Do celebrities help or hurt a cause?

In other words, do they get involved in social activism because they really `believe’ in the cause, and hence want to help in mobilising wider support? Or, and I suspect this very, very much, are they out to help `their’ own cause?

I want to ask one question to all these `collar-bone’ and `cleavage brigade,’ who have been lately touting themselves as `activists’ by lending their names to `social causes.’ In particular, Goan social causes. The question being, do they understand the nature of the cause(s) they are associating themselves with? Do they have the qualifications or background to back the `cause.’ Or are they solely into it, for a self-serving purpose. Like, get something out from associating your name with a cause or social activism – money, publicity (celebrities are mostly suckers for press element of the social cause etc), influence, earn a tag of be-all-know-all. In other words, are we getting trapped into vicious cycles of `social activism’ (to highlight a social malady) or celebrity activism (to highlight oneself)?

I am a little peeved. Oh, not because of all the ego-pandering that is going on in higher social circles, recently flooded by `intellectuals.’ I usually ignore people who don’t matter to me. What I am piqued, because the `causes’ are being diluted by people who, in my opinion, have no business to be there in the first place. I am one of those who believes that unless one is a scientist (in a particular stream of academics or specialisation), one cannot be an activist. By the way - and this is purely an observation - have you noticed how lately some non-Goans have been getting into these `causes’ brigade, without the knowledge, understanding or vision of the logistics of the cause. Mind you, I have nothing against non-Goans. I only want to be convinced that they really have the `welfare’ of Goa at heart. A sense of `welfare’ which stems from an ability to back their actions with integrity and dedication.

Of course, I understand that celebrities involved in activism, have their share of supporters and detractors. Social workers says that while it is easy to be cynical about celebrity activists, they do mobilise wider support and open up access to a larger audience, especially young people. But don’t be under the illusion that celebrities can wave a magic wand and change everything. Most often, and this has been the case in India, celebrities are known to take away from an issue, or take over an issue. Known sometimes, as they have been, to turn causes into `my’ cause, rather than `our’ cause. This, I got an eyeful, at a heritage protest recently, thank you very much.

An out-of-town senior journalist I spoke to lately on the above topic, had an interesting argument. He counter-questioned, citing the example of Arundhati Roy’s involvement in the Narmada project. "Has she studied forestry, town and rural planning?’ According to him, concern for a particular issue, must lead to the causes of the issue. Then only can a feasible solution be worked out. Makes sense to me. Actually, most of these causes require simple common sense, without confusing intelligence for intellectualism. Like a close friend told me, that we Goans would now have to put up with a go-carting pit, right in the middle of Panjim town. In (let me tell you this) the old heritage building of yesteryear GMC. Great!! And, of course, as I guessed correctly, there is a celebrity involved here too.

I am turned off with all this celebrity psycho-babble. I am also turned off with all this intellectual talk, because I don’t see `talk’ translating into `result.’ You will agree with me that we need more results now, than ever before, surrounded as we are by people waiting to take up our causes, to go laughing to the bank. We need commitment, and less `names.’ We need action that comes out from a vision. That vision has to be long-term, even if there is nothing to make from it – please translate that as fast buck, or dominating column space. Too many celebrities want too much publicity. Too many celebrities are getting into too much social work. I can see that the social causes are not finding any solution, not because there is no activism. Rather, empty activism. And because of these few celebrities, let me not underplay the good work done by genuine social workers. My hats off to them for persisting under fire. And that’s why we should let and support people like these who really want to do something to change society.

Ethel Da Costa
October  2, 2002

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