Wild, Wild country: series review
Back in the day I used to read various articles from Osho in the TOI - the speaking tree (?). The ideas were profound, to say the least. Then I didn't know too much about the man, except his name. Gradually over the course of the next few years, I understood more. I knew there was an ashram in Pune and that Osho had a large number of followers till date, but that was about as far as my knowledge went.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and it is a coincidence that Firangi mentioned some earth shattering facts one day, just around the time the documentary was getting released. I was stunned by what I heard from him. As always, I was hooked. Then I got a chance to watch this documentary a few days later, and I was as surprised as I ever was. Everything seemed like fiction to me (isn't it?). Did they actually move to the U.S? Did they really have their own police force, a private aircraft landing strip and much more? Long live Firangi for keeping the spirit of quizzing and trivia alive in the days of repetition, loops and ennui.
This post might contain more questions than answers, and that is the state of my mind right now. Please bear with me.
Originally based in Pune, the group decided to leave India as things were not conductive for them there. The next few events too seem ok when looked at, in isolation. But when you consider the larger picture, it is like "uprooting a tree from India and planting it in the United States". How will the environment react to such a move? When you consider these, things get complicated. As human beings we are taught to be suspicious of strangers. And to resist change. What happens when a few hundred strangers descend in the middle of nowhere? And then their ways are radically different from yours (Us and them)? Will you open your arms, or will you draw your gun and not be afraid to shoot strangers?
And then, what happens when a group whose intent is to enlighten and liberate, takes up guns in self defense, as a deterrent? When were guns ever a good idea? I personally felt nauseated and uneasy at the brazen display of arm - bearing rights, flaunting of guns and this whole portion of the documentary.
What happens when a city's name is changed? Aren't we seeing it now in the motherland? How do people living in the city react? Should I give a fuck when Allahabad became Prayagraj? What about the collective memories of a million inhabitants? How do they reconcile?
When do you decide if casinos, discos, and open Sex become a part of your vision? It becomes a problem when you are in the middle of a conservative christian community in a different country and what you preach looks like open marriages.If utopia is what people seek, why not let them have it? If there is a world festival where everyone gets together and becomes one, is that a bad thing? Maybe, depending on context.
I think that all of us are seeking answers and a stable ground beneath our feet on which life can be made sense on. In an insane world bereft of meaning, the gravitation towards people and words which make sense is a natural outcome. The ground beneath her feet might be all she is looking for. For some people it is drugs, for some it is song and dance, for some it is solitude or religion and for some it is a higher power. In this series we see many talented young men and women who have left everything to be with the Bhagawan. They all speak about a fundamental shift in their thinking and lives upon listening to him and being with him. When multiple people vouch to have "near life experiences" and cry at the sight of Bhagwan, what is "right" and "wrong", within the long arm of the law? This is not explored in depth here.
Can you Imagine all the people/ Living for today/ Imagine there's no countries /It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for /And no religion, too/ Imagine all the people Living life in peace ...?
We have a diplomatic and level - headed, unbiased and fair mayor caught between the two warring factions. One group of people who are flummoxed as this is " against what we believe in". Another group who swear allegiance to a master who has enriched their lives. The townsfolk and the commune, each side demonstrates the actions they're ready to take to protect what they feel is "right". I felt that the documentary was quite neutral, presenting both sides of the story in an unbiased way. It is easy to take sides here, based on a variety of factors. More so in a world torn asunder by fanaticism, bigotry, extremists and the death of the mind. The facts have been presented well, allowing us to interpret them according to our own biases, prejudices and faults. My take on the whole thing is that everything begins to fall apart the moment it is decided to move from the motherland. Too many variables were introduced at this point (of no return). Just think, how many communities are thriving to this day, in the motherland, open arms to all ideas, beliefs and ways of lives? Auroville? For me, the best analogy to the series is a nuclear plant meltdown. A series of events which lead to a final catastrophe. We can debate and blame all that we want, but we cannot change the outcome. There is something for everyone to watch and learn.
The other major problem occurs when there are two power centers, and things spiral out of control. The universe seeks equilibrium. Change is always unpleasant. Add a different culture and guns, the Godfather (and Nike) into the mix, and you have a ticking time bomb. The fault I see is that, the Bhagawan had to rein things in the moment he saw things going out of control. When Osho decides not to talk for a couple of years, someone has to take care of the disciples, the press and the community. This is when things start falling apart. When there is a group of people who are ready to do whatever it takes to further a vision, there is bound to be conflicts with the townsfolk, state and of course, with the nation.
Apart from Osho Rajneesh, the most intriguing person in the documentary is Ma Anand Sheela. I find it hard to describe her. You should watch the documentary to see for yourself. When you listen to Osho and Ma Anand Sheela talk, you realize that these two individuals are unique. Actually this is an understatement. They are consumed by their individual "visions". With Ma Anand Sheela, it is selfless devotion which eventually blinds her, I think.
The narration style is riveting, with archival footage and interviews with some influential Sanyasins. We see their unwavering loyalty and belief even to this day. Which makes me think, how were these bonds forged? There is no interpretation or comments from the makers - this helps keeping everything neutral, and a rare chance to use our mind. I'm a big fan of songs playing in the background which elevate the visuals to stratospheric heights. A few instances come to mind - Forest Gump, I think was the best. This documentary is right up there. Towards the end/ beginning of each episode, chaos and peace are juxtaposed with a soothing song to create a heady effect.
After watching all the episodes, I was still questioning if all these events actually occurred. Multiple things are still hard for me to fathom. I think this is one story which not a lot of people know, and I am again grateful to Netflix for bringing this out. The salmonella outbreak, private airport, private town, air strip, police force, attack on a hotel, the assassination attempt, involvement of the U.S department of Justice - these are all hard for my mind to assimilate. I think this will be a recommended documentary for the curious.
What would have made this documentary better? Better focus on the Bhagawan himself, trying to unlock the question on what is it that made thousands of people follow him? We get some tantalizing glimpses, but not enough. There were some radical ideas and methods which are quite shocking to me. These days, we all hear of nonsensical stupidity such as beer yoga, goat yoga, or whatever the hell is next. But in this series, you will see instances where people were asked to let go of their anger and hurt in ways which were novel in those days.
Something interesting which I found:
Wild Wild Country: Where Are They Now?https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/wild-wild-country-where-are-they-now.html
9 Rajneeshpuram Residents on What Wild Wild Country Got Wrong:https://www.thecut.com/2018/04/9-rajneesh-followers-on-what-wild-wild-country-got-wrong.html#comments
The title is from this song, which they play in the last episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXaFUrs5OGw
(Thanks, Krips for proofreading this :) )
Fast forward a couple of decades, and it is a coincidence that Firangi mentioned some earth shattering facts one day, just around the time the documentary was getting released. I was stunned by what I heard from him. As always, I was hooked. Then I got a chance to watch this documentary a few days later, and I was as surprised as I ever was. Everything seemed like fiction to me (isn't it?). Did they actually move to the U.S? Did they really have their own police force, a private aircraft landing strip and much more? Long live Firangi for keeping the spirit of quizzing and trivia alive in the days of repetition, loops and ennui.
This post might contain more questions than answers, and that is the state of my mind right now. Please bear with me.
 |
| image courtesy netflix.com |
Originally based in Pune, the group decided to leave India as things were not conductive for them there. The next few events too seem ok when looked at, in isolation. But when you consider the larger picture, it is like "uprooting a tree from India and planting it in the United States". How will the environment react to such a move? When you consider these, things get complicated. As human beings we are taught to be suspicious of strangers. And to resist change. What happens when a few hundred strangers descend in the middle of nowhere? And then their ways are radically different from yours (Us and them)? Will you open your arms, or will you draw your gun and not be afraid to shoot strangers?
And then, what happens when a group whose intent is to enlighten and liberate, takes up guns in self defense, as a deterrent? When were guns ever a good idea? I personally felt nauseated and uneasy at the brazen display of arm - bearing rights, flaunting of guns and this whole portion of the documentary.
What happens when a city's name is changed? Aren't we seeing it now in the motherland? How do people living in the city react? Should I give a fuck when Allahabad became Prayagraj? What about the collective memories of a million inhabitants? How do they reconcile?
When do you decide if casinos, discos, and open Sex become a part of your vision? It becomes a problem when you are in the middle of a conservative christian community in a different country and what you preach looks like open marriages.If utopia is what people seek, why not let them have it? If there is a world festival where everyone gets together and becomes one, is that a bad thing? Maybe, depending on context.
I think that all of us are seeking answers and a stable ground beneath our feet on which life can be made sense on. In an insane world bereft of meaning, the gravitation towards people and words which make sense is a natural outcome. The ground beneath her feet might be all she is looking for. For some people it is drugs, for some it is song and dance, for some it is solitude or religion and for some it is a higher power. In this series we see many talented young men and women who have left everything to be with the Bhagawan. They all speak about a fundamental shift in their thinking and lives upon listening to him and being with him. When multiple people vouch to have "near life experiences" and cry at the sight of Bhagwan, what is "right" and "wrong", within the long arm of the law? This is not explored in depth here.
 |
| image courtest thedailybeast.com |
Can you Imagine all the people/ Living for today/ Imagine there's no countries /It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for /And no religion, too/ Imagine all the people Living life in peace ...?
We have a diplomatic and level - headed, unbiased and fair mayor caught between the two warring factions. One group of people who are flummoxed as this is " against what we believe in". Another group who swear allegiance to a master who has enriched their lives. The townsfolk and the commune, each side demonstrates the actions they're ready to take to protect what they feel is "right". I felt that the documentary was quite neutral, presenting both sides of the story in an unbiased way. It is easy to take sides here, based on a variety of factors. More so in a world torn asunder by fanaticism, bigotry, extremists and the death of the mind. The facts have been presented well, allowing us to interpret them according to our own biases, prejudices and faults. My take on the whole thing is that everything begins to fall apart the moment it is decided to move from the motherland. Too many variables were introduced at this point (of no return). Just think, how many communities are thriving to this day, in the motherland, open arms to all ideas, beliefs and ways of lives? Auroville? For me, the best analogy to the series is a nuclear plant meltdown. A series of events which lead to a final catastrophe. We can debate and blame all that we want, but we cannot change the outcome. There is something for everyone to watch and learn.
The other major problem occurs when there are two power centers, and things spiral out of control. The universe seeks equilibrium. Change is always unpleasant. Add a different culture and guns, the Godfather (and Nike) into the mix, and you have a ticking time bomb. The fault I see is that, the Bhagawan had to rein things in the moment he saw things going out of control. When Osho decides not to talk for a couple of years, someone has to take care of the disciples, the press and the community. This is when things start falling apart. When there is a group of people who are ready to do whatever it takes to further a vision, there is bound to be conflicts with the townsfolk, state and of course, with the nation.
 |
| image courtesy carmrades-blog.com |
Apart from Osho Rajneesh, the most intriguing person in the documentary is Ma Anand Sheela. I find it hard to describe her. You should watch the documentary to see for yourself. When you listen to Osho and Ma Anand Sheela talk, you realize that these two individuals are unique. Actually this is an understatement. They are consumed by their individual "visions". With Ma Anand Sheela, it is selfless devotion which eventually blinds her, I think.
The narration style is riveting, with archival footage and interviews with some influential Sanyasins. We see their unwavering loyalty and belief even to this day. Which makes me think, how were these bonds forged? There is no interpretation or comments from the makers - this helps keeping everything neutral, and a rare chance to use our mind. I'm a big fan of songs playing in the background which elevate the visuals to stratospheric heights. A few instances come to mind - Forest Gump, I think was the best. This documentary is right up there. Towards the end/ beginning of each episode, chaos and peace are juxtaposed with a soothing song to create a heady effect.
After watching all the episodes, I was still questioning if all these events actually occurred. Multiple things are still hard for me to fathom. I think this is one story which not a lot of people know, and I am again grateful to Netflix for bringing this out. The salmonella outbreak, private airport, private town, air strip, police force, attack on a hotel, the assassination attempt, involvement of the U.S department of Justice - these are all hard for my mind to assimilate. I think this will be a recommended documentary for the curious.
What would have made this documentary better? Better focus on the Bhagawan himself, trying to unlock the question on what is it that made thousands of people follow him? We get some tantalizing glimpses, but not enough. There were some radical ideas and methods which are quite shocking to me. These days, we all hear of nonsensical stupidity such as beer yoga, goat yoga, or whatever the hell is next. But in this series, you will see instances where people were asked to let go of their anger and hurt in ways which were novel in those days.
Something interesting which I found:
Wild Wild Country: Where Are They Now?https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/wild-wild-country-where-are-they-now.html
9 Rajneeshpuram Residents on What Wild Wild Country Got Wrong:https://www.thecut.com/2018/04/9-rajneesh-followers-on-what-wild-wild-country-got-wrong.html#comments
The title is from this song, which they play in the last episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXaFUrs5OGw
(Thanks, Krips for proofreading this :) )
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