyes were devoid of fear. He appeared entirely self-possessed. A picture of courage, valour and determination. A soldier's son. Head held high and unbowed even in the face of monumental tragedy. We don't know what fate awaits this brave young chap. But going by the expression in his eyes, it is safe to predict he will make his late father very proud some day.

Certain images have the power to capture a nation's imagination. Omkar's is one such. The timing was sensitive. India was reeling in the aftermath of the bomb blasts across three states. There was abject despair to deal with, combined with renewed fervour to combat the cowardly attacks in a mature, restrained way (the only sane response against terrorism). At that precise moment came the news of the firing on our border and the death of Ajit Gaokar.

It was a double whammy. And sorrow swiftly replaced rage as once again we were faced with the spectre of tension everywhere — at our border and in virtually every backyard of every neighbourhood — via cycles, cars, gas cylinders, tiffin boxes, parcels and other equally innocuous everyday objects. Even going to the movies became a potentially dangerous option. But that did not stop me from checking out the latest Batman.

The 'art imitates life' coincidences were eerie indeed. Hospital blasts and a society under siege? It could have been Ahmedabad, not Chicago/Gotham in the top grossing film. Moral decay, corrupt politicians, venal cops and ordinary people rendered powerless by the forces of evil — it has become a universal story. Yet, even in that relentless scenario, there was a ray of hope as innocent hostages on two ferries stuck mid-stream, take surprising decisions that spell redemption for humanity at large.

The film challenged stereotypes in a manner so insidious and sinister, one feared for the future of the world as Batman himself struggled to find his moral core. Is he then the hero or the villain? A vigilante drunk on his own power or a sincere dogooder trying his best to clean up a decaying city ruled by seriously bad people? The takeaway for most viewers was pretty obvious — there are Dark Knights all around us, and the Joker is having the last laugh. Terrifying or what?