Adrien Brody just won the best actor Oscar for 'The Brutalist', a historical drama about an architect who survives the Holocaust, only to face anti-Semitism, drug addiction and violence in the US. The world is also awash with a wave of brutalism ; look around and see how the world is slowly being usurped by rabid right wing forces. India, US, Hungary, Turkey are only some of the examples. In his acceptance speech Brody mentioned that his character in the film represents the lingering traumas of conflict, repercussions of war, systemic oppression, racism and othering of those whose thoughts and actions are at variance with the prevailing neo-fascist ideology. For a healthier, happier and more inclusive world we should learn from the past. More than moral lessons, it is a reminder to not let hate and bigotry go unchecked. Hope Modi, Trump and others of their ilk are listening.
