Posted on: June 13, 2008 - 12:29 am
Prateeksha/Mehboob Studios Mumbai June 12/13 , 2008 12:27 am
Mid Day asked me to do a citizen journalist piece for them on the rain and flooding conditions in the area I live in, in Juhu. I had apprehensions about doing it. I was not too happy with the questions that were put up and eventually wrote what came best in me.
MONSOONS, JUHU AND I
The monsoons broke over Mumbai a few days ago. Perhaps a little ahead of time and perhaps with a little more than expected fury. Weather and climate predictions in the country still run the risk of being completely off the mark or, at times, surprisingly, completely right. For a well managed disciplined and organised traveller in the city this could be a decision making exercise difficult to find in any manual. But for most of us, during the rains, it is a toss between flood inspector pants and a rubber boat !
I live in Juhu and have been living here for the past 35 years or a bit more. And each Monsoon has brought with it the ominous dark clouds, an angry muddy sea, a sensuous delight and of course rain. A rather large amount of it I am afraid.
This afternoon, Mid Day has asked me if I could comment on the problems that we face during the monsoons in JVPD and what my solutions would be to solving them.
This is an an onerous task.
I have begged the tabloid to rid me of this ‘honor’ and have given off- record verbal explanations. But Upala KR from said journal has with due courtesy, persisted. And so I write. But with explicit understanding that I shall write what I honestly feel without any pretence, uncertain whether it shall serve the purpose of the exercise.
The JVPD Scheme, Juhu is a low lying area with high profile occupancy. It houses the comparatively affluent and those of somewhat better means. Business men, builders, film stars, high bracket schooling systems, luxurious hotels even the prestigiously initialled JW Marriott, which some local intellect had with straight-faced humour wondered if the JW stood for JUHU WALA MARRIOTT !
The grace of God has included me, albeit in a small capacity, within these consorts. Consorts, because affluence is terminally elitist and often designated in our world of huge have-nots, as undesirable company.
When you are a person of means and certain affluence, your right to complain or comment is lost beyond redemption.
“Ye saale ameer log ! Mehalon may rehne wale ! Ye kya jaane hum garibon ki mushkilain !”
They are right. We really don’t know what the common man goes through. We really don’t know the pain of seeing their little cosy hut washed away by flood of water. We really don’t know the loss of belongings, the little that are there, when authorities demolish their habitats. Demolish, so that the pollution in the ‘nala’ that flows along, reduces. Reduces so that excessive rain water can flow clear and not jam the roads which accommodate the Benz’s and BMW’s of the secure cemented water protected mansions of the rich.
Upala, I really have no solution to the problem you want me to find a solution for. Yes the waters do penetrate my lawns and the drawing rooms of my property. And yes they damage and destroy the Persian carpets and expensive furniture. They damage and destroy my expensive imported cars. They cut off my electricity. They confine me to my house without cable TV. They prevent my staff from getting fresh consumables from the market.
Yes it is rough !
But..
We have the means to shift the belongings to a higher floor in the mansion. We have the means to clean the carpet and repair the furniture.
We have the means to claim the insurance on damaged vehicles, or buy another.
The means to use the generator to substitute the TV with DVD’s of entertainment.
And the means to stock in cold storages the consumables.
We survive.
The poor die.
And you want me to complain and comment on my condition !! ??
I have no complaints. I will live within this.
I will suffer the loss, but not the suffering of others.
Five families of my staff lost their homes on the ‘nala’. I brought them in. They now have a roof in my house. I will feed them till I can find a suitable accommodation for them. But what of the others ? Where do they go ?
I have no complaints.
I fear the politicisation of my comments to the authorities. I am a labelled ‘outsider’. I dare not have a voice in a land within my own land !
I am happy.
I am happy with my suffering.
But do something for the others.
Do not ask me to lead. Allow me to follow. I am a good follower.
I am Amitabh Bachchan. I live in JVPD, Juhu. The place that gets flooded every monsoon.
Amitabh Bachchan
The letter and questions asked were as follows -
> Dear Mr Bachchan,
> wd be great if you could talk a bit about the problems that you face during
> the
> monssons in JVPD and what would be your solutions in solving them. wd be great
> if u reply by 8 pm. i am extremely sorry for the rush and inconvenience caused
> because of it. wd truly appreciate it. something in 450-500 words and it would
> like an open letter addressed to the civic admin or whom you want to write it
> to.
>
> 1. The agony and helplessness you face every time the monsoon nears? And as
> it progresses?
>
> 2. What, in this entire season, is the most frustrating moment? That one
> cant fight nature? or is it the manner in which the crisis is (badly)
> handled?
>
> 3. Is there a solution? What, in your experience is the solution?
>
> 4. Is this man made?and whom would you blame for this?
>
> 5. If you were the civic chief of Mumbai, what three things would you do to
> make the city safer during rains? (a plan or structure which to is to be
> executed across the year)?
>
> warm regards
> Upala
The fury of nature is unconsolable. I have seen the most modern of cities come to a standstill due to extreme conditions. A blizzard hit New York while i was there once. It took 3 days to come back to normal. Traffic, buildings, roads everything just went cold. No one moved on the streets.
If it could happen to NYC, it could happen anywhere.
My love for you, always
Amitabh
sir u have wrongly mentioned the name of the journalist from mid-day
if i have not mistaken , the name is Upala KBR not KR as mentioned by you!
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gr8. I wonder if any newspaper would have the guts to publish it.
that’s so unfair. politicization of your comments.
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hello amitabh ji
I am a big fan of urs and this is the first time i visited ur blog waiting 4ur reply
megha
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salaam amitji!
now here is 11:55pm. and after put this comment im going to read histology!!
when u work hard why this little fan don’t?!
please take care and rest enough!
khuda hafiz!
Sahar(ur little iranian fan!!)
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Beautiful writing about a terrible truth. You can write better columns than many regulars.
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Sir
Nice. Better to avoid controversies as much possible. Especially since people tend to derive meaning with all possible permutations and combinations.
Warm regards
Rajeev
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Hello Sir,
i am eagerly waiting to see you at the UNFORGATTABLE tour. I stay in San Francisco USA and i bought the tickets for the show.
I remember that in 1984 you were in Pune for some inagural show. You were supposed to pass from the road where we stayed. I stood 3 hours in hot sun hoping to see you. I was just 6 yrs that time and that strain was too much for me. I felt thirsty and ran upstairs for water. In that time you just passed from the road. My mom and other people had stopped your car on the road to say you hello. When i ran back .. they told that you had gone !!!!! I cried for 3 days !!!
SInce then i had a dream to see you. Whatever you may call this. But i am just eager to see you once. I shall be there to watch you on 27th July in San Francisco USA. I hope this time i will be happy and shall carry that memories for rest of my life.
I dont know how you manage time to write and morover read the huge number of comments you get.
Thank you,
Amit Naik
San Francisco USA
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[off topic]
Oh my god! I cannot believe Amitabh Bachchan ji blogging at this time also! Its 1 AM IST and i found a post pop up just now!
BTW, this blog is more famous than any other blog in the world now. It is famous than the official Google blog also. You will find Amitabh’s blog at 3rd place in Google search results for the keyword ‘blog’.
Quiet a good achievement to share with the readers here
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excause me!
i forget to say that now no comment is showing but i know that my comment will be 20 or more!
but i’m happy that that i could read ur post quickly after u uploaded it!
God bless u and ur family!
Good night!
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Nicely written Mr Bachchan.I agree with everything you said…only slightly disagree with the the sarcastic tone towards the end. Sort of minimizes the significance of the plight of the ‘common man’ that you put across as being only out of fear of rebuke rather than empathy.
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Good Evening Again!! Couldnt resist commenting
J W MARRIOTT - Juhu Wala Marriott - Hahahaha Nice one!!!
Hats off to you…..How do u even tolerate such question answer session…..but then God gives patience with Success i guess!!!
Regards,
Deepa Tripathi
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It is such a pleasure to read you thoughts. In my opinion, ‘Humanity is the foremost quality every human should aim to achieve’ and your thoughts visibly reflect that quality!
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hello sir…i really cannot believe it that i m writing to any celebrity….i myself come from a family of a leading production house… so stars n celebrities have never bought me any excitment..but once just to pass sometime waiting for someone..i managed to go thru ur blogs…thru this i got to know the real You….just want to say that i have fallen in love with you….and i think sarkar raj was awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…n all 3 of u were outstanding….keep it up ..
love
payal
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Hello Sir,
once again such a nice and touching article by you. I am immensly happy to see the idol/role model having such a huge insight which even god is lacking !!
This really touched my heart. You have said it perfectly. In my childhood days we would suffer from electricity cuts and had to study when there was no lights and fans ! But at least i could have it back once power was back. I imagined what the poor must be going through. If any one like me would want to study then he must be going through enough hardships. This feeling made me feel what previledges i have and made me do my best !
Our people, government shall tackle this issues. I dont feel that everything shall be given free. But atleast some provisions shall be made.
I now stay in USA and have seen that there is not huge contrast in people’s living. Everything stands same for all. In India we see people driving Merc and others strolling on road.
What can we do ?? we can just do our best for ourselves, our society and our people !!
Regards,
Amit Naik
San Francisco USA
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Namaskar GURUJI,
!! ABOUT THE UNFORGETTABLE TOUR 2008 !!
Please consider Atlanta,GA location in USA because it is the biggest center for southeast USA and can cover all southeast states.
There are lots of Indians( and south Asians) in southeast USA and most concerts come here and always do well.
There is no nearest location for your concert. All locations are very far from here like New York,Atlantic City,Houston,Los Angeles,San Francisco.
So please consider Atlanta,GA,USA so the concert evenly spread out in the USA.
Not considering Atlanta,GA means you are missing out a big chunk of US audience.
I hope you will read this.
As always,
Aap ka subhchintak
Neal
USA
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“If it could happen to NYC, it could happen anywhere.”
If it would happen to NYC, then they will be quick enough to fix the issues so that it does not happen again and again. Where as in our case, BMC just does not fix the stuff.
The powai / Andheri road is still in the same condition. It still takes 2 hours to reach Andheri from Mulund or Thane. The raods still get flooded. E.g. will be the place near your house. I had seen it in news, the first day and it was almost flooded.
I can see BMC guys had started some digging work around 4-5 months back, no improvements, only few people working on it, making the whole thing slower than snail. And the rain starts.. so what do they do? During late nights, they apply “dammar” on the roads and fix the so called pot holes.
The result? Well. after few days, we are back to the same position..
The roots like in the whole system. Corruption is on the top place.
But I still love India.. my India.. mera India..
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Respected Sir,
First, I want to say that I am quite upset that even though I was probably the first to read and respond to the mistake of Aiswarya being mentioned as your wife in the review, you only mentioned two names.
Anyway, this is also maybe the first response to today’s entry. You are right, the unpriviledged suffer and the authority must do something about that instead of asking for your comments.
I am a big fan of your acting skills and really admire your expertise, if I may say so, in the field.
Next time a journalist asks you to comment on such a matter, just show him/her the true state of affairs and hope that they take suitable action!!!
With warm regards,
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hello sir!!!!!
m a huge fan of urs…….i have been following urs blog 4 quite some time……..in fact it has become a quotidian process 4 me……m greatly moved by ur writing prowess…………saw SARKAAR RAAJ……a gr8 movie……..another acting milestone 4m u…….u always surprise me ur performence……..after having seen DEEWAAR, AGNIPATH, MAI AZZAD HUN…..one thinks dat ,this is ur best one…..bt u always come with somethin new…like SARKAAR ND DEN SUDDENLY BLACK………and den again SARKAAR RAAJ……..gr8 work sir…….keep it up…….bt let me tell u ABHISHEK was equally gud in SARKAR nd SARKAAR RAAJ……………SIR PLZ GIVE ME A REPLY.
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Mr.Bachchan,
I do agree with you about the course that nature takes. It has been a very long time, since I have experienced the rains in Mumbai. I do however recall that a couple years ago, my flight to India was cancelled due to monsoons. The only alternative I had was traveling to Chennai.
The conditions in Midwest, U.S. are no less. One can see their house being washed away on National TV. It just goes to show that no one is spared by nature. Could be your mansion, or one of your staff’s house. On the positive side, I enjoy eating corn with salt, pepper and a dash of lemon being sold by the vendor at the cart.May God be with you and your family during all the seasons.
Sujata.
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hai amitji how r u ???
thanks for the dvds and the photos that u senf to me im very lucky that
my hero amitabh bachchan himself sent to me a big fedex pak with so many gifts in it
love u amitji
all the best
moses sapir
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keep up the blogging! I hope you find it therapeutic, I certainly do reading it!
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Dear Respected Sir,
Wow. Well said. Great piece. God bless you.
Regards,
Hasan
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Wonderful Blog sir.. I can only tell one thing that although the economy of our country is growing, we are doing good in many fields and everythng but still the gap between the Rich and the Poor is increasing day by day. I some how have a feeling that MNC’s are also one of the main reasons for this to happen.
One other thing is yes…as you mentioned even in New York the situation was different during extreme conditions….yeah it is completely true.
When I came to United States and I saw the traffic system here first thing i felt was that why cannot it be so disciplined in India but then when I went to NYC which is very densely populated and I drove my car there,…thats when I realized as to why ……as if a country which calls itself a super power cannot manage the traffic in its financial capital due to dense population then it will surely take time in our country but I am sure we will get there some day…
And sir I was very very glad to see my name in the list of names u mentioned in ur blog on day 33… Very delighted …..
thank you very much
always ur fan
Jyotsna Sreeram
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Amazing, i m the first one to actually write a comment on Day 51 !!! silly but i sure am priviladged one… !!!….. well i m genuinely touched by this post. its so genuine and straight from the heart !! and i surely agree tht the middle class and upper middle class surely survivie but what about the poor, who cares for them. The goverment will announce Rs. 50, 000/- as a compensation and period !!! ….the losses they inncur are not measurable in rupees, they lose their loved ones which cant be bought in money…..we do survivie somehow or the other…and we do have the finances to mend our matirealistic assets, but who cares for them… i really really appreciate your thoughts and couldnt agree more with u !!
With loads of Respect and warm regards
Shalini
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Hello Sir,
You have a perfect reply. You are no man to answer on behalf of masses. You need to speak on the problem you face during monsoon and that’s what you have done. If Mid day wants to know about entire Juhu, they should send out a questionarre to the entire Juhu community including all class of people - rich, poor, middle-class, etc. Then they should draw a consesus. One mans problems cannot portray the whole communitys problems. In that case this country did not need elections, just one man could have voted - oops it’s so scary to imagine that.
Anyways .. a good answer and perfect ending. If it can happen to NYC which is believed to be one of the very highly developed cities with modern infrastructure and facilities in place, then Mumbai and Juhu .. is not a very big thing. Plus going forward these type of things are only going to get worse due to global warming. Even if some solution is applied today … after 5 years it might not hold good.
Regards,
Sunny
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Dear Amitji
Like every time , the reply was awsome. I am happy that you know the suffering of those poor people.
Amitji , I want to know why you dont have a charity in your name? I am sure you do charity work as I have seen . But your name on a charity or foundation is something that extends the culutre of charity to others. I know you might want to do the charity wihout others knowing it , It is doubtedly awsome, But your name there will be a change in charity culture in eastern countries.
I am sure there are lots of Indian people who can assist you in India. But if there is any thing in this regard that I can be of any assistance , Please let me know.
I am only an email away.
Pass my regards to Jaya ji as well and wish her all the best.
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Well said Mr B…more needs to be done by the Indian Government to provide for those who don’t have the means to recover from such conditions…
How about Mid Day ask those who are hit worst by such weather about their loss, and what they would like to see put in place to ensure their safety…
Shameera
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yep its true …
you can’t feel the thrust if you r provided with water.
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good letter
z
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dear amitji
u might b a good follower but i cant think of any one who can actually lead u, so if u feel for some cause,come out and raise ur voice.
regards
deepak
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Dear Mr. Bachchan,
I have been reading your blog for the past couple of weeks, and I have to admit, some of the things addressed have given me new perspective on lots of things, and have reinforced few others. One of the things I found to be disheartening was the direction that media is taking. Media is supposed to be the voice of the people of a nation, instead in todays times, it is positioning itself as moneymaking enterprise which is willing to chose sensationalism over content to attract eyeballs. The request from Mid-Day in this article is a prime example of this. The problem of flooding is best explained by an engineer who has adequate knowledge of the sewer system. Hence, they should be the ones who should be requested to write such articles. But since they require eyeballs, they have chosen a celebrity instead to comment on the situation, and to find a solution. The same can be seen in your previous blog entries with various media articles and your responses to them. Your reply to their request was an apt response expected from any self respecting celebrity like yourself. I urge you to continue writing this blog since it gives us an insight on various issues from a celebrity’s point of view.
PS: I am a big fan of yours.
Himanshu
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Dear Mr Bachchan
Good Evening, sorry I have not been writing to you but lots of homework to do. Anyway I am with you again at 9.15pm London Time. You must be asleep now and I am ready to go to bed.
I hope you the rain does not bother you too much, however what would we do without rain?
Lots of Love Ekta xx
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Amitji…
Thanks for putting your thoughts in such a simple way. Just two months back one of my maid was not able to come to work & I as usual was worried about her and also about the houshold work. She came back one afternoon
& was weeping badly….i was fast asleep when she knocked my door(i work in a BPO so i sleep in the day & work in the night). I could understand what had happended, then one of her friend who had accompanied her, told me, that her elder son just 8yrs old lost his hand - i was shell shocked….i asked her what exactly happened & then she informed me that the kid had picked one small bomb(sutli bomb - used during diwali) & had got it home…that fateful day he took that out and was trying to light it…the bomb busrt in his hand….The doctors did not had much choice but to amputate the hand below the wrist.
She is still in the shock & is getting normal…we complain of things while people who are less fortunate have to go through so many things on a day to day basis…& still they keep smiling & wait for the next day to come.
Journalist & other people in the printing media wants famous personalities to speak about issues whcih might be of no relevance….in the sense one who is going through the agony & pain knows better rather than the person watching it on the TV.
Amitji … i feel the media should seriously take their job seriously…even good news channels show such rubbish news….which is of no importance..at least to the common man. My dad has left watching TV & in case if he wants to watch news he switches on the DD news…which still is able to give some information about the things happening in India & around.
Lets hope people media will not contnue asking affluent people on how do they feel about flood rather would rise to the occasion & would explain it to the Public Administaration to do something about the Road & the other problems faced by the common man.
Thanks Sir
Rgds…Sheeba
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Hi Sir,
I think you did the right thing by replying Mid Day the way you did. I saw Sarkar Raj last night here at Montreal, Canada. I can only say i liked it a LOT !!!
I want to write it all up. I would post my comments on the movie later.
Take care,
Amit Singh.
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Waw. Fantastic! You are absolutely right. What place is it of the affluent to complain about nature? It is the obligation of the elite to aid the lesser citizen in whatever way they can.
Just a thought here. Please ignore if it is not possible to do there. Here in Oklahoma we have flooding with the spring rain every year. The volume, i am sure, is not the same as there, but perhaps the same solution is possible to alleviate some of the problem.
We have implemented, over the last two decades, a series of retention areas around the city. When the heavy rains come, these strategic “holes” contain large amounts of water runoff. In the rest of the year, they are used as soccer fields etc. and walking paths are places around the upper edges for the enjoyment of all.
Again, just a thought, humbly submitted.
Regards,
Susan
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Hi! I have asked this question a couple of times already. Perhaps it was lost in the volley of questions asked earlier. Knowing your unbiased, objective outlook between the genders, why is it that the kissing scene in Dhomm @ between Ash and Hrithik deleted? Were you responsible for this> If so, could you explain why?
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Responding 2 Upala Q’s & Big B’s answer.
Yes Mr. B is correct. How can he solve the problem? Who is Mr. B? Is he a Mother Teressa? No, I don’t think so. And why one should worry about problem(s) of other people. What is government doing in this type of sitiuation? Are they helpless or simply don’t want to help. Where tax monies are going? If poor are dieing (quoted by Big b as well) then let them die. Secondly, Why poor are not capable of doing something about it? Why they are not working hard enough to live in better place. Buy a bettter & bigger bunglow them Mr. B. Ha ha. Just kidding.
“Ye saale ameer log ! Mehalon may rehne wale ! Ye kya jaane hum garibon ki mushkilain !†I am sure this was one of your dialogue from xyz movie. :-((
God bless India. A country where Mahatama Gandhi gave up everything for her freedom.
Pankaj Trivedi
NJ _ USA
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ty so much amitabh ji..
can u tell which is ur next release ?
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Dear Mr. Bachchan,
Loved whatever you have written.
I wish I could write and think as you do.
regards
Arpita
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Hi Amitabh
I’ve recently started reading your blog and its fantastic. Yep, as you say you cant do much but your an icon and that gives you something which we humble mortals cant achieve. In that way you get a head start. May be taking up the cause would help elevate the common man. The common man just continues to complain but his complaints are not taken seriously. Unfortunately, for us we live in a society where people of status are heard. A start would help.
Not seen many of your recent movies but my fav is Zanzeer and Mili so you can imagine what an old biddy I am.
Cheers
Val
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yep u can
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Hi mr bachchhan,
thanks for your blog, I can see that you are bit worried and apprenhensive about writing those article though completely sincere about the problem. I can see the reasons for that, those babus and politicians arent as serious as they should be and there are fantics regional politicians which are waiting for opportunities to pounce on. I think u handled the situation very well. in our country no one care for the poors we as society have became very superficial and selfish. humanity has been ripped out from our hearts. the way we interact with our fellow humans the way we treat environment the way we treat our selves and others. The ethich moral codes principles are becoming thing of past. God save the world and india.
good night
mr amitabh
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Were the flattery to be red pencilled, RGV’s letter would be vastly more readable as well as credible without losing its accuracy. The best part of his letter is a quote attributed to Abhishek; the worst, those gleaned from reviews,
Why does he behave like an excited yo-yo? He gets cocky after a moderate hit and grovels after a flop.
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Dear Mr. Bachchan, since you are speaking like a common man and expressing your qualms about the “DRAINAGE” system in Mumbai…I wish to have a few words over the inflation in India…I can understand about a few bucks rise in gasoline and agro products wouldn’t have shocked any of the JVPD resident…but still I wish to hear about it…I do not belong to any news channel/paper, I don’t know whether you will consider my request or not…but I wish
Well as you said mankind is vulnerable when it comes to fury of nature which happened in 2003 in NYC when the entire state went standstill for 3 days but then it was the planning and preparation of the authorities which prevailed …don’t you think this preparation part in missing in Mumbai?
With Best Regards
Ajit Thakur
NYC
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Great write up
wonderful, as always !!
keep writing, Amitji
jayadev
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Respected Bachchaji
I am glad that i am the first person to put commet here, I saw ur sarkar raj and i say that u were superb, it is one of the best performace from you, I am biggest fan of urs , i respect two people most in india one is vajpayeeji and you, May god give u all strength and energy to keep continue these kind of good work for very long time,
Thnx
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Dear Sir,
after your previous experiences with this paper Mid-Day, I honestly wondered why you even bothered to humour them and try to answer those questions.
These journalists surely live on high floors in apartment houses, and they never even had a carpet flooded. But they know - even I know - that your house gets flooded in monsoons (when I visited Mumbai, people told me about it, proudly).
It’s great that you denied to write a piece full of self-pity about your “agony and helplessness”. If they want to write about real agony, they should ask the poor who are living along those rivers. But it doesn’t sell copies if an unknown slum inhabitant writes a “citizen journalist piece” - and thus they asked you. I think your helplessness in answering those absurd questions speaks for you.
But in NYC or London, only very few people die in storms or floods, and almost everyone has insurances. Climate change will surely bring more monsoon floods and less blizzards. It will again be the poor, who suffer most because of it.
Have you ever thought of driving a hybrid car instead of Benz and BMWs, to set a trend in India?
With lots of love and respect,
Amber
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DEar Sir,
This is by far the best entry of your blog.I love you .
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Respected Bachchanji
I am glad that i am the first person to put comment here, I saw ur sarkar raj and i say that u were superb, it is one of the best performace from you, I am biggest fan of urs , i respect two people most in india one is vajpayeeji and you, May god give u all strength and energy to keep continue these kind of good work for very long time,
Thnx
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Nice thought .and a nice blog.you sound so sad ,resigned and given up.hoping to read a very cheerful Big B tomorrow.
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Hello sir,
I like your acting and enjoy watching your movies. I watched the movie sarkar raj. it was good movie. I enjoyed it.
May you achieve more success. Good day
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I had tears in my eyes while reading…
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Amit Sir,
Please dont get me wrong but in many films you, no I should write your characters, have said the dialogues ,” tum ameer log etc etc etc. Curtesy Kadar Khan, Salim Javed and few other writers, you have been delivering these dialogues against those who belong to haves while you have been representing haves not.
Anyway thats not important. You can not give shelter to whole of mumbai and you couldm have done help to your staff, which though work for great and rich The Amitabh Bachchan but which will be belonging to poor or lower middle class. But surely you influential people of JVPD area, where MPs like Dharmendra also live, can do something for the whole area.
Have you seen the warning issued by American embassy. You people can put pressure on municiplaty and state govt. to make proper planning.
before I sign off, repeating again, your writing is powerful and beautiful.
Before you write your first book, why not write a film’s story?
regards
K
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Is Ms.Upala gone nuts !!! Why she has to ask you to provide the solution to solve the monsoon problems that BMC can’t do.
This should be addressed by the governing body of BMC and not by AB !!!
People may not take your commments the way it supposed to be.
I live in NYC and knows how 8 inches of snow can bring everyone on their knees.
Best Regards
Mohan Patel
NYC
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nice to see your blog after waiting for so long.I have been your fan ever since I started watching your movies.Now with this blog you are revealing yet another unseen side of your personality.I thought you were a very pompous man .But I did’nt mind because you can afford given your achievements to b little proud and pompous.But I must say an Amitabh who is modest is more likable.its not hard to understand how you could become what you are.today’s blog was beautiful.
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Hi Mr Bachchan,
I am very much impressed with ur time management skills. How can u mange writing blogs with this tight schedule…within last week u have been through New Delhi, Nainital & bangkok & now u r again back and continued ur film work. You are a very big person, some people call u millenium star & I m sure ur family will also take care of film Industry like kapoor’s. But I have one question in my mind, I don’t know whether its a rumor or some thing else but I think this is the best way to get the answer. Everybody knows about ur struggle but some people says that u got ur first chance because of our late prime minister Smt Indira Gandhi. As ur father had good relation with her & when he told her that u r interested in films she gave u a letter, u can say a ‘’sifarishi letter” so that u can get ur first chance & only because of that u got ur first film. I don’t think its true but I need ur comments on this. plz try to reply to this in ur next blog or to my mail ID.
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You are unbelievably realistic and down to earth.Totally opposite of what a comman man’s perception of big stars is,kudos to you.
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Adaab Bachchan Sahib,
Meri dua hai ke aap or aap ke gharvale khush hai.
I want to first disclose that I am was born, raised and live in NYC/NJ therefore I can not speak on the how it feels like to live in Mumbai during the monsoons. However, I will say that my parents are from illustrious familes from Lucknow so I proudly consider myself Indian. And thanks so you and the poets and orators in my family, I was able to learn Urdu/Hindi and speak it fluently. The point is that if there is anything happening in India (such as a Monsoon or a terror attack) it effects me deeply. Although I don’t live in India, India lives in me and inshallah it will live in me until the day I die. Also, I am Investment banker on Wall Street who sometimes does a little acting so take my opinion with a grain of salt. (go to youtube and type: Shabbar NYFA). With respect to monsoons and Mumbai, it seems that no matter how many years pass, nothing seems to be done to try and fix the situation (not the rains, that’s up to the All Mighty) but the infrastructure. Which bring me to the general question of why things don’t seem to change? This is a question that my fellow Americans (especially supporters of Barack Obama like me) are starting to ask. We usually think the reason things don’t change is because the people in charge are incompetent, right? I feel that is not the reason. Things don’t work because the people in charge are “normal”. In fact, in most organizations, of any kind - education, business, organized religion, government, social clubs, you name it - the people in charge had to demonstrate exceptional “normalcy” in order to be in charge. This leads to our world being dominated by “normative” social systems. Normative systems forbid the question “Why?” because it threatens the norms. They also punish creativity, especially creative problem solving that is likely to create new ways to do things because that’s the ultimate threat to the system’s norms. The method of control that enforces conformity to the norms is always personal attack. Anyone suggesting deviation is accused of being “stupid”, “crazy”, “flaky”, “alien”. That’s what they have shamelessly labelled you an “outsider” Bachchan sahib because you question the system. And that’s why they are trying to label Barack Obama as one also or they assassinate a President like Kennedy. The solution is adopting a system that recognizes that their original purpose is to provide some value to some community outside themselves - and they never forget it. Create processes to fulfill that purpose but don’t create “norms” because processes can be changed at any time to adapt. Also processes are flexible and purpose is constant. To conclude, unless the system is shocked nothing is going to change. Bachchan sahib, you have stated that you rather lead which I wholeheartedly respect but someone has to lead. I pray that the person to lead is not “normal.” With lots of Love and utmost Respect, dua ke saat, aap ka Shabbar
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dearest amit sir,
very well written by you regarding the precise problem we indian face during mansoons irrespective of their economic conditions though poorer are affected harsher…..we also are well aware about the difficulties your family faced during 2005 torrential rain in bombay…we all understands your emotion but i know my amitabh bachchan as one of the bravest indian who has great resilient power and has overcome and bounced back with same vigour through ever crisis he has faced in his entire life ,so don’t fear of any backlash or misinterpretation of your emotions and agony because we indian are in a great transition phase and time is about to come and i am sensing it when every indian will be able to decipher the evils of this politicians who often uses celebrities esp. you to achieve their ill business…
Of course sir, the kind of regional attack you faced is well known and that crisis has taught every wise indian many things about this politicians,so agony inflicted upon you taught us many great virtue..we all know our amitabh bachchan as a fearless individual who can sense and feel about the agony of poors and all sufferers..
your blog is a befitting reply and in delhi i am seeing many hypocratic media journalist shying away whenever issue related with you and media crops up…they are at loss of word..why? because amitabh was true to his heart and responded with integrity which shocked the ill mentality..
we are learning many things from you through your blog…for me entertaintment by you through film has become secondary though still now and forever will love it with same intensity as earlier was..
you are making us learn many virtue of humankind as a benevolent teacher and we are following that and imbibing it …thanks for every proud moment you gave us …i salute you sir..
ya .i saw the movie sarkar and was left speechless..every one performed amazingly..and you are master of all performer..kudos to you…hats off to you ..bravo..well done again sir..
with profound regards
Ritwik.new delhi.
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i dont care about critics..
You definately are the best actor a movie industry could ever have.. and over this you also are the BEST HUMAN BEING a movie industry could ever have..! Incomparable.. you are sir ! By the way.. SARKAR RAJ rocks ! again.. i dont care about the critics 
Best,
Aditya
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Where on earth do you ever get the time to write?
I mean you are so busy…I must the time management is something I need to learn from folks like your caliber…
Very impressive sir…
cheers!
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The one thing I REALLY like about Mr.B’s blog is that he also posts requests\questions\inquiries\sms\misc. messages from members of media world along with his answers to them.
Thanks.
Regards,
Shrinath
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Dear Mr. Amitabh,
This is the first time im writing on this blog though I read it everyday. I am a great fan of the Bachhans and specially you and Aishwarya.
When reading your blog, it feels as if we are communicating with you directly. This post on “Monsoons in Juhu” is excellent and very heart touching. I just love the way you handle things. Im sure those 5 families in your staff would have felt very greatful. You have good wishes and blessings from a lot of people around the world.
Take care
Love
AG
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all i can say is…this is the best post by you sir.so straightforward.
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Mr. Bacchan,
thats what I call an appropriate reply. I had read your previous blogs regarding the reviews about Sarkar Raj. I hope the so called celeberated journalists will work on improvising their writing and analytical skills, and will not mistake their authority to write as their right to defame you or people associated with you.
regards,
anushree
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Yeah,
I really yearn if we could live in Sujalam, Sukhdam, Vardam, Matram India. Everything is so messed up in our country that don´t know from where to start: Politics, Administration, Education, Health care, Infrastructure or Hindu-Muslim.
I am in Oslo and also visited to Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and other european cities and everywhere I go I feel that why we couldn´t build our Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Nagpur or Varanasi or Lucknow or uncountable second tier cities like this.
It hurts, seriously. And that too when doing this is not in our domain.
Lets do something like you only…Love you…Amit
Take care
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Mr.Bachchan; Greetings and let me begin by saying how much I love to get an insight into your feelings via your blog. I think this was a long time in the making, and feel a great sense of satisfication when you answer or reply to some of the comments made about you by individuals who truly have a desire to makre reckless comments without facts and without the regard to how those coments affect peoples lives. Firstly I would like to apologize because my comment/question is not in response to your blog regarding the rain in Juhu. I had presented you with a script when you were here in NYC’s Lincoln Center. The film center was honouring you by show casing your films and you spoke elequently on stage. This was in reference to the questions posed to you from Richard Pena. I would appreciate it if you let me know what was lacking if anything (material, story, etc). Also, how would I get another script in your hands, would it be via your assistant’s email, etc. My best regards. BTW, I actually had the pleasure meeting you on Columbus Ave/75thst-NYC, many years ago while you did a press conference for your Giants stadium show, along with numerous other times at the Helmsly palace, and Waldorf Astoria.
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I recently had the pleasure of visiting Dubai. A beautiful city that is developing at a rapid pace. The problem that they have is the same that faces cities throughout India. When municipalities are in the planning phases of development projects why don’t they consider obvious problems that will arise and find solutions to them, proactively? Obviously, when they allow permits for these mansions, schools, and hotels they will need to be staffed. Common sense is that a person would want to live in the vicinity of where they work. What needs to be implemented is subsided (affordable) housing for these individuals. Areas need to be established for housing these workers that sustain the neighbourhood. This is something that can be levied through building projects. For example, if there are going to be luxury condos or apartments built then designate a certain percentage to be subsided for lower income levels. When a mansion, hotel or any other construction permits are issued, incorporate funds into the fees to build affordable housing for those that will staff these places.
But, like I mentioned in a previous entry to you; that is where corruption will punch the poor common man in the stomach again.
As always sincerely,
Sukhjit
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it seems mr. bachchan is not at all a privileged person when it comes to get flooded in monsoon, only he is able to minimize all adverse effects bcoz he is affluent and can pay for all damages which happen to his belongings.
we are really sorry for u mr. bachhan, even after being an epitome of stardom and success, still u suffer a lot.
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Dear AB,
Its for the 1st time i saw this blogsite from you while i live away from my own country India in Swiss. Your remarks and the detailing bring alive the memories of the rain, its fun, its sound but along with it the various problems and agony less affluent people have to face. I also hope that it is presented and taken it a positive spirit and some effective steps are taken.
Saluting you,
RS.
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Dear Mr Bachchan,
I can sympathise with your predicament, but in your rather exalted position, it would help if you would stand with the Juhu Residents’ Association as they fight for a solution. Nature looks at the rich and the poor with the same pitiless eyes - the poor suffer more, since they do not have the wherewithal to replace their meagre belongings with much the same impunity as you.
I am glad that you have taken care of your staff and their families - it shows your humanity. You are right when you say you do not have the right to complain, but if you show your solidarity with the other residents in the area, it would surely help their cause.
And that, Mr Bachchan, is something you can do, whether you feel , or are made to feel, an outsider or not.
Wishing you nothing but the best.
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Hi Big B,
I just saw Sarkar Raj and i think your performance was awesome ! I did not compare this movie with its prequel. Its a good movie in itself. The story line was mature. What can i say..a good performance by Aishwarya too.
Feels great to convey my regards directly to you after freshly seeing your performance.:-)
Have a good day!
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Dear Amitji,
Great read. You are a common man’s hero.
Just a quick question, are you planning to visit Melbourne/Australi as a part of your world tour. If not, please think about it if its not too late, as you have thousands of indian fans here and the show must be great success for sure.
Regards,
Gargy
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Don’t fall pray to these journos Mr. Bachchan…they are making you a pawn…please don’t reply to any such questions…I get a feeling that isominous.
With Lots of respect,
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Please read–is ominous.
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U BLODDY LIER….U DONT HAVE A NICE HEART TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT!!!! GO DIE IN SHAME U FOOL…..JUS ASKING 4 FAME AND PUBLICITY NOW….ONLY IDIOTS ARE GONNA BELIEVE YOU AND YOUR LIES!!!
“If it could happen to NYC, it could happen anywhere.”WHAT U TRYING TO SAY NYV IS BETTER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE…..U AND UR SELFISH WORDS. DONT U FEEL ASHAMED OF LIEING??? U DONT DO NOTHING 4 THE POOR….ITS WEIRD HW MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE DO AND U SELFISH UPPER CLASS PEOPLE DIE IN GREED. UR GETTING PAID CRORES AND U GIVE 1 LAKH DONATION/ 2 LAKH DONATION…..GOD WILL PUNISH YOU!!!! REMEMBER….BEIN RACIST TOWARDS MUSLIM AND OTHER RELIGIONS IS NOT GONNA GET U ANYWHERE BUT HELL!!!! PEOPLE KNOW U BY NW…..THERE ARE ONLY A FEW WITH BLINDFOLDS AND SOON THEY WILL SEE UR TRUE SIDE!!!!
HOPE U LIKED THE FREE ADVICE FROM ME….U MUST BE HAPPY I DIDNT CHARGE FOR IT….ITS NOT GONNA DO UE BANK ACCOUNT ANY HARM…JUS KEEPING PUTTING MORE IN THERE!!! U WILL GET SERVED FOR IT AFTER NT NW!!!
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Dear Mr Bachchan….
Monsoon is always so terrifying in India. I have witnessed one too while I was on holiday there only a couple of years ago. Only I was based in Pune, where it was not so badly hit. But everyday that I turned on to watch the news there were casualties in other parts of the country. There were deaths in Mumbai itself too. Peoples homes being washed away made the news daily, but as I was made aware, it was the yearly norm while the monsoon rage in anger.
It is a nice gesture that you have accommodated the families of your staff. I respect and commend you for that. However, I wonder if you cannot do more….
You said today,
“I fear the politicisation of my comments to the authorities. I am a labelled ‘outsider’. I dare not have a voice in a land within my own land !”
You later follow with the sentiment,
“We survive.
The poor die.”
I wonder sir, should our voice be limited when the opportunity arise to save another soul, another being. Do we cower because we know the outcome of our action is not favourable to those that calls us “outsiders”? And if heaven forbid it was the lives of our loved ones that was at stake, would we still have the same view? Will we keep quiet?!
In this instance, I feel sir, you are a contradiction to your own conviction. You shout in no uncertain terms, with the greatest of conviction the you want a more educated India. And I know you have gladly supported this cause by donating lakhs rupees to schools and if report is to be true even building a school - name after Aishwarya your daughter in law. Praiseworthy deed to be sure but is a building, a book more important than lives?
If you can strongly shout your concern for a better educated India. You can surely shout even louder to propose a way of saving lives. Whether it will be condemned, laughed at, or fall on deaf ears is not your concern. Your concern is to show compassion from every single space of your heart - and not just in a tiny corner just to accommodate few families!
Jehu, where the famous and the rich live, where money flows freely. How many film stars that live there are connected with you - most of them? How many of these business men and other rich people there respects you. Many of them. I would suggest that even if all the household in that area donated 5 lakhs that would be a small change not to be missed. And when collected where would the money be put to better use? Can it be use to build houses that is made of brick like those in Jehu to accomodate the poor - to save lives!
But of course, we cannot force people to help….we can only ask and encourage….never the less….when we do….then we would have done our bit….this is a human thing to do - to show compassion.
You end with the comment,
I am happy with my suffering.
But do something for the others.
Do not ask me to lead. Allow me to follow. I am a good follower.
Shame on you. You can lead many to support your film. You promote it with such vigour and vim! You don’t have to follow. You don’t have to lead. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE AN EXAMPLE - THEN OTHERS WILL FOLLOW.
As for me I rely on the The True God Almighty who created the Heavens and the Earth to solve not just the suffering of mankind but also to rid mankind’s deadliest enemy….death itself.
With Respect Sir,
Rose C
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hello Mr.Bachchan,
this is anutaj here……….i just want to say that i really like your honesty in writting blog……and this reflects that you are also a very normal person like us who leads a simple life like us and also have good and bad days…i am regular reader of your blog and like your writtings….i dont know you personally but a person who can understand other people problems will be a good human being….i respect that you respect others…..thanks for reading…..Anutaj Kaur Atwal
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wah bhai wah bhai class acting in real life too , 1st family of bollywood , worth well over 4000 cr and counting but alas still very insecure