Ed Sheeran represents India perfectly

It was heartening to see world leaders at the recent G20 Summit being welcomed by music from a true icon

There were so many amazing moments from the G20 Summit in New Delhi that I eventually gave up trying to remember them. Every time I thought I could not be more impressed by something jaw-dropping, the government of India pulled another astonishing rabbit from its overflowing hat. There was that brilliant photograph of the Qutub Minar, for instance, magically transformed into what looked like a sweet dish from Turkey. And thousands of flowers at every corner of Delhi, to remind the world that millions of us may not have enough food, money, or employment opportunities, but we know how to appreciate a good blooming rose. It was heady stuff, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

At times, it felt like an embarrassment of riches, from the silverware in which pure vegetarian dishes were served to assembled leaders, to the name game played out in real time as everyone tried to figure out if India was going to be called something else in the coming weeks. It was like a party with fun games thrown in, and a delightful way for us to introduce this new version of ourselves to the world.

There were critics, obviously, because there always are a bunch of spoilsports who refuse to see the big picture. Why did we hide the poor, they asked, as if it is a sin for us to be ashamed of poor Indians? They refused to understand that the poor make us all look bad and damage our reputation as a growing economy, from the perspective of public relations. If world leaders find out that poor Indians still exist, they may start to question everything from our GDP to whether those claiming to be billionaires really are as successful as they say. Down that road lies madness, which is why I think the trick of pushing the poor behind large green sheets was justified and necessary.

Then there was that argument about our culture, and why a land blessed with some of the most ancient artforms had to welcome guests with remixes by English singer Ed Sheeran. Again, I believe they simply missed the wood for the trees. Yes, we could have showcased anything from Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi to Kathak, Odissi, Mohiniyattam or Kathakali, but none of those performances come close to having the appeal of Sheeran’s opening line: “The club isn’t the best place to find a lover, so the bar is where I go.” It’s the kind of sentiment that has defined India for centuries, and instantly informs foreign delegates that they are stepping into the world’s biggest Scotch whisky-consuming country by volume, one that dethroned France from the top spot this year. Is that not a sign that we are a rising superpower? Alcoholism is in our blood, and we should be proud of it.

When Sheeran sings, “Girl, you know I want your love, your love was handmade for somebody like me,” he isn’t just posturing; he is saying what millions of Indian nationalists have been telling women for decades, whether they reciprocate the sentiment or not. Yes, it may reek of sexual repression, but that love prompted the ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao’ programme, after which not a single Indian woman was harassed, assaulted, or murdered. What Sheeran did is reiterate our government’s continued commitment to feminism.

All one had to do was read between the lines, really, to see that Sheeran said more about India and Indians than any traditional performance possibly could. It was a sign of confidence, rather than insecurity, despite what so many people were saying on social media. It is only a confident nation that can ignore its rich traditions and unashamedly import something from a country that once ruled it. It is only a politician who needs no validation from anyone who can look like a clown from thousands of posters without worrying about accusations of narcissism or vanity. That is the kind of success story eventually told by those crores we spent on marketing and advertising our role as hosts.

Ultimately, what made the G20 Summit such an undeniable success was the fact that everyone who attended it must have left in a state of much confusion. It is an effect we should have on all outsiders from now on, so they are forever left guessing what our next move is going to be. Today, we have co-opted Ed Sheeran as our brand ambassador; tomorrow, who knows, we may invite Lady Gaga to write a new National Anthem for Bharat.

When he isn’t ranting about all things Mumbai, Lindsay Pereira can be almost sweet. He tweets @lindsaypereira

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The views expressed in this column are the individual’s and don’t represent those of the paper

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