In Swades (2004), Mela Ram — a village cook who longs to emigrate to the United States (US) and repeatedly seeks the help of Mohan Bhargava (Shah Rukh Khan) — eventually “sees the light”, declaring that emigration is like apni chaukhat ka diya giving light to the neighbour’s house (your lamp lighting the neighbour’s house instead of your own). I always found this sermonising jarring and elitist. After all, Mohan himself had emigrated, worked at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), and returned only because of the money and expertise he gained abroad. To deny Mela Ram that same chance
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