Why Do We Go Cuckoo In Mourning?

if this spontaneous, one can understand the closing of shops. but this not done in mouring, but as u point out in your article, in anticipation of violence. when news of such deaths break out, the law and order machinery shuld take steps to ensure peace. also., those who dont want to mourn, or culd not care less, should be allowed to live life as they want to. it doesnt matter if the person dead is rajkumar or gandhi. burning buses and indulging in violence is wrong.

People want a catharsis after months/years of emotional suppression/frustration. They got an opportunity today.

I'll have a try at this. Let us go a bit deeper into the problem Roshan mentions. A number of our problems and one-dimensional views of things result from an insistence of seniors of traditional Indian families to impress thoughts upon children ("take my word for it and don't ask questions") rather than answering each of the numerous quesries of young minds with tact and patience.

Each generation falls into this trap of 'impressing' things on young minds instead of letting those minds take decisions for themselves. This unwittingly makes these poeple, let's say 'us, start taking others words for the holy truth, especially if it appears in print.

Print media (and now electronic media) devotes most of their time on entertainemnt and sports, and splash out features that show these stars as ones to watch. [It is no fault of theirs, as they are here to earn money.] A number of us who have been brought up not to ask questions unwittingly start idolising certain icons much more the real heroes in life simply because the counter of their sub conscious minds sees the most articles and stories being published on them.

Add to it the fact that film stars and sportstars are the ones a majority of us SEE the most (in films and matches respectively) after our families and friends. This person, who has achieved little noble deeds, thus becomes like our family member, a very successful one at that, one who is worshipped by the nation.

Sooner later than later his status inevitable levitates to divinity. As for the ruckus after death, it occurs due to a 3rd fallout of minds that do not question: herd mentality. this one happens from not questioning the majority's approach. "So many nice people are thinking this way - it must be okay".

Things are changing slowly though, and after a generation or two hopefully our stars can go out for a stroll in the park on Sunday morning without getting mobbed:)

Our office (and many others) have declared Thursday a holiday and we shutdown early today, for safety reasons. It was extremely embarassing for us to explain to our clients in America that we are closing down for the weekend because an actor died! My PM had to send a mail to the entire onsite and offshore/client team explaining the situation and to inform that nobody will be at work today and tomorrow.

This is absolutely pathetic that the people are holding the city for ransom. So Rajkumar died. Let everybody mourn peacefully - why destroy public and private property in Rajkumar's name? Shame on all the people who are involved. Absolutely pathetic stuff.

Well i have wondered abt this so many times...Actor Rajkumar whose only claim to fame in the northern part of the country was the veerapan kidnapping I accidently saw a trailer of one of his forthcoming movies during that period and I couldnt gather what the fuss was about ..Wht has even a Sachin Tendulkar or an Amitabh Bacchan done to merit the kind of reverance they command.Yes they have excelled in their respective professions ,but have they made any difference to our lives in actual .
A tennis elbow becomes national crisis.A hospitalization evokes more prayers than a calamity.An arrest is devoted more space than a catastrophe.
And why do we place people like them on such a high moral pedestal.The same Sachin tendulkar who makes hundreds of crores requested tht the duty on his Ferrari be waived off.The same Amitabh Bacchan shows himself as a farmer in court to stake claim to a piece of land.
The problem is that in the absence of any real heroes we look upto such cardboard characters for hope.Wake up !
Sachin scoring another century or Bacchan bashing another villian won't get the food on your table anytime .

Respect my Gods - and I will respect you. All Americans doing business in China understand that - when in China do as the Chinese do.

India is such a diverse land.

We have a couple of rich elites - who for the most part don't have to care what the poor thinks. The poor know that.

They have a feeling that the land they live in is their land. And they should have some say ...

So for a few days the poor of the land ask for the observance of their 'GODS' - ...

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And don't shoot the messenger..w

Arrest 'cardiac arrest' now and sentence it to death, hw dare it come to Rajkumar...burn buses, vandalise streets because age took its toll on Rajkumar. Where are the anti-aging laws gone?

'Insanity' is the word.

holy cow ....whats happening in banglr these lower class kannads(la auto walas) are goin nuts .....its very unfortunate Dr. rajkumar passed away...butt....all this mindless frenzy.....these lunkhead should be castrared ....damn it

Thanks for the comments, everyone, particularly Angshuman's interesting effort to theorize this phenomenon. It seems to be getting worse in Bangalore, with the funeral procession stoning houses it passes by and attacking hotels. It also seems clear now that the vandals are not fans of Rajkumar but 'anti-social elements' (for want of a better word) who are using this event as cover to exhibit their dark sides. I'm sure urban rage has a lot to do with it, the same release of pent-up frustrations that lead to road-rage etc.

Either way, for the giant of Kannada cinema, that this kind of activity marks his demise, has got to cause a lot of heartburn to his family. Unless of course, and here I claim ignorance of Rajkumar's screen ouevre, this violence says something about the man himself. I sincerely hope not.