Ouch Oprah, it hurts!

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The woman who managed to tug at the heartstrings of millions has now succeeded in rubbing people off the wrong way. Oprah’s much-publicised visit to India has been shrouded with controversy from day one and now, her latest episode Oprah’s Next Chapter: India has ruffled some feathers.

“So, I hear some people in India still eat with their hands”— this comment has triggered a virtual debate of sorts with many people strongly discouraging the talk show host’s condescending attitude.
Columnist Shobhaa De’s tweet reads ‘Oprah's Last Chapter! That’s what angry Indians r calling the much hyped but ridiculously shabby show. Oprah has lost her groove. Honey,pack up!’
It sums up the angst many Indians are feeling now. The opinions are no different here. While many agree the issue is being blown out of proportion, Oprah’s comments have certainly not gone down to well.
Venkatesh Nayak, lead singer of Illuminati says, “I didn’t appreciate how she put down the family and made a man weep. Oprah Winfrey loves to sensationalise and her shows are meant to be tear-jerkers for the American housewives. If she feels eating with our hands, and living in joint families embodies Indian culture, she needs to read up about us before making sweeping generalisations.”
Random generalisations apart, when a renowned and established talk show host like Oprah makes such statements, it’s bound to evoke surprise. Actor Ramesh Aravind says, “I’ve been watching Oprah’s shows for many years now and she has shown such empathy in the past. Coming from someone like her, I’m very surprised. She has been to so many countries and has a taste of varied cultures that such a stereotype is unfair and biased."
Blame it on the so-called realistic portrayal in our films and television shows, the idea of glorified poverty strikes gold for television drama.
Actor Raghu Mukherjee says, “Several films and shows also focus on the dreary elements and that adds to the vague ideas people concoct about us. There is a certain amount of shock and awe associated to our customs and way of life because of this.” True to his observation, the Julia Roberts starrer Eat Pray Love also shows slums and squalor galore.
India is a vast and diverse country, with traditions and practices that go way back. Fanning criticism is of no consequence, concur many. Theatre person Abhishek Iyengar says, “We all know the kind of content Oprah drives her show on and it’s fashionable to be derogatory. There is unnecessary hype surrounding her comments, and she has obviously not done her research. We must not give importance to such talk and instead, stand up for our culture.”