Sahi Pakde Hain: Shilpa Shinde is a fearless fighter. Her joining Congress is good for politics
Art, freedom and creativity have the potential to change society faster than politics.
So, people from the fields of art, freedom and creativity taking a plunge into politics is a bonus for society.
Having entertained millions as the beautiful 'Angoori Bhabhi' in the hit TV comedy Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! and giving audiences some wonderfully memorable one-liners like, “Sahi Pakde Hain!" (You got it right!), Shilpa Shinde has now forayed into the world of politics by joining the Congress party.
Shinde is remembered not just for her stint as Angoori Bhabhi, which came to an abrupt end because of alleged differences with the producers, but also for emerging as the triumphant winner of the popular reality TV show Bigg Boss 11.
The one remarkable thing about Shinde all along has been her fighting spirit.
For an actor to take on the might of the male-dominated TV industry is quite a remarkable feat. Shinde reportedly openly accused TV producer Vikas Gupta of being the "mafia of the television industry". In 2016, Shilpa Shinde accused the makers of Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain of "mentally torturing" her. On Bigg Boss 11, after she came face to face with Vikas Gupta, a co-participant, Shinde accused Gupta of being responsible for sacking her from the comedy show.
Gupta has quite a powerful clout in the TV industry. While taking him on publicly, Shinde knew she was jeopardising her career — but she persistently put her point across.
Shinde also chose to speak out against Sanjay Kohli, the producer of Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain, claiming Kohli allegedly sexually harassed her on the sets of the show. Picking out specific instances when she mentioned she felt harassed, Shinde said: “Once Sanjay ji told me that for the promotion of show, we will have to go out.and that we will have a nice time. Also, in the make-up room, he came close to me and photo lete huye and apna haath rakha mujhe… I could feel that touch was not right.”
For Shinde to take on — and then leave — the makers of such a popular TV show could not have been easy. But she persisted.
Significantly, as the Bigg Boss results later showed, Shinde's popularity has only grown as she displayed her fighter's spirit.
Many people were discussing why the clearly popular Shinde had not taken up any acting assignments since she won Bigg Boss. That speculation came to an end on February 5, when Shinde joined the Congress party in the presence of Sanjay Nirupam, president of the Mumbai Congress Committee, and party leader Charan Singh Sapra.
She has vowed to work for the people through the party. Many have questioned her choice. But her right to exercise her own free will must be respected.
She has been a fighter — and only those who can stand up to defend themselves can actually defend the rights of others. Shinde has shown, on more occasions than one, that she has the required courage; politics is thus a just means for her to put her courage to good use for others now.
As a woman who refused to take alleged harassment lying down, treating it as a regrettable part of 'workplace hazards', her track record is commendable.
Her entry into politics must be welcomed.
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