Sushant Singh Rajput: Resurrection.

By Kavita A Chhibber

My husband Ajit mentioned an idea he heard once: “Silence can’t be bought. It can only be rented.” Only death can ensure complete silence.

But the case of Sushant Singh Rajput has proved that even silence can speak loud and clear when the voice resurrects on the shoulders of those who have the courage and integrity to look into the mirror. A mirror tarnished by his tragic death.

The media circus started on June 14th, but I remained silent to watch what would unfold. Something in the suicide/ depression story raised red flags for me.

But today a dear friend raised an interesting point. She asked, “What about the ‘real issues of the country?’ And added that we should let CBI and NCB do their work in the mysterious death of Sushant Singh Rajput, and focus on the ‘real problems’ of India.”

While it is not right for us to sit in the US and comment on how India should function, since we don’t know how things work there, all of us have the right to an opinion.

The NRIs, according to several Indian lawyers and media channels, were also instrumental in making sure Sushant’s story wasn’t dumped in the archives and lost like many others. The only two voices that were relentless initially were those of #Arnab Goswami and #Kangana Ranaut.

#SushantSinghRajput’s case isn’t just about Bollywood and nepotism. His untimely death touched a nerve like never before. Sushant became the voice of the voiceless. A symbol of all that is broken in our system.

Yes, if even an iota of reports are to be believed then this case has everything to do with all that is wrong with the country and “real problems.”

Specifically: Corrupt politicians, drug cartels, misuse of power and terrible policing. These are not issues limited only to India. Social ills like child trafficking, banned drugs, over-prescribed pharmaceuticals or easily accessible pharmaceuticals (without a prescription) for mainstream consumption – these are all global issues which plagues every country in different measures.

A very interesting comment was made to me many years ago during an interview by super entrepreneur, mentor to students at top notch Ivy League schools and beyond, my good friend, Vivek Wadhwa.

Wadhwa said money makers in other industries are crazy about movie stars and star athletes. This is perphaps because their own lives are relatively dry and devoid of excitement.

Famous stars, be it the Indian film industry or Hollywood, have the money, power and influence to corrupt or change a system for the better. They attract fans from every strata of society.

When Vivek’s son did well in school, he asked what he wanted as a reward. His son said he wanted to meet a Bollywood star.

My uncle was a Military General and also Governor of Punjab. My father also retired as an Army General. I have plenty of cops, and bureaucrats in my family. Many family members have close ties with top politicians both at the center and the state governments. And as a journalist, I hear a lot more than most people do.

Punjab, for example, is so ridden with drug addicts, I am told it may take several generations to clear that addiction. Of course, this presumes that drugs are not continually made accessible.

I was told that “Udta Punjab” (the 2016 movie) is a true depiction of all that is wrong in the state. It starts with women who mix poppy seeds in milk given to their kids so they sleep. The moms can earn their living doing manual labor. And in the upper masses, there is an affluent economy where bored, lazy, rich kids get expensive drugs and alcohol at young ages.

I have nephews and nieces who are growing up in India. They tell me mind boggling tales of dual lives being led in every age group.

Some of the richest and most influential people are either in Bollywood or somehow connected to it.

It’s the same thing here in the USA. Look at the case of Jeffrey Epstein. Many still believe he was killed to prevent him from disclosing the names of those who were part of his bunch. But we saw big guns – Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Trump – all posing gleefully in chummy photographs from the past few decades.

So don’t tell me to let NCB and CBI do their job. They were brought in, because this time no one is being allowed to, let us say, underestimate the power of the common man. Or let sleeping dogs lie.

It will take time but I believe that because, for once, people aren’t letting it go and the younger generation isn’t budging, the truth will come out and heads will roll. Some of these culprits may be your friends. Some may be your relatives but then every action has a consequence.

I have not given an opinion to date on whether I think any of the names mentioned are guilty or not guilty. And it is because I believe everyone is innocent until proven otherwise.

But some things you just know to be true. You can deny it all you want but you just know inside.

It hits you like a punch in your gut. It’s a feeling you cannot deny.

The first gut punch was this feeling that Sushant’s death wasn’t a suicide. The second was the question: were there prescription medicines involved? The third was this feeling that Rhea Chakraborty was a pawn who did help destroy Sushant. But there are bigger fish out there masterminding it.

The rest will be revealed. But the picture is way bigger. I pray that people can go back to cleaner, humane times when you weren’t a pawn for the powerful, and the arrogant. The times that people struggled, but were rewarded for their talent, their potential and their integrity.

That is why we had an Abdul Kalam, a Lal Bahadur Shastri, a Ratan Tata, a Dilip Kumar, a Sunil Dutt, a Mohammed Rafi… and so many greats who rose the right way.

So we need to focus on all the troubling issues as “real problems.” Not just choose one over the other. And I hope that in this case at least the seed has been sown.

Whichever country you live in, and whichever country you love, be the change you want to see in the world and help those who already are working hard to do just that.