In Delhi, too, tears over Michael Jackson

Last evening, I was out in my neighbourhood with baby Riyan in his sling, shopping for groceries when I passed by a group of young boys doing what I thought was the moonwalk. Billie Jean? I dismissed the thought, and went about my business quickly as the heat enveloped us even though the moon was out. These kids aren't of the Michael Jackson generation, I thought.

The scene reminded of my childhood in Pakistan when Michael Jackson became the first truly global celebrity, next to Madonna. Early teen birthday parties inevitably ended up with a bunch of us on the dance floor copying moves we'd watched on MJ dance videos. And since this was the generation before the advent of the internet, YouTube, bloggerdom and whatnot, we got Michael Jackson's songs fresh off the pirated "Thriller" bandwagon. Cassettes, obviously, not CDs. 

When I got home from shopping and switched on the TV, there was MJ on television, covered by all the Indian English-language networks here. Folks interviewed on the streets said the world had lost a legend. I didn't think to switch to the Hindi language stations or the other regional language channels to see if MJ's death had become an obsessive part of their coverage as well.

This morning when my maid and Riyan's nanny, neither of whom speak English, were discussing Michael Jackson, I figured this was news pretty much everywhere. "You know he was so big," Riyan's nanny said. "He was a fantastic dancer. He taught the world how to dance. He was so little when he started performing. I know all his songs."

She was looking at one of the photographs up on my wall, and she suddenly shrieked: "Isn't that Michael Jackson with you?" she asked, really excited. I turned to look. It was a photograph taken of me while reporting on a story in a school outside Johannesburg six years ago. I'm in one corner of the frame and a bunch of young school kids are in the center. Ummm, no, I thought. Those are kids from South Africa who share only one thing with Michael Jackson: they're black. No, of course, not, I told her. Obviously, I've never met him before.

Then Sheetal, my maid, added that everyone in her neighborhood was also talking about him. The point was made, though. Everyone in Delhi — regardless of age, class, gender or exposure was talking about Michael Jackson and commiserating about his premature death.

Funny, I thought this generation in New Delhi wouldn't really be plugged into Michael Jackson — maybe its just a result of the television hype and their parents and older relatives taking walks down memory lane.

I thought I'd check out how folks in India's cyberspace remember him. Of course, I came across Ambitabh Bachan's blog. Bachan — everyone calls him Big B — is Bollywood's biggest star here in India. When he fell ill a few years ago, thousands gathered outside his hospital hoping for his recovery, many spending hours immersed in prayer. I remember feeling surprised and deeply moved. Bachan, who started blogging recently, gives MJ a very personal send off — check it out. In it, he talks about his son (another top-billed Bollywood actor today) dressed up as MJ at age 7 or 8.

Come to think of it, there were many MJ costumes at dress-up parties back in Karachi in the 1980s. Even the barber shops would have "Thriller"-era posters up. Our local music store, Billboard, always featured posters and the latest of Michael Jackson or Madonna ("Live in Japan" concert). It's neat to see that in New Delhi even today's teens know MJ. With this massive memorial in Los Angeles that has eaten up hours of airtime, it's likely there will be a revival of his music. No question the music houses will quickly be recording his latest pieces.

The other night, Rajiv was playing Michael Jackson for Riyan, who, at 3 months plus, is among the most removed on earth today from the King of Pop. Looks like the moonwalk will live on.

http://www.globalpost.com/notebook/india/090708/delhiites-remember-michael-jackson