Oct 10 2007
On the ‘Indian Crab’ Mentality
I remember hearing this story growing up:
A fisherman is selling two baskets full of crabs. One basket has a lid on it, the other doesn’t. An inquisitive buyer asks him why this is so. He smiles, pointing to the covered basket & says, “Well I have to cover this one because if I don’t the crabs will all climb out”. “Why not the other basket then?” persists the buyer.
“You, see, they’re Indian Crabs - if one tries to climb out, the others will pull it back in, hence there’s no need for a lid”
I’m happy to say I’ve experienced a rather happy upbringing and have been blessed to be surrounded by people who’ve always helped me - so I’ve never really given much credence to that tale.
However recently I couldn’t help thinking about it. My friend Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan, at the petite age of 25 has been signed on by Penguin to write a book, much on the lines of her blog ‘The Compulsive Confessor’ where she writes under the pseudonym eM. Nope, I haven’t accidentally split any beans here, her true identity is now very much out of the closet, thanks to a profile on her in UK’s Telegraph.
Tell me that and you know what I’d say? I’d say, fantastic! Getting a book deal at the age of 25 is fabulous. Being profiled in an international paper of the Telegraph’s stature (I believe it’s UK’s #1 online paper) is applaud worthy too.
I would have imagined that everyone would feel the same way but apparently it isn’t so. What’s worse - it seems some desis at Sepia Mutiny seems to be quite content dissing her rather than patting her on the back.
I agree with Amardeep (who wrote that particular Sepia Mutiny post) that 500 hits a day is no great shakes - TheVoiceinMyHead has long since been getting way over double of that. And I also agree with some of the comments to the extent that I don’t think her blog posts are ground-breaking - but there’s no denying the fact that she’s got a flare for words.
A lot of her posts are a bit too graphic for me (what, you didn’t know I’m a prude?!) and I don’t agree with a lot almost all of her opinions and beliefs - but yet, many of her posts have left me laughing out loud and saying “How true, how true”.
While I still openly joke about eM (and certain vegetables she serves 
) I think to seriously diss another blogger (a fellow Indian that too!) online is imo, seriously very very sad. I am appalled that Sepia Mutiny, a group blog, run by desis (second gen or whatever) would choose to be cynical about a report on a fellow desi, and I quote:
“Something about this profile doesn’t quite smell right…”
From fact (the ‘400 - 500 hits’ thing) to doubt (the ‘doesn’t quite smell right’ thing), the post goes downright nasty*, leading the way for all commenters to also diss on the girl:
“Take a look at The Compulsive Confessor; what do you think? Is she the next Shobha De? Or merely the next Amy Sohn?”
*(I say downright nasty, because I think Meenakshi is tons better than Shobha De. I haven’t read Amy Sohn, so no comments there - though I think the “merely” is a nice way of further leading the commenters)
Back to where I started though, isn’t this a lovely example of the Indian Crab Mentality? I think so. I personally am proud whenever any Indian does well for themselves. And if Penguin thought Meenakshi good enough to be commissioned, I think it’s rather pretentious of the author of that post - as well as the commenters who’ve put her down with such vigor - especially since no one has even read the book yet!!
Why not, at very least, give the girl the benefit of the doubt and hope the best for her and her book?
Is the Indian crab mentality still prevalent inside many of our heads?
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I think this is akin to shooting the messenger. A writer will be judged by what s/he writes. All this “fellow indian writer” is a bull.
I’ve followed Amardeep’s blog for a long time, and he might be a literary snob, but a crab, he’s surely not.
Very very sad? Why? It’s sad if it were being done “because” she was Indian, not sad if it were done “despite” her being Indian. I did take a look at the blog, and I didn’t find anything groundbreaking either. And I have my reservations about the book’s worth too, especially since it’s signed before being written. I’d bet it’s based on her credentials as a blogger, but I could be wrong. In today’s age of packaged writing industry, surely one has a right to be cynical?
And we all dismiss writers on their past record, and then eat our words, when proved wrong (which happens a rather seldom). That’s not being crabbish. That’s being humanish.
regards,
asuph
[...] Gaius wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptBack to where I started though, isn’t this a lovely example of the Indian Crab Mentality? I think so. I personally am proud whenever any Indian does well for themselves. And if Penguin thought Meenakshi good enough to be commissioned, … [...]
@ Asuph -
Well not exactly. Aren’t you siding with fellow Indian blogger, Amardeep?
As Mel said in her post, it’s not necessary one has to agree with everything they read but that doesn’t give them the right to “rubbish” the ones with whom their views don’t meet. Agreed, eM’s writings may not be groundbreaking but irrespective of that there are many who relate to her experiences. Basically it all boils down to “To Each Its Own”.
But then to be critical just for the sake of it isn’t all that good either but sadly, this is all that Amardeep’s post (on SM) reflects.
@Melody –
In my opinion 400+ hits on a personal blog is quite impressive. Agreed it’s not great when compared to the likes of Sepia Mutiny, which on the other hand is a multi-authored blog.
On an average I am guessing a personal/dairy blogs must getting around 75-100 hits a day and so when you compare this figure to that of Compulsive Confessor’s daily hits, it doesn’t appear all the small.
Sakshi,
Siding with a blog for blog’s content is different from siding with a blog for blogger’s origin. but then you’ve already pushed a smiley, so i’ll not make that point. Forget I ever made it.
Where is agreeing and disagreeing? Sure we agree with her right to say what she wants. But sure we can disagree about it’s quality. Quality is subjective. People say Naipaul is trash. What’s the big deal?
Being critical is what critics do. Amardeep Singh is a learned critic. He critically acclaims. Or critically condemns. Why are you being critical of him
, if being critical is so bad?
cheers,
asuph
Melody, just to be clear, my comment about 400-500 hits was aimed at the reporter, not at eM, who doesn’t brag about hits herself. (My understanding is that blogs like India Uncut receive about 10,000 hits a day, so 500 really isn’t a lot.)
Same with the comment “Something about this profile doesn’t smell right.” What I meant was, I didn’t like what the reporter was doing (there are a couple of other moments in my post where I criticize the reporter).
I purposefully refrained from either criticizing or praising eM in my post, figuring I would let readers debate it. That’s why I said, “Take a look
at the blog, what do you think?”
One other thing — it might be a surprise, but I kind of admire Shobha De. Not for her literary skills, but for her way of staying relevant in Bombay fashion/celebrity culture for a long time. There are worse fates!
both M & S on 400 hit thing:
Could it be, that Amardeep is just trying to “de”spin the spin that the Telegraph (UK) article has put, and that he’s not really questioning the blog’s popularity, per se?
regards,
asuph
The New Face of Indian Feminism…
The new face of Indian feminism, and whole lot of crabs:
Ah, the prude me! If only I had the guts to substitute the word face with something with more, umm, oomph factor, I guess I’d have made the cut (into the real liberal league, or the RLL for…
“Sure we agree with her right to say what she wants. But sure we can disagree about it’s quality. Quality is subjective.”
I totally agree with you. I think if you scroll down and read the comments on the SM post, you’ll realise that everyone is not on the same page though.
I do think a good critic might have waited until the actual book was out though before praising or criticizing. After reading Amardeep’s response here though, I’ll accept he didn’t mean to be leading though imo it was leading.
And I also think that getting a book deal at the age of 25 is a great thing - something worth patting someone on the back for, don’t you think?
@ Saks: “In my opinion 400+ hits on a personal blog is quite impressive” Is it? TVIMH is suitably complimented!
@ Amardeep: I agree with you about the hits (as I mentioned in my post too). I have to say though, I found the post rather leading towards being critical.
I’ll take your word though, that you were neither praising nor criticizing eM. And I apologize if I have too if I have judged you wrongly.
On Shobha De though, her literary skills leave much room for improvement surely?
One is not responsible for idiotic comments on one’s blog. And as for the charge of leading idiots, it’s the idiots who need to take the responsibility. So much for “independent thinking” blogging community.
eM has been judged on her “prior” writings. When I hear a new Karan Johar film is coming up, I have an expectation set. I’m sure you won’t be too excited about the news of another Shobha De book, for instance? If you gain popularity by brainless content, then that comes with its own price.
oh yeah, great thing, book deal and all. kavya is another example, in not so recent past. pat pat pat. i mean tell me frankly, are we really being so naive as to ignore the games that the publishing industry is playing, and start jumping at every such deal? if yes, then count me out of it. so my short answer is no. depends on the reasons behind the contract. if it was quality of writing, then yes. if it was it’s marketability, it’s package ready, shock-and-awe, indians-women-breaking-outta-taboos-against-the-evil-evil-patriarchy poster girl pitch, (you get the drift, i am sure) then david dhawan is the greatest filmmaker ever. and the world couldn’t be a better place. amen.
by the way, have you read shobha de? i haven’t (apart from her TOI column once in a while, which sucks big time).
Ah! Mel, you are just way too nice.
Frankly, I really don’t see the need for you to apologize to anyone here. The fact remains the post on Sepia Mutiny was on the critical path, the author’s intentions may be neutral however his words fail to reflect so.
As I mentioned (in my post), we have become so cynical that we refuse to take things at their face-value. By citing the example of Kavya, this is exactly what we are proving. Agreed, games are played all around…be it politics, Bollywood or the publishing industry but that doesn’t mean an individual’s achievement should be nullified because of all the wrongs (or manipulations) in the world. Just because I can’t stand John Abraham, it isn’t a good enough reason for others to not like him as well. The man has a huge fan following in India (and abroad), means there must something in him that is being appreciated and liked.
Similarly our views may not gel with eM’s but clearly there are many who admire her fiery spirit and connect with her experiences.
Ps…don’t get ecstatic, this is probably the first and the last time you will hear me say anything even remotely nice about Johnny boy.
and while we’re at it: Orwell is dead. long live Orwellian truth. facts indeed.
A book differs from a blog. Change the media and there’s bound to be change - even if just a little. Kjo’s TV serial is different from his movies.
Yes, I’ve read Shobha De (just one book though, couldn’t work out an appetite for any more after that one, but that’s just my personal op) as well as her column (on a regular basis). I personally prefer her column and think she makes quite valid points at times.
I still think eM’s book commission a big deal and I’m happy for her - there are tons of (good & bad) writers who want book deals and don’t get them. Kaavya should work out favorably in as much as hopefully writers and publishers shall not be deceitful for fear of being caught out if nothing else.
@ Sakshi:
to the Johnny thingie. I think he’s really quite hot!
Well, in my view, the Telegraph profile was poor journalism. It was a phone-in, which is not how a profile-interview should be done, but apart from that, it made sweeping statements and generalisations with nothing to back them. “New face of Indian womanhood”?
That apart, it was pegged on a book deal which is two years old, about a blog that is three years old. The launch date is not yet fixed. So what was the peg for the story? Surely not bloggers with book deals, which is an old story anyway. I think it was really someone pulling a fast one on the firangs and making a few freelance bucks.
However, I fail to see why Minna should be pilloried for the faults of the Telegraph. She did not ask to be profiled. She is, in my judgement as a critic, a good writer. I have seen the manuscript of her book and I like the flow. It’s not what I would write - or read - but that is because my interests are different. Her skills and craft are excellent.
So, the kudos are deserved, while the attacks are misdirected.
The web is full of jealous people who want to squash enthusiasm. If that was not the intent, some wording needs to be changed. Kudos to your friend.
This reminds me of the website that bashes Rachel Ray. If you don’t like what someone does or their quirks drive you crazy, go somewhere else. I think they are JEALOUS.
Melody: By all means, those who are happy for eM have a right to be happy. But those who don’t think this constitutes too much are entitled to their opinion too, right? Why judge them, personally at that. Judge their ideas. If not, I’m sorry to say, that you’re no different from those who get all personal about eM’s writings, and start calling her bad names. Two sides of the same coin.
There Karen goes and calls those who’re not ready to join the bandwagon as Jealous, despite their reasons. Funny how calling a critic — who’s just questioning literary credentials of a writer — a crab/jealous is OK, but criticizing quality of work is not OK!
So much for liberalism.
Anyways, let me not spoil your party. Have fun.
cheers,
asuph
karen,
if you don’t like SepiaMutiny/Amardeep’s blog, don’t read it. i think you’re just jealous that so many people comment on SepiaMutiny’s blog.
ha ha.
(sorry Melody, that was one for the road)
asuph
Your example of Indian crab mentality is so off the mark when it comes to Sepoy mutiny. They have had many posts praising other Indians who have made it whether it be Indian born or American Born. Just because they have readers mostly negative about one of your buddies doesn’t mean they are in the dragging down of successful Indians business.
Do they have to blindly rah rah every Indian blogger?
I hate to do this, but the correct term is, “I couldn’t help thinking about it” and not “I could help thinking about it”.
See here for something similar.
I don’t much about Meenakshi or the author of Sepia Mutiny… but that article seems it’s written out of jealously or personal vendetta. I do like well written critical articles, but this is not one of them.
I am glad you are standing up for your friend. Not many people would do that.
Well, frankly speaking just as the compulsive confessor has a right to express her opinions the commentators have a right to express theirs. Assigning a ulterior motive(the book deal) is just waste of time. Some people like her writing some don’t. It is as simple as that.
Haven’t the time to go through all the dissers’ work. If what you have said is right, then they are not important. I dislike whiners. Fullstop.
And I am not happy for eM. I am jealous!
Luck to her!
Literary skills?? I don’t think people read eM’s blog or Shobhaa De’s columns for ‘literary’ satisfaction. I think it’s just a fun read and she does have a way with words. As for Ms. De, she’s moved on to more serious topics, and while I don’t agree with her view sometimes, I still read her columns (esp the one on Sexes that is published in the Week).
Re: dissing, some of it is inevitable. Also, actually makes for some interesting reading. Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy those ‘brotherly’ comments from Mr. Amitabh…
Well, my blog hardly gets 10 hits a day…I am expecting universal studios to contact me with a lucrative movie deal
In the movie ratatouille, Anton Ego, the food critic says,
“In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.”
I cannot find better words.
Thanks also for making my point, rather more eloquently than I did. But then, you always do.
Good point. Esp, the latter bit.
@ Asuph: “sorry Melody, that was one for the road”
No worries
Glad you’re having fun!
@ Samir: “Your example of Indian crab mentality is so off the mark when it comes to Sepoy mutiny.”
Was not saying anything about the ENTIRE blog or all their posts. Just that one.
“Do they have to blindly rah rah every Indian blogger?”
Absolutely not. But I do think that one might have waited until after the book release to critique one way or the other? The fact that it was done before made me wonder about the mentality.
@ Bluesmoon:
merci for the correction on the typo! Don’t feel bad if you have to do it again. Type most of my posts at the speed of thought and have to clean up later. Sometimes miss a few!
@ Twisted: I agree with you. And thank you, felt it was only right.
@ Gigo: I get that some people like her writing and some don’t. I was only saying that is is unfair to critique someone before their book is out! And some of the comments are really quite ridiculous, they’re not from a matter of opinion but rather from a place of jealously, imo, hence this post.
@ Vijay: “I am not happy for eM. I am jealous!”
lol
@ Shantanu: Amitabh! It is amusing to a point, one wonders how silly people can get! But it is not a nice thing to disrespect people. And I felt it personally since I know eM, though even if I didn’t I don’t think many of those comments seemed in the “right” spirit, if there were such a term, you know?
@ Ashish: “Well, my blog hardly gets 10 hits a day…I am expecting universal studios to contact me with a lucrative movie deal” Good on you Ashish!! lol
Like the quote, perfectly apt. Thx!
I go with twisted DNA.
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