MJ : My Columbus

No no i am not a ardent follower of the religion called "pop" and the God "MJ".In fact much a time i am not able to decipher what he used to sing although i liked his songs "black or white" "beat it" "they do not care for us" ,"the girl is mine ".Many for their lyrics and most for their beats and dance.For last few ears his name infamously been involved in paedophile case ,i,in fact began o hate him more.After all childhood innocence is a larger concern than the entertainment that keeps us amused.But his sudden death has made to headlines of newspapers and TV channels ,and condolences and remembrances came in flowing from all sides in huge amounts.This shows that although people had lost interest in him for last few years but not forgotten him.His music ,style and songs which had captivated a whole generation for decades has not lost grip over minds and hears of its followers.
For me MJ was not like a God as his pop loving follower assign him the position,but actually he my first introduction to the West or better the America.Those days Internet was not came to Bsp and cable television had just started to spread in the city.I think i was in fifth or sixth standard ,and i was visiting my neighbour's house,that the cover of MJ's album "Dangerous" (in picture alongside)struck my attention.I asked my neighbour (who was older than me and the cassette belonged to her elder brother who was studying at an Engg. College at Nagpur) about what type of music this is.She gave me a surprising look and said you don't know Michael Jackson? I said innocently "no".She exclaimed how come everybody knows about him .He is pop star and break dancer.I kept listening hypnotised,as though everything she said was something like divine knowledge.Then as owner of a proud possession she played the cassette and started moving rhythmically showing that it is a nice song and acting as she understands ever word of it (she was educated in hindi medium since start).I too liked the beats and sudden ups and downs of music with intervening "aouu" sound(characteristically MJ).She continued proudly that this is an original cassette "very costly and not available at Bsp",Her brother has brought it from nagpur so he never lets anyone touch it .I think she guessed that i may ask for borrowing .This was first time i heard western music.Then in school i learned that one of my classmate is an excellent break dancer and was going to perform on MJs song.I watched his dance a annual function ,he was really excellent ,and that last step in which he touches the stage with his legs spread away made the audience cheer amazingly(plz dont ask what it felt when the girls cheered).
It was MJ who penetrated to small town like ours through his break dance and pop songs.He was also one who lead to formation of image of an american as "White ,long haired(ofcourse uncombed),wearing goggles ,always moving(as though born in train)" among we people.
Often this is portrayed in our Indian movies as comedy, remember Jonny Lever in "Judai".
MJ for our generation was like what pizza,burger and shopping malls for today's generation ,a symbol of America.For me he was the Columbus through whom i discovered America ,his music "soul music" a gift to East from west ,his style a trend setter and his death like cutting of the umbilical cord when child is able to breath by himself.I would be difficult to believe he is dead as he himself said " i am unbreakable " .