Enigma of being a celebrity

The other day Amitabh Bachchan reminisced of his early days spent in Delhi winter – one what he described as a feature of ‘carefree life’. When asked about the place of original individuality in his very glamorous world, Karan Johar told us in an office gathering that it is already lost. Both of these responses from eminent bollywood personalities set me ponder on the enigma with which these people live – day in day out.

Be it cricketers, be it filmstars, be it other renowned personalities – the world knows them by what they do. For their popularity, only yardstick is probably their performance, delivery and product. Probably because it should be that ways, ideally! But then, the occupation of being a celebrity comes with an inherent hazard as Karan put it. There is one section of society who believes in criticizing the best of the works. There is a section called media who hovers around every possible inch of space in the life (personal as well as professional) of these celebrities. There is this self-inflicted image of being a celebrity which does not let them be their normal self after years of glory in public eyes.

Followers of Indian cricket would remember the incidence when stones were pelted at the house of our beloved cricketers’ homes after an early loss in World cup 2003. The same followers showered flowers during the spring of 2011 when the team – mostly comprising of same individuals – won them the world cup. Strange world – isn’t it? As a follower, as a fan, we tend to get emotional in a game when the chance of winning is 50% in each game for each team. Sachin Tendulkar said once in a pre-match interview that the other team also comes to play and with a mindset to win. No one likes the defeat.

Similarly, the filmstars slog hard to produce movies which are one of the best pastimes for us in India. Some of us may like it, some of us may not. Some of these movies may generate record breaking revenues; some can make the producers go bust. Our job should be limited to passing the judgment whether the movie was good or otherwise. But quite often, the good or bad work goes into the sentiments and nerves of the viewers and there emerges a strong liking or dislike for one particular personality on a personal level even without a single interaction. Constant criticism and media pressure gives way to an identity which in the first place is so superfluous.

Living with originality will be a tall order for them for they also have 24 hours to work with. It is widely said and believed that grass is greener on the other side. In the process, what is forgotten is that there are sides without grass too; there are sides where the grass is brown, dry and insipid. One may want to be a celebrity but there is a price for which it comes for. I would be rather contemplative and appreciative of what these celebrities go through and at the same time how they put up brave front to do things over and over again which offer a platform to rejoice, celebrate and entertain.

Hope I can be heard...

Almost 10 days ago, Kolkata woke up to another morning of sorrow, anger and losses. Little can I say to console the Kolkatans who lost their recuperating kin and relatives in supposedly one of best private hospitals (AMRI) due to an avoidable fire. As happens with most of the tragedies, this one too saw some blame game to begin with, continued with political propaganda coming to the fore and finally news channels flashing the combining effect of all the above.

Readers of this blog will remember the best things about Kolkata in my own words in one of the earlier series on the city of joy. Very generously, I ignored the grey shade of the city perhaps because the flow was so beautiful and at times romantic. Alas! All is not beautiful in this world and we have seen from time to time that it is not. I would not like to portray a grey shade of one particular city here, but from what we saw was mostly apologetic from human front and inhuman from safety front.

People flouting the rules and regulations can be seen across the country irrespective of social status, religion, state and background. Before one blames anyone, there is a need to look at one’s own self. How many times have we seen basic rules being flouted – 'umpteen number of times'? Haven’t we? How many times have we refrained from holding the accountables 'the accountable'? Very seldom. Just because it is so easy. Isn’t it? And who cares if these negligent acts cost few lives? None cares – what one care is to blame all the possible culprits once found in this very trap. I can’t see more miser way of looking at life.

My heart goes out to all those people who have been losing their lives due to failure of us as a society to do right things and follow basic discipline in day to day affairs. Yes, there was total lack of leadership in this particular mishap. But, leaders is none but one from us. And when largely the society consists of such mean and rule-breaking people, there is always one such fire on the cards. Sadly, these accidents take place and are then forgotten. No learning taken and chalta hai attitude! No words I have! No sentiments to represent what I think at this juncture! Hope a few handful can hear and understand what my point is!!!

Sorry, you are not a politician

The tussle between civilians and politicians over some key issues of governance has been going on for quite some time. They say this is a movement to eradicate mud from the political system. Whether it will do so or the otherwise will be seen in next 4-5 years. The movement has however empowered the “mango people” to voice their cry against the frustration they confront on a day to day dealing with several government corporations and employees.

In a democracy, this is an obvious power that citizens command. There is a common misnomer amongst the political class that the movement is mass-labeling each and every politician as corrupt and unfit for governance. I am certain that most of you will not agree as a lot depends on what is projected in media and how. The truth on the other side is that public does want their elected servants to govern them in the most judicious and efficient manner. And somehow that does not seem to be the case on a macro level with a spate of scams being reported and administered by judiciary too frequently.

The most common retaliating comment given by so called politicians to protect their wrong-doings is what surprises me. Every time someone raises such issues with them, they would say, don’t do the politics, you are not a politician, mind your own business. Now how can it be termed as politics when someone is being held accountable for the assigned job? How can “mango people” do the politics?

The political class needs to perhaps understand the responsibility that they undertake after being voted as the voice of public. We don’t want to do the politics; we want our state of affairs to be amongst the best in the world. We want our representatives to hear us when they are not doing the just and right. I wish they do so with humility and grace for they are the leaders of mass.

मशगूल शहर, अन्जाना सफ़र

भागती भीड़ और मशगूल शहर,
लुप्त एहसासों के बीच मज़बूरी का कहर,
और फिर ऊपर से दरिंदगी का खंजर,
नस नस में जैसे हर पल घुलता ज़हर

कुदरत के साए में लिपटी ये बेमानिया,
रूह की गहराइयो में जाती ना ये सच्चाइया,
बेबस लाचार सहमी सी कुछ तन्हाइया,
खुदी से ना आँख मिलाती वो परछाइयां

दोस्तों, मेरी आवाज़ में कैसा ये दर्द है,
ज़िन्दगी काटने की क्या सिर्फ येही एक शर्त है,
ना भूल खुले आसमान के नीचे भी फर्श है,
चलती साँसों का इंतज़ार करती सबके लिए वो कब्र है!

Isn't natural selection enough?

I may be seen as someone much influenced by the theory of evolution and natural selection. I posted an aspect of this theory long ago when I started blogging. As the evolution continues decades after decades, centenary after centenary and millennium after millennium, there is one thing that just does not seem to evolve.

In order to maintain its supremacy, the human race has developed a tendency to take the power in its own hand - partially because of self-protection against natural hazards and inherent risk of existence of life on this planet but mostly because of greed, ego, anger and jealousy. The world has witnessed the annihilation caused due to terrorism which is responsible for mainly killing innocent people basis foolish myth. We know, that is one of the most unpardonable sins and therefore, needs collective and complete intolerance. Here comes my question on the subject. Is that it? No. Just not.

I do not intend to draw any parallel to terrorism but feel helpless to pause for a moment. I feel helpless when I read the stories of somebody killing their own kin, friends or partners. I feel helpless when someone shoots a toll-tax employee for a mere 27 rupees. It drives me crazy when somebody kills a man for having an affair with his partner. Indeed, I go nuts when someone kills a bar-tender when she refuses to offer the drinks when she is actually not allowed to do so.

Without going into the reasons of all these events, I feel that these acts are no less detestable than those of terrorism. The impact may be sparse and voices may not be collective against individual culprits but does not meet the core value of the existence. Come and think of it where is all the humanity when one is not ready to forgive someone else’s mistake even though it is not so at times. How can someone shoot somebody as if a toddler is playing with a toy? Ages have come and gone but there is this very stuff that boggles me completely. We have been killing each other since the inception of Stone Age and it has only grown with the expansion of world.

Alas, there is no one to direct those being naturally selected that they need to survive not only to survive and that they need to modify themselves not only according to changing laws of nature. There is a need to bridge the gap between Godliness and survival. It is a process of natural selection and no one is empowered to select or deselect someone else on their whims and fancies.

Midnight thoughts

Be glad that you are alive and safe. You may tread along your own path nicely but remember life is a junction of numerous interjecting paths. Someone else’s miss can hit you too. Therefore, be polite and gentle. Offer your self and your services with altruism.

Be glad that you are better off. Most of the times, problem is in the mind. Life seems more miserable when comparisons drive the contentment. Don’t think that your story is not so great and others stories were written in wonderland. Everyone has fought their way to where they are and are responsible for inner peace at the same time. Enjoy with what you have. Life will keep on changing before taking your breaths away.

Be glad that you have a magical smile. Expanded lips symbolize joy and alleviate pain of any form. Words can be good or bad and may carry different connotations, but smile is a cynosure. It transmits a feeling of all is well or all is going to be well.

Be glad that you have wonderful people around you. Try living alone for a day and there is a feeling of being neglected or disowned. Don’t fall in the trap of altercations with those wonderful people. Realize your mistake and move on with utmost humility. If you realize your mistake, they will realize theirs too, sooner or later, for they are wonderful after all.

Be glad that you are assigned to play a role. A role of perpetuating life to the next level. Your presence may not seem important to you at times but hang on for few more decades. Your experience and your uniqueness do matter and will be equally helpful in uplifting the humanity itself. Life is abundant.

Be glad that you are being loved. Be glad that someone kisses you to express that immortal love. Someone hugs you tight to help you sustain your emotions. Understand the love and be even more generous in giving it back. Business will survive somehow; your loved ones may not. Love can only refill love - there is no subtitute top-up.