Radhika Merchant And Anant Ambani Wedding Must Be Declared National Holiday

Anant Ambani Wedding: The Real Headline of Our Times

In a world where news should ideally prioritize pressing issues like climate change, economic instability, and social injustices, one event has managed to eclipse them all: the grand, opulent wedding of Anant Ambani.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, forget about the daily cases of bridges breaking and roofs leaking —our media is enraptured by the nuptials of the scion of India’s wealthiest family.

Since March (when the pre-wedding festivities for the couple began), it has been nothing but Ambani weddingzilla all over the internet and media. In fact, the celebrations would not stop with the wedding if media reports were to be believed.

There are grand events planned for July 13th and 14th. With the Anant Ambani wedding so close, it seems that the Indian government must declare tomorrow, July 12, as a national holiday.

Mainstream Media Showing Only Ambani Wedding Highlights Like A Wedding Event Manager

While the media devoted hours of coverage to the Anant Ambani wedding, several critical issues were conveniently pushed to the sidelines.

A few days ago, a report highlighted how air pollution kills 33,000 people in just ten cities of India annually. Extrapolating these numbers means that 7% of all deaths in the country are attributed to pollution.

The media is completely silent on such an important matter that affects the health of everyone in the country. No accountability has been taken by anyone in this matter.

Two days ago, another report mentioned how India’s unemployment rate increased to 8% in FY2024, the highest in the three-year period. The number of unemployed people looking for jobs was 3.7 crores in FY2024.

In June 2024, the unemployment rate was 9.2% (as per CMIE data). It was the highest in the past eight months, exhibiting how it is a major problem that needs to be addressed. 

Youth are struggling to get decent paying jobs amidst the rising inflation, but all the attention is only on the Ambani wedding.

While it is true that the global economy is in a downturn recession, what steps is the government taking to ensure the majority of the population stays insulated from such extreme events?

The glitz and glamour of a high-profile wedding seemed enough to overshadow these pressing concerns.

Consider this: while reporters were busy documenting every detail of the wedding, from the guest list to the floral arrangements, millions of Indians struggled to make ends meet. The irony is palpable.

In a country where a significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line, the celebration of such extravagance feels almost cruel.

If nothing, the Anant Ambani wedding has surely led all to believe how rich the richest in India are.

The economic disparity in India is staggering. According to Oxfam, the richest 1% of Indians hold more than four times the wealth of the bottom 70%. This gap is not just a statistic; it’s a reality that affects millions of lives. With its ostentatious display of wealth, the Anant Ambani wedding is a stark reminder of this growing inequality.

Traffic Diverted – Offices Issued Work From Home Advisory

The Mumbai Traffic Police has noticed an issue, declaring to the public that the traffic would be diverted from July 12th to 15th. Many national and international “VIPs” from political, business, and entertainment backgrounds are set to attend the event.

All the roads around the wedding venue – Jio World Convention Centre- will be open only for the vehicles of wedding guests. The common public would have to resort to alternative routes.

Everyone knows that the condition of Mumbai roads during the monsoon season is the worst. The residents already suffer from traffic bottlenecks during peak hours, but rains add to their woes.

There are long traffic jams, causing delays and frustration among drivers. In such conditions, closing down roads for a wedding will only exacerbate the problem. 

Since Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is close to the venue, the offices there have advised their employees to work from home to avoid long traffic and road congestion.

Now, these kinds of adjustments have historically only been made on events of national importance. But of course, the son of the richest man in India is getting married. Is it any less important than any national event?

Critical Administrative Dignitaries Getting Involved

Daily, social media is filled with civilians complaining about basic issues that should be made available to them without hassle. This includes access to clean water, round-the-clock electricity, robust infrastructure, safe surroundings, and unpolluted air.

However, despite their cries, the government ever takes no action on such matters. For every pothole filled by the authorities, ten more emerge in the same week. 

While it may seem to the common public that this is how the system works, let us tell you that all world-class arrangements are made on time when honorable Ambani Ji orders it.

For instance, for the pre-wedding festivities that took place in Jamnagar, our Indian Air Force got involved in handling 600 flight operations, safety, and infrastructure over five days. The IAF, which is responsible for national security, had to discharge its crucial manpower, which was paid for by the Indian taxpayers’ money, for a wedding extravaganza.

Reliance contacted the defense secretary directly for his support. 

Even for the wedding tomorrow, at least ten NSG (National Security Guard) commandos would be deployed at the event. It depicts the highest order of security used to safeguard the Prime Minister of the country.

They should be used only in exceptional circumstances or when the matter of national security is concerned. They are deployed to fight terrorism threats. 

While it is highly critical to ensure the safety of esteemed guests, many of which are flying from abroad to attend the festivities, what justifies the reckless use of government resources for a private event?

On what grounds are such arrangements, which require a lot of contribution from the government, approved and authorized?

More importantly, does this not give terrorists and goons the perfect chance to cause malfeasance to the public? Who will take responsibility for such an event if it happens?

Should Be Declared A National Holiday At This Point

The authorities are taking such calculated precautions for a private event, while the common public suffers from problems such as falling off bridges, roofs, hoardings, fires, waterlogging, etc., every day.

At this point, the government must declare the wedding day as a national holiday. At least, the public should be able to comfortably sit and witness the grand spectacle from their homes while laughing at the misery of their own condition.

While Ambani is the richest family in India, many more billionaires and millionaires can afford to host grand events. Those events might not be of this scale but shall be nothing short of spectacular themselves.

Tomorrow, they too can ask and even pay for such arrangements. What will happen then? Where does it stop?

A Call to Action

It’s easy to get caught up in the spectacle of a high-profile wedding, but we must remind ourselves of the bigger picture. The media is responsible for informing and educating the public about issues that truly matter. While it’s perfectly fine to enjoy some entertainment, it should not come at the cost of neglecting real problems.

As consumers of news, we also have a role to play. We must demand better coverage of important issues and hold media outlets accountable for their content. By doing so, we can ensure that the voices of the marginalized are heard and that real problems are addressed.

Conclusion: A Wedding to Remember?

Ultimately, the Anant Ambani wedding will be remembered for its extravagance and opulence. It will go down in history as one of the most lavish events ever.

But let it also serve as a reminder of our misplaced priorities. While we were mesmerized by the glitz and glamour, the world grappled with serious issues that deserve our attention and action.

So, the next time a high-profile event tries to steal the spotlight, let’s take a moment to reflect on what truly matters. Let’s ensure we don’t lose sight of society’s real problems.

After all, in the grand scheme of things, a wedding, no matter how extravagant, is just a wedding. However, the issues we face as a society are much more significant and deserve our unwavering focus.