Voices from the past
‘TODAY’S NEWS COULD MAKE GREAT READING 10 OR 20 YEARS LATER‘
MY NOTE last week about thirsty Hindu deities drinking milk reminded readers of happy temple visits with their families. So they’ve told me.
As I continue decluttering, I hadn't quite realised just what a mountain of clippings I had kept from 2007 when the Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was subjected to racist abuse by Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and other contestants on Celebrity Big Brother.
Here are a few samples of the headlines: “Shilpa ‘called a P***' on BB”; “Lock Jade away”; “Shilpa stars in a weepie”; and “Jade Baddie. 10,000 complain over ‘racist bullying.' Angry MP raises C4 show in Commons”.
Gordon Brown, then chancellor, flew to India for financial talks, but complained his whole trip was hijacked by the Shilpa affair.
Britain felt a sense of collective guilt for not only did the public vote to ensure Shilpa emerged the victor, but she was even given an audience with the Queen. Her cause was taken up with great gusto by Keith Vaz, who took her to his Leicester East constituency.
Shilpa, who sold her story to the tabloids, insisted she was not dating the London businessman Raj Kundra. But he dumped his wife and baby to marry Shilpa in 2009 and move to Mumbai. I have kept enough clippings to write a whole PhD.
For example, I have OK! magazine, with Shilpa declaring, “I'm not speaking to that Jade again.” The two did reconcile, though.
Another magazine, heat, carried a cover story on Jade: “The most shocking celebrity interview you will ever read.”
Her quotes ranged from “Yes, I have had death threats,” to “I've put my kids in terrible danger,” and “I'll stack shelves for a living.”
She didn't. Poor Jade, who flew to India to try to make amends, died of cancer, on March 22, 2009, aged 27, leaving behind two young children. In retrospect, we learnt reality TV exploited vulnerable young women.
Another Asian woman who took over our lives in 2007 was the Bangladeshi origin secretary Faria Alam. I have a cutting from the News of the World: “How she scored at the FA.”
She sold her story of her affair with the England football manager Sven Goran Eriksson.
Today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with their three children, are projected as the future face of the monarchy. But I have a cutting from April 15, 2007: “William splits up with Kate. Prince & girlfriend spring shock.”
The report began: “The middle class girl who reminded many Britons of Diana has chosen not to be their Queen.”
Today's cuttings will make fascinating reading 10 or 20 years from now.