India Elections: Shoegate
By Kamla Bhatt • Apr 22nd, 2009Category: India, Life
Who knew that when Munthadar al-Zaidi ,the Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the visiting American President he would be unleashing a new fad around the world. Last year al-Zaidi famously threw his shoes at President George W. Bush, who deftly ignored the whizzing footwear not once, but twice. al-Zaidi was instantly wrestled to the ground and later sentenced to a prison sentence. But, al-Zaidi seems to have uncorked some sort of universal pent-up anger that folks have towards their political leaders. On the heels of the al-Zaidi incident people started sending shoes to the White House in protest of US policy in Iraq.
While shoe throwing was an isolated incident in Iraq, it appears to have become somewhat of a trend in India where people have embraced this novel method of registering their protest against politicians. With the general elections underway the number of shoe throwing incidents appear to be on the increase.
Just in the last few days there have been not one, not two, but about 4 shoe throwing incidents in different parts of the country. What gives? This knee-jerk reaction might be a sign of pent-up anger, “it has become an epidemic,”points out Ashish Nandy to LA Times.
Bewildered politicians are scrambling to find effective solutions to protect themselves. According to various reports Indian politicians are seeking security measure to help them from these flying weapons of mass destruction dubbed as Shoegate by Indian media.
According to The Guardian:
“Candidates have requested metal nets and extra security to protect them from shoe-hurling protesters, after footwear has emerged as the weapon of choice for disgruntled voters.”
Culturally speaking throwing shoes is a supreme form of insult in India and Arabic countries. There is no dearth of phrases in various Indian languages that alludes to throwing shoes as a form of supreme insult. I suspect the phrases were derived from some sort of long forgotten practice, but I wonder why it has made a comeback. I wonder if Indian politicians will have to wear some sort of a helmet or mask to protect themselves? Or, will the politicians introduce a policy that people will have to remove their shoes before they take their seat at a political meeting. What do you think?
[...] a shoe-attack, they are taking preventive measures at their meetings and rallies. According to Kamla Bhatt: Bewildered politicians are scrambling to find effective solutions to protect themselves. According [...]
[...] of. Fearing a shoe-attack, they are taking preventive measures at their meetings and rallies. Bewildered politicians are scrambling to find effective solutions to protect themselves. According [...]