Monday, May 31, 2021

The Unravelling of Babu Gogineni

I have been following Babu Gogineni’s Facebook profile for the past couple of years or so.  He has been trying to position himself as a reformer, opinion-maker, human rights activist, conscience-keeper, and a crusader against irrational religious customs and practices.  However, in spite of all his efforts to project himself as the reformer that the Telugu-speaking states have long been waiting for, he comes across as a very petty-minded, egotistic, and vulgar person.  This in spite of his erudition, wide exposure, and impressive writing and debating abilities!

 

One can’t argue the fact that he was impressive in his televised debates.  He is evidently very well read. On live television, he effortlessly exposed a few individuals who were exploiting the fears and beliefs of gullible people.  So far so good!  He was then invited to the Big Boss show.  It was then that his carefully crafted public image began to unravel.

 

Quite evidently, he could not handle not being chosen the winner of the show.  He went into the show claiming that he was entering it as he felt it was an interesting experiment in the study of human behavior.  I did not watch any part of the show, but based on his outbursts against the winner and other members of the house, it was quite clear that he deemed himself far superior.  His indignation extended to the makers and the host of the show.  How could they not choose him who is the most knowledgeable, intelligent, and evolved being in the 1000-mile radius, leave alone the Big Boss house!

 

Yes, it is true that Kaushal, the winner, does not possess the intellectual abilities that Babu Gogineni does.  But who said the Big Boss show is the most accurate judge of human virtues?  Why did Babu invest so much emotion and pride in a show (like many Telugu movies and shows) that panders to the lowest common denominator?  It seems he thought it would be an easy win and would launch him into the coveted space of public acceptance and celebrity.

 

He refused to accept the verdict and started slandering and targeting the winner and challenged him to a debate.  His schadenfreude is quite evident whenever something bad comes into light about any of the contestants that he did not like in the house.  Months and years after conclusion of the show, he continues to indulge in vulgar insults and slander on social media platforms.  All this reveals a sick, petty, and vulgar person in the garb of a righteous crusader.

 

True reformers focus their energies not on individual perpetrators but the all-pervading systemic evil itself.  Gandhi did not fight individual British bureaucrats, policemen, or military men.  Jaya Prakash Narayan, founder of Lok Satta Party, was instrumental in bringing about many legislative reforms that curb political corruption.  However, he did not get into street fights against any corrupt MLA or MP.  No mature politician or reformer fights individuals and wastes his/her precious energies.  They look at the larger picture and focus their efforts in bringing about systemic and societal reforms.  However, taking Babu Gogineni’s name in the same breath as Jayaprakash Narayan or Gandhi would be an insult to the latter two.

 

Babu talks about Art of War and strategizing.  He extends his righteous indignation to popular people like RGV, Raja Mouli, and Tanikella Bharani.  While his thoughts on RGV and Aryn Rand appear well-intentioned, reasonable, and accurate, his efforts to pick up cudgels against popular figures betray his sinister designs.  By punching above his weight, he is trying to place himself on the same popularity pedestal that the celebrities occupy.  It is another matter that the celebrities refuse to stoop down to his level and muddy themselves by fighting the pig in its sty.

 

His constant gloating of his insignificant victories over inconsequential people and constant self-glorification on social media platforms have belittled him so much that media has stopped giving him the coverage or importance that they once gave him.  People now deem him as one more nuisance to bear in the realm of public discourse.

 

He and his cronies indulge in frequent and vulgar celebration of his victories.  He frequently shares memes of his opponents that glorify him and insult the individuals.  All this simply betrays his refusal to take defeat, refusal to move on, egotism, and pettiness.  He picks up petty fights against random people on social media platforms.  The language he uses to express his righteous indignation and belittle his numerous opponents is vulgar to say the least.

 

His hypocrisy is laid bare when he condemns Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev as a Tantric practitioner.  He does not believe in unscientific customs and practices but is ready to use the notoriety of Tantra to slander someone.  He is a human rights activist and proponent of free speech until some non-descript person argues with him on social media.  He is a humanist but threatens to approach his opponents’ employers and get them fired for petty issues.


How would any sensible person respond when someone becomes ill?  Even if it's an opponent, one would express their concern and wish them a speedy recovery.  But it seems humanists respond in a very different way.  When it came into light that Pavan Kalyan contracted covid-19, Babu Gogineni started mocking Pavan Kalyan over a cartoon shared by a non-descript fan of his!  I am not a fan of Pavan Kalyan's political career, but there is a way to respond when it comes to public discourse.  No one with the slightest empathy or common sense would mock someone fighting a potentially life-threatening illness.  And Babu calls himself a humanist!

 

All this behavior of Babu Gogineni betrays an immature, sick, petty, and publicity-hungry individual.  The electronic media has already recognized this.  All that the general public have to do to get rid of this menace is realize the pettiness and ignore this idiot’s shenanigans.

 

సో, చెప్పొచ్చేదేమిటంటే, ఈ దగుల్బాజీకి మానవవాదం, హేతువాదం అనేవి తన మనోవికారాలను కప్పి పుచ్చే ఉత్త ముసుగులు మాత్రమే!


గప్పాల్ గొడ్దడు గాడ్ధె కొడుకు!  యాక్ థూ!!

 

Written by

Amarendra Reddy Sagila

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