Nationalist, Not Regionalist
Tanveer Jafri
May 09, 2008
Amitabh Bachchan is the name of that hero of Indian Cinema Industry who had achieved great heights of international fame because of his unmatched acting that can't be compared to any actor of India rather world Cinema Industry. Undoubtedly Amitabh has been crowned with the title of millennium star that has not been in the fate of any other actor or actress in the world. But it is a matter of regret that this hero whom the people adored at world level has been under criticism in his own country. Had that criticism been clean, healthy & argumentative? Or the persons who did it, had they owned some personality equal to Amitabh? Then the importance of this criticism must have been considered. But it's a matter of great sorrow that people, who raise fingers against Amitabh, call themselves Indians but they favour regional, narrow, limited & inferior politics. Those people are raising fingers against Amitabh. In fact by doing so, they want to increase their name & fame. I have no objection to say that the thoughts of such people are narrow, jealous & separatist.
Today, the persons who are raising fingers at Amitabh Bachchan are blaming him in different manners. One such blame being put against him is that he got everything name, fame, money etc. by living in the state of Maharashtra, where there is Indian Film Industry, but he is busy in thinking the development of Uttar Pradesh & not of Maharashtra. Those persons who are of separatist mentality accuse that Amitabh earns in Maharashtra & praised Uttar Pradesh. Not only this, these people now advise Amitabh Bachchan to leave film industry. What a sorrow, on one side this man has secured a place of 'Angry Young Man' & established himself alone on this title being an ideal of children & adults for the years. As a senior actor, he has also established himself even more than an actor than he was in the role of an 'Angry Young Man'. Despite this popularity that is beyond the skies & his great demand as an actor, his critics are advising him to leave the film industry. Is this meaningless opposition not the height of jealousy?
Undoubtedly, the experts of regional politics & who raise separatist voices to earn their living from it may say anything to Amitabh but there lives such a man in them who had never let regional & separatist voice grow in his heart. By chance, I remained with Amitabh Bachchan as his political associate when he was representing Allahabad Parliament Constituency of Indian Parliament. The All India National Integration conference that he addressed on January 11, 1987 was his last address there as a parliamentarian in Allahabad. I myself was the organizer of this conference in Prayag Sangeet Samiti Hall, Allahabad. On this occasion, Amitabh Bachchan said a lot regarding National Unity. He said one thing that an ordinary leader doesn't dare to say but he expressed his unfearful opinions. Despite being a Congress Parliamentarian & in spite of the fact that at that time his chum Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of the country, he openly said in his speech that if there stood a great obstacle in our National Unity, that was different regiments based of regions & caste in Indian Army. Amitabh said what is the need of formation of Sikh Regiment, Jaat Regiment, Pathan Regiment, Gorkha Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, Mahaar Regiment etc. based on regions & castes in Indian Army? Amitabh was of the view that there should be army of one name in one country. It means that it is enough to recognize Indian Army as Indian Army only. During his this speech, he expressed one of his agony that whenever he goes out of the country & a countryman comes to see him, that introduces himself a Punjabi, Marathi or Bengali instead of as an Indian. Amitabh said that we Indians should not think like it. We should first show ourselves as an Indian & not a representative of any region or a caste.
But it is a matter of sorrow that this great hero of great national thoughts is being criticized by those people whose politics, whose living & talking, everything is based on regionalism. Although I agree to it that today Amitabh Bachchan is being criticized because of his much political interference. But persons like me who know Amitabh Bachchan from very near & who have got a chance to live & work with him to understand his behaviour & attitude, they know it very well that Amitabh Bachchan never understood earning or fame as a ladder to reach the height of politics. Despite the politics has always deceived Amitabh. I am going to publish a book in the near future named 'Rajniti Ka Dansh' (The Agony of Politics). I have tried to prove in this proposed book that what Amitabh want to contribute to the country through politics. But the fate gave birth to such circumstances that this politics didn't prove anything more than an agony for him.
Today the reason of Amitabh Bachchan's criticism is being seen as his interest in a particular political party. Obviously the persons who criticizes that political party in which Amitabh is interested, also aims at Amitabh. But there is no doubt that he may be interested in whatever party or can be said that may be the skilled politicians of any party have succeeded in attempt in joining Amitabh to any party, but nobody can doubt that the millennium star doesn't stick to any narrow thinking. He is a great hero having a Nationalist thought.
Today, the persons who are raising fingers at Amitabh Bachchan are blaming him in different manners. One such blame being put against him is that he got everything name, fame, money etc. by living in the state of Maharashtra, where there is Indian Film Industry, but he is busy in thinking the development of Uttar Pradesh & not of Maharashtra. Those persons who are of separatist mentality accuse that Amitabh earns in Maharashtra & praised Uttar Pradesh. Not only this, these people now advise Amitabh Bachchan to leave film industry. What a sorrow, on one side this man has secured a place of 'Angry Young Man' & established himself alone on this title being an ideal of children & adults for the years. As a senior actor, he has also established himself even more than an actor than he was in the role of an 'Angry Young Man'. Despite this popularity that is beyond the skies & his great demand as an actor, his critics are advising him to leave the film industry. Is this meaningless opposition not the height of jealousy?
Undoubtedly, the experts of regional politics & who raise separatist voices to earn their living from it may say anything to Amitabh but there lives such a man in them who had never let regional & separatist voice grow in his heart. By chance, I remained with Amitabh Bachchan as his political associate when he was representing Allahabad Parliament Constituency of Indian Parliament. The All India National Integration conference that he addressed on January 11, 1987 was his last address there as a parliamentarian in Allahabad. I myself was the organizer of this conference in Prayag Sangeet Samiti Hall, Allahabad. On this occasion, Amitabh Bachchan said a lot regarding National Unity. He said one thing that an ordinary leader doesn't dare to say but he expressed his unfearful opinions. Despite being a Congress Parliamentarian & in spite of the fact that at that time his chum Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of the country, he openly said in his speech that if there stood a great obstacle in our National Unity, that was different regiments based of regions & caste in Indian Army. Amitabh said what is the need of formation of Sikh Regiment, Jaat Regiment, Pathan Regiment, Gorkha Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, Mahaar Regiment etc. based on regions & castes in Indian Army? Amitabh was of the view that there should be army of one name in one country. It means that it is enough to recognize Indian Army as Indian Army only. During his this speech, he expressed one of his agony that whenever he goes out of the country & a countryman comes to see him, that introduces himself a Punjabi, Marathi or Bengali instead of as an Indian. Amitabh said that we Indians should not think like it. We should first show ourselves as an Indian & not a representative of any region or a caste.
But it is a matter of sorrow that this great hero of great national thoughts is being criticized by those people whose politics, whose living & talking, everything is based on regionalism. Although I agree to it that today Amitabh Bachchan is being criticized because of his much political interference. But persons like me who know Amitabh Bachchan from very near & who have got a chance to live & work with him to understand his behaviour & attitude, they know it very well that Amitabh Bachchan never understood earning or fame as a ladder to reach the height of politics. Despite the politics has always deceived Amitabh. I am going to publish a book in the near future named 'Rajniti Ka Dansh' (The Agony of Politics). I have tried to prove in this proposed book that what Amitabh want to contribute to the country through politics. But the fate gave birth to such circumstances that this politics didn't prove anything more than an agony for him.
Today the reason of Amitabh Bachchan's criticism is being seen as his interest in a particular political party. Obviously the persons who criticizes that political party in which Amitabh is interested, also aims at Amitabh. But there is no doubt that he may be interested in whatever party or can be said that may be the skilled politicians of any party have succeeded in attempt in joining Amitabh to any party, but nobody can doubt that the millennium star doesn't stick to any narrow thinking. He is a great hero having a Nationalist thought.