My phone flashed an unfamiliar New Delhi number on its screen, forcing me to rather loudly curse credit card and insurance companies. But the sound of my long-standing friend Cherian John Thottathil instantly wiped away my anger.
After exchanging a few plesantries (mostly the four-letter words), John asked me whether I would like to own a t-shirt spotting Che Guevara's face on it. Here let me confess my fascination for the revolutionist, his desire to see slavery, class differences and autocratic rule getting eradicated once and for all.
John also offered if I mail him Che's picture of my choice he would get it embossed on the t-shirt, sort of customised Che apparel. I guess many Che fans would have been happy to hear such an offer, but, so strangely, it made me a lot unhappy. The thought of the light of a generation becoming a marketing commodity saddened me to no end, leading to my polite refusal of that offer.
To think that, Che was totally against commercilisation only added to the irony of the whole episode, but I heard Che t-shirts are one of the most hot-selling items in garment industry these days.
While it might be taken as a symbol of new generation's awareness about Che and his ideas, is it absolutely necessary to tell the world through your clothes about your hero (not just Che)? Or follow your hero's words and walk your own path is more worthy?
Like the great German composer Beethoven told one of his disciples "the best tribute for your teacher is not copying him blindly, while that may be taken for respect, but shape your own path without sacrificing your teacher's visions."
The method can invite criticisms at times, but I believe it's the way forward.
