By President – Dr. Swati Popat Vats
Children may not have voting power but they do have pester power and this is understood by the Hindi Film industry, with their relentless and senseless inclusion of English and Hindi rhymes in songs to make them hits . Take the example of the song , ‘Let’s Dance Chotu Motu from the film ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’. It has British era ‘nursery rhymes’ like Twinkle Twinkle, Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Mary Had A Little Lamb etc.
At a time when parents and schools are trying to move away from these senseless age old rhymes, here come a movie that glorifies it! Salman Khan has a huge fan following among children, this means that these senseless rhymes are going to be played by moms as they feed their children and also in birthday parties.
The country has just released a National Curriculum Framework that emphasizes on age appropriate education that has some sense and sensibility for the children. The curriculum focusses on empathy and yet you have songs like Humpty Dumpty and Jack and Jill who have fallen and instead of feeling sad for them here they are all dancing and happy. What message are we sending to children about empathy, caring and other socio-emotional development?
I don’t think these lyricists and music directors are aware that these rhymes are not actually nursery rhymes, they are actually snide songs used to comment on rivals and kings. Like Humpty Dumpty is about King Richard III who was supposed to be humpbacked and defeated in a battle in 1485. There would be such dark meanings behind each of these rhymes.
Apart from meanings do these songs make sense in today’ world? Humpty Dumpty fell and we will dance and sing, Jack and Jill- can’t we have Jack and Jasmine?
Keeping Salman Khan’s fan following of children in mind, they could have used this opportunity to bring to the world changed and new age version of these rhymes like –
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty did not have a fall
He knew how to be careful,
He knew how to play and
That is why he is in one piece today.
Or
Jack and Jasmine went to the river
To fetch a pail of water
Jack looked worried
And jasmine hurried
To tell everyone to save water.
Twinkle Twinkle little star
Time to put things where they are
Twinkle Twinkle little star
Time to clean up where you are
It takes a village to raise a child, its time the film industry understood this and practiced a little sensitization when it comes to portrayal of children or content related to children. They are displaying a disclaimer called ‘No animals were hurt’, its time they also displayed, ‘This film is child friendly and supportive and sensitive to children’s developmental needs’.
India is positioned as a global economy it is time we give our children the best of our past, present and future instead of shackling them in age old senseless rhymes that make no sense to most of our population.
An earnest request from Early Childhood Association to the film industry. www.eca-aper.org