Theatre Artist's Viral Monologue Challenges Liberal Orthodoxy
A powerful Instagram video from theatre artist Natashja Rathore has ignited intense discussions across India's cultural landscape. The artist, known online as @delulutosolulu, posted a monologue that questions contemporary liberal attitudes toward spirituality and personal belief systems.
An Uncomfortable Realization at Mahakal Temple
Natashja begins by describing a recent visit to the Mahakal temple with fellow artists and thinkers from the theatre world. These are people who have dedicated their lives to questioning established ideas and structures. During their pilgrimage, they made a disturbing discovery.
"We all realized something uncomfortable," Natashja reveals in her video. "All of us had been mocked at some point for our spiritual leanings. We were shamed, dismissed, labeled—and not because we imposed anything on anybody."
She explains that spirituality often faces suspicion in artistic circles. Devotion gets framed as regressive behavior. Silence and introspection receive dismissal as ignorance. This treatment comes despite liberal claims of supporting freedom of expression.
The Contradiction Within Liberal Spaces
Natashja identifies a significant contradiction. The same communities that champion non-judgment, diversity, and inclusion have created what she calls "one of the most suffocating echo chambers." Knowledge becomes reduced to ideology in these spaces. Everything undergoes politicization.
"Get seen with the wrong people, and suddenly you're called a bhakt—mocked," she observes. Many artists with genuine liberal values have hidden their spiritual beliefs for fear of judgment or cancellation from their own community.
Art's Sacred Origins and Spiritual Heritage
The theatre artist makes a compelling connection between art and spirituality. "Art has always belonged to the sacred," she asserts. "Theatre was born in ritual. Music, dance—before it was performance, it was prayer."
She challenges the notion that sharing spiritual knowledge constitutes propaganda. Reclaiming India's rich spiritual heritage isn't fascism, she argues. Wearing saffron shouldn't become political.
"I'm sorry, but you don't get to claim artistic freedom while policing someone's inner world," Natashja states firmly.
A Message to Closet Sanatanis
The video concludes with a direct message to those hiding their religious or cultural identities. Natashja calls Sanatan Dharm inherently liberal and encourages people to embrace their cultural identity without fear.
"To all the closet Sanatanis out there: the most radical thing you can do today is refuse to be bullied out of your own soul," she declares. "Because there's no path more liberal than Sanatan Dharm, and being a true bhakt is the highest form of intelligence. So, wear your culture proudly."
Online Reactions and Broader Implications
The monologue has generated significant online engagement. Viewers have expressed both support and criticism. Many are debating whether contemporary liberal spaces truly accommodate diverse worldviews, including religious and spiritual perspectives.
As the video continues circulating on social media platforms, it raises fundamental questions about liberalism's boundaries. The discussion extends to faith's place in artistic expression and who determines what qualifies as progressive thought in modern India.
The conversation touches on several critical themes:
- The tension between liberal ideals and spiritual expression
- Freedom of expression within artistic communities
- Cultural identity and personal belief systems
- The relationship between art and spirituality
- Inclusion versus ideological conformity
Natashja Rathore's video has clearly struck a chord. It challenges assumptions about what constitutes liberal behavior while advocating for greater acceptance of spiritual diversity within India's cultural and artistic circles.
