Posted on: July 8, 2008 - 11:16 pm
Prateeksha, Mumbai July 8, 2008 11:56 pm
The television in my van is on as I reach the studios and there is heightened excitement in the news reports coming through every channel. Anchors heatedly talk of the withdrawal of support by the Left from the Congress, of the fresh alliances taking place, of the instability of the party in power, of whether the Government will fall or not, of whether the numbers will be sufficient to keep the party in power. Politicians of different hues coming on to the medium each with their own comments and theories. Who will rule, how they will rule, will the equation at the center change.
Discussions, opinions, statements - all flying through the air waves with intense rapidity. Each viewpoint strong and impressive. What will happen to the leadership of the country. Will there be continuity, will there be change.
And in this enlightened cacophony, my mind travels to two of my father’s poems, which I have reproduced for your benefit to read and come to your own conclusions.
They are written in blank verse; a style my father felt strongly against when he first came across it. But with time and circumstance accepted it and became a very valuable contributor. He often referred to them as ‘akavita’. The complete absence of meter and graph in them were in his mind incomprehensible. But when he joined the system, his own depiction of the version was exemplary. As can be observed in its style and presentation.
19.1.66 - is a moment soon after the sudden death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent, where he had gone for a joint conference with Pakistan to bring the war to an amicable end.
The poet stops to talk to ‘bangar’ women workers employed to lay fresh tar on the roads of Delhi. Explains the situation in the country after the death of the Prime Minister, informs her that there is great debate and excitement in the politics of the country, as to who will be the next Prime Minister. With so much at stake and so much happening, he is alarmed that the woman worker is unaffected by the goings on in the city.
And when he questions her of her involvement in the change in the country that is so imminent, the worker merely turns to him and cross questions.
” Saheb ! Can you change my employer, sir ? He is a very ruth less person. He is making life difficult for me. Change him if you can Saheb.” !!
And so saying she turns away. Back to the steel drums filled with melted tar, spreading it on the road with a spade, to labor the entire day so she can earn a few rupees to feed her little child lying wrapped by the side of the road, drugged by a little ‘afeem’ into forced sleep, so the hungry child will not ask for food.
In all the political drama and debate, there is little interest in the common man. This common man is least bothered who will emerge the winner, who will become Prime Minister and rule the country. This common man is bothered only about his immediate and disgusting employer and his tomorrow’s meal. He is least concerned with the political machinations going on. Because they will not be able to solve the fate of his leader, the employer, or the food required to feed the new born.
A satire of immense depth.
BHARAT KE SAAP is another short blank verse, dripping with sarcasm and wit.
The National Library of the State has through great labor and discussion decided to bring out a book on the snakes of India. It has deployed a large team of writers, opened special offices, designated teams of learned men to gather material for this elegantly brought out book.
But there are questions being raised says the poet. In this poverty ridden poor State why would the Government want to bring out this expensive book, printed on the finest of paper.
In the cultural and traditional history of the country, the snake has played an important role, say the officials. The more the public gets knowledged of the importance, the better, he concludes. Do not our mythologies and scriptures talk of the entire universe sitting on the hood of the great Sesh Naag.
Reason enough for the book to be brought out.
The poet concludes in saying that, you may disagree with my assessment of the situation but here it is -
I have read the book from A to Z, but not found any mention of the most poisonous snakes of the nation !!
Tomorrow another day and the debates and discussions will differ. But what shall not change is the conditions of the poor in our own backyard. In our own country -
Amitabh Bachchan
Sir,
If each one of changed ourselves, wouldn’t this be a better world!
And if we could just change one person positively…
Manish Patwari
Boston
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Dear Amitji,
I hope the preparations of the Unforgettable tour is going on a full swing.
Hoping to see you at Toronto.
All the best.
Subramanian Iyer
Toronto Canada
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What a great piece of poetry. we all must realize the pain and suffering of poor women & children and take up a joint responsibility.
Joy Kumar
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Dear Mr Bachchan
Simply Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!
How are you keeping? I hope all well at your end….
Love to you and me
Ekkie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Laughing Out Loud !!
Bharat ke sabse jyada jeheereele saapon ka koi bhee Jikar nahin hai !!
Touche !!!!!
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very well said SIR.
these leaders are fighting over if we can secure a Nuc deal with US or not, why not mull over the fact that if the govt can provide atleast one times meal (leave alone do waqt ki roti) to the poorest of poor in India. shame on these so called leaders but still Mera Bharat Mahan!
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Dear Mr. B.,
This came home to me in a very personal way, the story of the woman with the bad employer, whose great concern was her day-to-day life. The minutiae of politics mean nothing to people who have a daily problem that won’t go away.
I was born in a time of deep economic depression in the U.S. From before I was born, and onward until his death, my mother worked for a member of Congress on the Democratic side of the aisle. For his entire career in Congress, he was concerned with the poor and the emerging middle class. Eventually he authored, and obtained passage through Congress, with two Senators, an bill called the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, controlling the number of hours a worker could be forced to work without overtime pay and the minimum wage he could be paid for his work, and eliminating children from the workforce. It changed the whole face of the country, that one piece of legislation. The middle class in America was essentially forged from those laws.
As I’ve watched your early movies and seen the gross imbalances between the powerful and powerless (naturally exaggerated in the films so as to emphasize the point), it’s been strange to me that these things still exist. But until I was about five years old, they existed in my country as well. To some extent they will never be eradicated here. But their causes are not legal any longer, as they were before, and the war goes on against them.
Change is inevitable, and perhaps it will bring with it a negation of the final line in your blog today. Perhaps the conditions of the poor in your own backyard, in your own country will change. Please God some day it will happen.
Aloha from Hawaii …
Love, Dorothy
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Dear Sir,
Incidentaly, I was in Mumbai with my family when your father passed away.
probabaly, it was between 18th jan to 20th jan 2003.
We realized the grim atmosphere while standing on the confectionary shop across the road, in front of your home Prateeksha. We paid our homage to the great poet of our country from there only.
We were destined to be there at the such an emotional moment of your life.
I love the poetry written by Kavi Bachchan….!!!
I like the lines ” Bair karate Mandir Maszid…Mail karati Madhu Shala…!!!
Kavi Bachchan has written poetry almost on all aspects of the Life….!!
With Respect, Love and Faith…!!!!
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Not sure how should I address such a big celebrity from Bollywood,
Its we who believe in in society where Everyone is equal but some people are MORE EQUAL than others, We the Middle Class people we fight with these “Bangar” to pay them less but make a huge hue and cry when it comes to our own salary increments why such a difference in our attitude.
If we really want to improve the condition of poor in our country and eliminate poverty then only option we are left with is EDUCATION. Increase the education cess or impose an education tax on each and every tax payer and govt should take complete control of education till HSC. No private schools, No difference in education standards all really equal.
For these “Bharat Ke Saanp” I think we are the only one who have made them more poisonous we are the one who have given them the strength by feeding then be it on Naag-pachami (Elections)or any other Occasions.
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Hello Mr. Bachchan,
Certain things can’t and ought not be measured, like love & respect. And they can’t be put in words as well, if they are true. Needless to say, I am one of your numerous fans and how big, neither I know nor would like to elaborate on that.
I love and respect almost all of the Hindi Poets of last and prior centuries. And poems like these are the reasons why I love Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan. There couldn’t have a better timing of posting these ‘Muktaka’ poems on your blog. Time changes but what a Poet shows remains ‘Saswat’. Thanks for posting them.
This is my first posting on your blog. However, I have been visiting it almost daily. Liked most of your writings. You promised that sometime you give your account of legends like Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mr Rafi etc. Eagerly waiting to read your first hand experience of working with them, any interesting incidents etc. Take care,
As I said one of your numerous fans,
Suraj
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hehe, sorry you are not fully right, it’s changing, our own country doesn’t have that number of poors what we have before 10 year, yes i am not saying about poor in economicaly, there are different kind of wealths, number of educated people are growing, there is not any trace of those communicable deseases etc.Yes he said it AKAVITA, that time there were a decipline/gramar/style.Those are not fit to that, they say it akavita, but it was there at that time, but now in contemporary poets are saying it abstract poems, it’s minimum use of words for maximum expressions.
Yes, i have watched news and also watched Mrs Jaya Bachchan there , She may be loosing her eye power a bit, i think you also are using that lil redish gugles as a power lense?hmm.. looking like govt. is there to continue now, it is always so nice to vote after five year, isn’t it?
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How wearily familiar your father’s biting commentaries. In our country too, the rhetorics bombard — promises of change, of brighter tomorrows, of new beginnings, of future hope. Meanwhile, in one of the wealthiest nations on earth, once bustling towns lie idle in the gaunt shadow of industrial skeletons, frail elderly must choose between medicines and food, mothers send their children to bed with empty bellies, families abandon long dreamed of homes, and seekers of the gold-paved streets remain imprisoned in menial degradation. Politicians come and go, but nothing changes — not even the rhetoric.
A thousand thanks also for the images of yesterday — the infinity of ocean against a backdrop of mortality, the fragility of fame. The name of Amitabh Bachchan will not drop soundlessly from immediate history: the legend will prevail for several lifetimes — the performances preserved in diverse media, the scholarly references an indelible part of film studies. Much of the current work, particularly, transcends the vagaries of transitory tastes and time. Remember, though, why it is that, after half a millennium, the performances of Christopher Beeston, Edward Alleyne, and Richard Burbage are barely mentioned while the thoughts of Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe, and Will Shakespere pervade our world…….THEY WROTE THEM DOWN!!!!
Particularly touching was one response about an oft-unmentioned downside to the extended family — the absence of peer companionship as the younger generations busy about their independent lives. In our culture, many senior citizens, even those with loving families, live (as I do) in specially designated communities. Neighbors frequently share the same cultural framework, peers are always willing to listen, children and grandchildren are welcomed for visits (and much fussed over), group activities are there for the choosing, passings are mourned by the whole community, and caring ‘welfare checks’ are provided for those who need them. Yes, it is against tradition (we have no widows’ ashrams here), but demographics are shifting and so must attitudes. Equally sad is the plight of elderly performers — a pension scheme through a trustworthy professional body might indeed meet some needs (provided investment does not fall prey to corruption or lack of business acumen) and perhaps some specialized facilities (akin to the Actor’s Home, Lillian Booth, Brinsworth House…… ).
Last evening, for the first time ever, I heard you speak outside a script — your hands and eyes as expressive as your voice. Despite only a smattering of Hindi (and even less of the pure language), my linguist’s ear could hear the beauty of your speech.
Apologies for the continually delayed nonvisceral reactions to your blogs — my own work (more rhetorical manipulation than basic correction) demands substantial brainpower, and alas, the neurons fire less rapidly than in youth:-).
You are always in my heart.
“Above our life we love a steadfast friend.†— Christopher Marlowe
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Great poems!
It is an apt metaphor for the present political situation. I too happen to see the Indian news .There were lot of speculation on this situation involving Amar Singh and Anil Ambani .Luckily they have not involved you yet.
The new generation is the hope for our poor citizens. If they want, they can help the poor in many ways than one. There are many young Indian students and professionals left US to help the poor in the remote villages of India. Remember “Each one teach one�
Politicians are busy holding their seats. (Cliché). I wonder who is the most poisonous snake in the nation ?
Thank you for translating the poems.
Thanks once again for the post.
Take care.
sumi
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Mr. Bachchan,
Great post. Its on the mark as well. It is so true how politicians the world over don’t really care two whits about the common man or the poor. All politicians care about is winning and making sure their agendas and political group will the one standing in charge. In all of these numerous political power plays the poor and even the middle class are overlooked completely. Politicians rarely if ever are able to come through on all of their huge promises to help society at large. Politicians just care about being right and making sure their agendas and policies are ruling the day.
Politicians get could careless about inflation, low wages, poverty, war, health care, food crises, global warming, etc. which are the REAL issues that are facing the world and that need attention ASAP. All people in every society just want their governments and politicians to be honest and to actually do something good for the poor and the have nots in society. Until politicians actually focus on the real issues like poverty, health care, oil, war, inflation, etc. in society then nothing of much worth will come out of these so called politicians and all of their rhetoric. Hopefully these will begin to change for their better soon with coming elections in USA and other countries.
Best wishes!!
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hello sir feeling good to see you write again with out reading again i am writing you so that i am thae first one to write so you read it .as iam studying for exam will not be able to write long.but few words we all sisters and my 4 year old daughter adores you and keep on writing we feel connected to you. love you so much thats all rakhi UK
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Wow - the first “akavita” and the imagery it brings is gut-wrenching. Where can I get a complete copy of your father’s work? It would be great if you would consider writing an autobiography.
Thank you and best wishes,
Rahul
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Being away from my country for so many years.. the only thing that I fear of going back is, to see people in poverty. A person under a critical heart attack is asked which drug he would prefer, the one that costs Rs 27,000 or Rs 50,000. I certainly would not want to be caught in that kind of a situation. More than 50 years of independence, are we trully independent? Who will give us independence from these corrupt politicians?
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hello again felling so good after reading your pitaje;s kavitaye .thanku for shareing with us rakhi UK
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dear Mr. AB
i am sure its a lovely poem n i would love to read it but alas! i dont know how to read hindi as i m not an indian…i do understand hindi though…would it be possible for a hindi written in english alphabets(m sure this sounds funny!!)version of this poem??i rele do want to read it!!thanx alot!
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पà¥à¤°à¤¿à¤¯ अमित जी
बहà¥à¤¤ ही सटीक रचनायें सागर में से छांट के लाये हैं , और मà¥à¤à¥‡ खà¥à¤¶à¥€ है की आप हिनà¥à¤¦à¥€ की रचनाओं को बहà¥à¤¤ ही शालीन तरह से परोस रहे हैं | दोनों ही रचनायों से “A satire of immense depth.” का बोध परिलकà¥à¤·à¤¿à¤¤ है| जैसा की अपने कहा है |
लेकिन सर अब आप जैसा वà¥à¤¯à¤•à¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤¤à¥à¤µ इतना निराशावादी वाकà¥à¤¯ लिखेगा “Tomorrow another day and the debates and discussions will differ. But what shall not change is the conditions of the poor in our own backyard. In our own country ” तो लोग कोशिश करना à¤à¥€ बंद कर देंगे कà¥à¤› करने की !! आपके पिताजी की ही कà¥à¤› पंकियों से अपनी बात समापà¥à¤¤ करता हूठ..
“कà¥à¤¯à¤¾ हवाà¤à¤‚ थी की उजड़ा पà¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤° का वह आशियाना
कà¥à¤› न आया काम तेरा शोर करना ,गà¥à¤² मचाना
नाश की उन शकà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤¯à¥‹à¤‚ के साथ चलता ज़ोर किसका
किंतॠठनिरà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤£ के पà¥à¤°à¤¤à¤¿à¤¨à¤¿à¤§à¤¿,तà¥à¤à¥‡ होगा बताना
जो बसे हैं वे उजड़ते हैं पà¥à¤°à¤•à¥ƒà¤¤à¤¿ के जड़ नियम से
पर किसी उजडे हà¥à¤ हो फ़िर बसना कब मना है?
है अà¤à¤§à¥‡à¤°à¥€ रत पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है ? “
बस सर अब à¤à¤• बà¥à¤²à¥‰à¤— आप हिनà¥à¤¦à¥€ में लिख ही दीजिये | अब इसे जिदà¥à¤¦ ही समà¤à¤¿à¤¯à¥‡ लेकिन अब इतना तो हक हमारा बनता ही है !!
दिवà¥à¤¯ पà¥à¤°à¤•à¤¾à¤¶ दà¥à¤¬à¥‡
Symbiosis Institute of business management ,pune
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Please keep the poems coming….they are simply fantabulous….awesome. Love it. Hats of to Harivanshrai bacchan!
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Thank you! I am so moved by the thought of the newborn and millions like him that have to be given “afeem” so the mother does not hear his hungry cries. With all the bickering and struggle for power, these are the people that suffer the most. They are non existant to the powers that be, unless it is votes time than their will be afeem, sharab and maybe somer chawal brought in so their votes can be bought. Like your father put it so elquontely, they don’t care who is in power. (I tried searching the net so I could read that poem in english but couldn’t find anything. Is there a book available that is not translated but the hindi is typed in english?
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Shelley called poets “unacknowledged legislators”. How fortunate to be born to one and to learn so much from one..
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GOOD
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Dear Amitji,
Very true, yeh sub khel hau kursi ka and nobody cares about poor and common man thats the tragedy of our nation but I am sure situation will change people like you and we can make difference. Hum honge kamayab ek din, ek din…
With regards,
Vinay
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to
respected Mr Bachchan,
you sound like our poetry teacher, explaining the lines…, but its necessary, not everyone reads Hindi. these poems, especially the first one reminds me of one in Bengali, written in much lighter note, with meters, rhyming words and all. no point writing it, but it says something like ‘ why scold the child.because he has broken the tel ka dibba. you all are grown ups and you have broken our bharat in halves…’. it is true , nothing will change, terrorisms, deaths, poverty,…but tell me, if everyone was rich, well furnished with necessities, then will they work…i am not in favour of poverty, but in a block where everyone is rich, the kamwali bai definitely belongs to some other block. no one from the rich block is gonna work…if everyone gets enough education in a nation like ours, if everyone becomes doctor, engineers, consultants, factory workers,…small shop owners, then no one will till the land, no one will wash clothes…as far as i can think, a farmer..if is well settled in life will give best o education to children. will they then come back to till the land…when money will not remain an issue, social respect will be the issue. or else very one needs to turn Gandhian. it is true that i want poverty to not be an issue to a common man but i guess there are too many people too many grievances and it seems ages that in our country we had any leader. you are associated with politics, why do you think leaders of parties are not good enough, is it so impossible to remain honest. to think about people, to not to reap benefits..
more or less a useless letter
do you answer them yourself or even go through them? you don’t even have time…but this blogging is good. makes you suddenly so accessible…
thanking you
shaeri datta
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Beautiful poems. At first I did not like the style too and I had to read them twice to get used to it.
Amitji, your translations are pretty good too
Regards
Dinesh
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Hello Sir
Many a times, I have restrained myself from commenting on your blog. Reason; I feel delighted and motivated just by reading, and think that there is no point to just say “good job”, which is pretty much true all the time. I am not a very big Hindi movie fan, but I am great fan of Hindi literature, which I believe is hugely under circulated and under published. I admired you as an actor, but there are so many of them. Few movies of yours have left an impression, but there are others too. I mean every industry has icons, and yes we appreciate them from various perspectives.
Then came your blog. Oh! you changed perception. I read initial posts, full of frustration towards media, sometimes venomous remarks, like sad little life for some journalist, sometimes sharing something very motivating. But I notice an evolving philosophical, spiritual and above all a passionate blog.
Today you published two items from your father. I am so delighted, so glad to read these two, specially in today’s context. How true? You said a lot without saying so. Thank You.
I am touched with your kind gesture toward nurse Julie.
कहते है कि दान à¤à¤¸à¥‡ देना चाहिठकि दाà¤à¤‚ हाथ से दो तो बायें को पता न लगे
मेमोरियल फंड बनाना जरूरी तो नहीं
धनà¥à¤¯à¤µà¤¾à¤¦
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Can completely identify with the thought process. Curious about your last statement .. is that a conclusion you have arrived at or is it a moment of disillusionment ? Appreciate the translation / explanation of the poems for the folks whose command over Hindi is not enough to read it..
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An Old Story:
The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and
laying up supplies for the winter.
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs & dances & plays the
summer away.
Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or
shelter so he dies out in the cold.
Indian Version:
The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and
laying up supplies for the winter.
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant’s a fool and laughs & dances & plays the
summer away.
Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and
demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed
while others are cold and starving.
NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper
next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled
with food.
The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor
Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant’s house.
Medha Patkar goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that
Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter .
Mayawati states this as `injustice’ done on Minorities.
Amnesty International and Koffi Annan criticize the Indian Government for
not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper.
The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the
Grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt
support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance).
Opposition MPs stage a walkout. Left parties call for ‘Bengal Bandh’ in
West Bengal and Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry.
CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard
in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and
Grasshoppers.
Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway
Trains, aptly named as the ‘Grasshopper Rath’.
Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the ‘ Prevention of Terrorism
Against Grasshoppers Act’ [POTAGA], with effect from the beginning of the
winter.
Arjun Singh makes ‘Special Reservation ‘ for Grasshoppers in Educational
Institutions & in Government Services.
The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing left
to pay his retroactive taxes,it’s home is confiscated by the Government
and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.
Arundhati Roy calls it ‘ A Triumph of Justice’.
Lalu calls it ‘Socialistic Justice ‘.
CPM calls it the ‘ Revolutionary Resurgence of the Downtrodden ‘
Koffi Annan invites the Grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly.
Many years later…
The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar
company in Silicon Valley,
100s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere
in India,
.
..AND
As a result of loosing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the
grasshoppers,
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
India is still a developing country…!!!
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well said. good to see your views on a very critical topic that everyone of us cannot neglect.
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Dear Amit Ji
Thank you for the lovely posting. Truly mesmerising, the simplicity of the language but the unfathomable depth, only a great soul can see and express this in everyday walks of life. I was four when this was written, yet can relate so well today. I guess most of us ignore the subtle but meaningful event of daily lives in the “Bhed Chaalâ€
I was very weak in Hindi as a language, not that I am any better now. Reminds me of my school days when on hot summer afternoons my mother would be tending to her garden and my hindi teacher (Mrs. Arora) used to return home on the same route, she would pause to tell my mother as how I scored “shoonya†in the spell test that day. Not a good evening that followed. Could never get the “maatras†correct. Mrs Arora predicted – Sajit Saheb aap ka naiya doob raha hai, mujhe lagta hai ki app fail ho kar rickshaw chaalaoge. Bless her! never happened that way. Later in life she gifted me a copy of “Madhushaalaâ€
Warm Regards
Sarge
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Hey Mr. Bachchan,
My dad and I are big fans of yours. We really admire that you take time to write 2 ur fans.
My name is Chevarra, I’m here sitting with my dad and writing to you, I am 12 years old, living in South Africa, Durban, I hear you are coming on tour, can’t wait!
We attended your last show at Kings Park, which was Now or Never, I was small back then but I really enjoyed the show!
Please be sure to include some of your old movie dialogues in a special segment!
I really enjoyed your movies, Sarkar Raaj and Bhoothnath. Waiting to see more of you.
Thanks,
Chevarra Hansraj (Eden College Durban, Grade 7, chevarrahansraj@gmail.com)
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Exactly Sir! Common man is only bothered and works for about two square meals. As you mentioned he is not bothered about the politics and leader/s. I have red most of your blogs. My question to you is when you are so sensitive about the needs of the common man why don’t you do something for them. You have amazing fan following (to lead), money and connections (resources). The three basic needs for changing the society are with you. Above all you have a clean character. God gives one life to every one. In this life you have seen and experienced most of the material things. I am no one to command/suggest/advise you on this. But I request you to give a thought to it. You have all the qualities to make a positive difference to the society in a big way. Kindly think of it.
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Hi Amitji,thankyou so much for sharing this with us…love and regards gurpreet
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Dear Sir,
Thanks for sharing these 2 poignant poems of Dr Harivansh Rai. I believe these poems hold good for any under developed and developing nations in the world (including India) even today. All that the poor and under privilidged care for is 2 sqaure meals and that too is not guaranteed to them! Humans have ALWAYS AND SHALL CONTINUE to exploit those inferior to them. Even amongst the ‘ADVANCED’ CLASSES IN ALL SOCIETIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, people take pleasure in suppressing/ exploiting/ harming those in inferior positions. Darwin’s eternal law of SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST continues to hold good in all STRATA’s of life!
Sometimes I wonder if WE WILL EVER EVOLVE COMPLETELY AS MATURE HUMANS? Or will we always carry the STIGMA of being referred to as ‘THE MOST ADVANCED PRIMATES’! It is true that, with time, today we truly possess the most advanced brain in the ‘ANIMAL KINGDOM’ but when shall we TRULY MATURE TO THE LEVEL THAT IS PREACHED IN MEDITATION AND HOLY SCRIPTURES? I strongly feel that MEDIA will play a pivotal role in this transformation. Technology continues to play its crucial role in improving our lives on a daily basis. But then Technology is only a TOOL developed by our BRAINS! It is now upto The MEDIA (NEWS CHANNELS, LITERATURE, NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, MOVIES, THEATRE etc) to use technology to continuously EDUCATE people so that WE CAN MATURE TO THAT LEVEL! Off course, it is a VERY LONG journey but then it has already taken us more than 30,000 years of EVOLUTION to come to this STATE! What a pity if technology were to be used MORE for the wrong purposes and bring us back to SQUARE ONE instead of taking us FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!
For unless we MATURE COMPLETELY, the DREAMLAND ‘SHANGRI-LA’ shall forever remain a MYTH, a MIRAGE!
Warm regards and all the best today, tomorrow and always!
Anurag.
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Hi Amitji,thankyou so much for sharing this with us…it was a pleasure reading them love and regards gurpreet
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Dear Amitji
Times change. So does every other thing. After reading the poems, it makes me wonder, does anything really change?
What is the difference between the people who sought/controlled power then and the ones today? Both deeply immersed in getting/retaining the power. Where is the genuine concern for the normal man and his pretty normal needs?
Why have we been like this and why are we still continuing to be the same? Hmmm.
Anand
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Destiny is destined. Nobody can change anybody’s destiny. Poor will become poorer and the rich will become richer. That is what democracy is all about. Mind you India is a largest democracy. How can you except to change the conditions of poor. But the rule does not apply to politicians. Politicians can change their destinies. Whichever party they belong. And poor people help them to change by voting. Still the conditions of the poor remain the same. What anyone can do about it?—jaya
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wonderful!!
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So true! There is a beautiful story about a lady walking on a beach picking up star fishes on the sand and throwing them back into the sea, and when asked if it is going to make any difference, she replies, it made a difference to that particular star fish she threw back into the sea. As human beings all we can do is try, help whom we can, and pray that the politicians will WAKE UP ONE DAY.
( I know I am asking for a miracle)
I am also going to post with a new name as I notice there are more than one with the name Lakshmi.
Lakshmi Jag.
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Dear Sir,
I’ve been following your blog from quite a long time. I must admit you are very powerful with words. I also like different topics you discuss. I am settled in Melbourne so don’t have access to Indian news channels or different issues. Its very good to read different articles and your thoughts on all topics which keeps me busy thinking most of the time..
I appreciate your interaction despite of such a busy schedule and hope to get to know you more through this medium.
Good luck and wishes..
Many thanks
Nency
PS: Your today’s blog is a sad truth for normal people in india whose life goes around taking care of family and basic earnings.
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Morning Amitabh !
The thought of feeding ‘afeem’ to an infant is just too difficult to bear with. Poverty has to be abolished and all of us have a role to play in it. I was discussing something about this, the other day with a few friends from India.
Let’s say each of us contributes 1 rupee a day from our salary/pocket money or whatever. That totals upto Rs 365 per year per person. Multiply this by 500 million people(since the other half of India cannot afford to contribute). You’d get a whopping Rs 182500 million just within 1 year.
Just imagine the kind of poverty elimination initiatives that this amount can successfully cover ! With proper planning & governance, I’m sure this can be easily executed and over a few years, poverty will only be confined to the history books in India.The BIG question is how and where do we start from?
With this sort of money, atleast a mother can feed her baby with a few drops of milk , rather than ‘afeem’.
I’m sure there’s lots of charity organisations that have made forays into initiatives such as the above, but surely there’s scope for more.
Sorry if I’ve gone astray , but reading your write up just rekindled some thoughts from within ! Thanks for that.
Have a nice day !
Regards,
Jagz, Sydney Australia
Big B Yahoo Group
Amitabh is the best
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Amit ji , It is a realistic recollection . It truely reflects the
present . keep it up. Goodluck. Bye
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dear Amitji,
such a beautiful poetry . And it still has same interpretation in today’s day &age for a “common man”.
Ashesh
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I am a daily visitor to your blog and it is a routine of life of a man that nature has made him alike that he can not see beyond.In the poem written by your father is a reality what concern ONE has got with out side world,while he has no time to think off any thing except his surroundings.GOVERNMENTS MAY CHANGE & KINGS MAY CHANGE BUT HIS ROUTINE WILL REMAIN THE SAME. WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALL THE BEST .
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Dear Mr. Bachchan,
Namaste. i will not be able to give my comments on internal political matters of course….but generally speaking usually politics ignores the common man and his problems…at any place in the world, if the common man had been the main concern, he would have been spared lots of problems.
thanks for for translating the poem for non Hindi readers, and for sharing your views.
with love,
Rasha Zayed.
BigB yahoo group.
Cairo, Egypt.
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I loved the poems, especially the first one. And more, I loved the free verse. I write in free verse too and feel it allows my expression to move on unbridled. When I stall and try to fit words into a certain meter, I lose the passion with which I want to express myself.
Please keep acquainting us with the less known poems of your father.
Love
Anshu
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Hello Sir!
Read the poem .. it sent shivers to my spine .. Heart rate going up ..do we need cardio .. we re the fittest na…n in the world
Jai Hind!
Thanks
Regards
Siddharth
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Mahatma Gandhi and India Today
What a nation of hypocrites we are
We call him the Father of the Nation
Occasionally our leaders pay
lip service to him.
However in real life
we practice and do the exact opposite
of what this great man lived and died for
Truth,
Nonviolence,
Simplicity,
Selfless service
Love of all mankind.
The Mahatma must be tossing
and turning in his grave all the time:
to see all those moral lepers
masquerading as saviors of people
pushing the country down the abyss
of deceit, treachery and evil
Will India ever see another Mahatma
Who would come and stop this rot
and put this country on the right track again
Otherwise the way we are going
We are surely doomed as a nation
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Dear Amitji,
Could you please pass this message on to Abhishek. We are a group of medical educators discussing distance learning. And the new Idea ad on this theme was really loved by everybody. What an idea!
Love to both of you,
Anshu
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Respected Amitji,
Today you have really touch my hart by putting the poem of your great father,which so relevant even after 42yers.
I also feel our common citizen of India will suffer until he can’t understand our
political leaders and Todays Democretic systems.Most of them can’t understand that
most of political leaders are using them.On this burning issue I have expressed my feeling by Yahoo Answer forum yesterday in apoem “Is it real Democracy”,It is my immense surprise that tye have remove that saying it is “Violent”,reason it was in Hindi !Now I am posting at here for you and our Indian citizens(please don’t mind at ASHUDDIYA of Hindi because I am not perfect in typing,sorry for that0:–
ये केसा लोकतंतà¥à¤° है,आती हमको शरà¥à¤® है ,
जनता चà¥à¤¨à¤¤à¥€ मगर कहा चà¥à¤¨ पाती है ,
वही मिटà¥à¤Ÿà¥€ वही ककर ,हीरा कहा चà¥à¤¨ पाती है ,
बात करे गाà¤à¤§à¥€ ,लोकनायक की ,राह वोह नही चलते है ,
मोका आने पर ,सबकà¥à¤› छोड़ ,कà¥à¤°à¥à¤¶à¥€ पाने को लपकते है .
ये केसा लोकतंतà¥à¤° है ,आती हमको शरà¥à¤® है ,
उनà¥à¤ªà¤¦ को छोड़ो ,पà¥à¥‡ -लिखे à¤à¥€ कहा समज पाठहै ,
जात -पात ,धरà¥à¤® ,सà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤°à¥à¤¥ में बटे ,इनको कहा समज पाठहै ,
चेहरे बदलते है ,वेश बदलते है ,मगर चाल वही चलते है ,
समज -समज कर à¤à¥€ हम ,इनको कहा बदलते है ,
ये केसा …………………….
लाठका पद हो या हो ख़à¥à¤¦ के à¤à¤¤à¥à¤¤à¥‹ का बिल ,
कर देते है शनों में पास उसे ,सà¤à¥€ आपस में मिल !!!
महिला आरकà¥à¤·à¤£ हो या हो सूचना का अधिकार का बिल ,
अपनी -अपनी सà¤à¥€ चलते है ,रह जाता है बस पास होने से बिल ,
बाहर दिखे सà¤à¥€ अलग -अलग ,अंडर à¤à¤• -मत हो जाते है ,
केसे बदलते है इनके चेहरे ,असली सà¥à¤°à¤¤ हम देख न पते है i.
ये केसा लोकतंतà¥à¤° है …………….
पहले से है बटे हà¥à¤ ,ये महापà¥à¤°à¥à¤· और बाट ते जाते है,
शिकà¥à¤·à¤¾ -रोजगार पर है अधिकार सà¤à¥€ का,आरकà¥à¤·à¤£ ये करवाते है,
रिशà¥à¤¤à¤¾ करो रोटी -बेटी का ,फिर जात -पात मिट जाà¤à¤—ी ,
à¤à¤¸à¤¾ करो पहले अपने घर से तà¥à¤® ,ये सचà¥à¤šà¥€ करनी कहà¥à¤²à¤¾à¤²à¥‡à¤—ी ,
ख़à¥à¤¦ रहे राजा जेसे ,रिशà¥à¤¤à¤¾ करे रजवाडो में ,
अपनी पर आन पड़े तो ,फिकवा दे ये इनà¥à¤¹à¥‡ पिचà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤°à¥‹ में.
ये केसा …………………………………
पà¥à¤°à¤•à¤°à¥à¤¤à¤¿ ने दी है वà¥à¤¯à¤µà¤¸à¥à¤¥à¤¾ ,हम सà¤à¥€ को à¤à¤•à¤¸à¤¾à¤° किया ,
दिठदो -दो हाथ -पाव ,आख कान और à¤à¤• दिल ,खून सà¤à¥€ का लाल किया ,
ठगने को à¤à¥‹à¤²à¥‡ लोगो को ,हिंदू -मà¥à¤¸à¥à¤²à¤¿à¤® -सिख - इशाई में बात दिया ,
बाटते बाटते और कितना बटेगे हम ,कà¥à¤¯à¤¾ हमने कà¤à¥€ इस पर गोंर किया ,
राजा -रानी हो गठवà¥à¤¹à¥‹à¤¹ ,हमने à¤à¤• -दूजे को मार दिया .
ये केसा ……………………….
अदला -बदली करते है कà¥à¤°à¥à¤¶à¥€ की ,
न आचार है न विचार है ,गà¥à¤²à¤¾à¤®à¥€ है बस कà¥à¤°à¥à¤¶à¥€ की ,
आज है मेरी कल तेरी हो जाà¤à¤—ी ,परसों फिर मेरी हो जाà¤à¤—ी ,
जनता देती रहेगी सिरà¥à¤«à¤¼ वोट ,जीत तो बस तेरी -मेरी ही होगी
लोकतंतà¥à¤° है अधिकार तà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤°à¤¾ ,अब इन कà¥à¤Ÿà¤¿à¤²à¥‹ को कब समजा ओगे ,
सही चà¥à¤¨à¥‹ ,चà¥à¤¨à¤•à¤° न à¤à¥‚ल à¤à¤¾à¤“ ,नही तो बहà¥à¤¤ पछताओगे .
ये केसा …………..
न जाने कब वो दिन आà¤à¤—ा ,
उनà¥à¤ªà¥à¤§ ही नही पढ़ा -लिखा à¤à¥€ समजदार हो जाà¤à¤—ा ,
नही चलेगा जात -पात और धरà¥à¤® का खोखला नारा ,
हर कà¥à¤Ÿà¤¿à¤² चेहरा बेनकाब होकर ,कचरे का पातà¥à¤° हा जाà¤à¤—ा ,
न मिलेगी कà¥à¤°à¥à¤¶à¥€ जोड़ -तोड़ और वंशावली से ,हखदार ही हख पायेगा ,
जनता जाग उठेगी जब ,तà¤à¥€ ,à¤à¤• सचà¥à¤šà¤¾ लोकतंतà¥à¤° बन पायेगा .
-Sudan
With regards,
Madhusudan
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It is 42 years since Harvanshraiji wrote that poem .One hopes things have improved for the poor,unprivileged masses of India since then ,despite the politicians and their destructive policies.
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Mr. Bachchan
Will you promise that you would never stop writing this Blog?
Come what may.
Subhash Kaura
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Hello Sir,
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE NUCLEAR DEAL ? DO YOU FIND FISHY THAT SUDDENLY SP JOINED CONGRESS TILL NOW THEY WERE STRONGLY OPPOSING THEM AND ALSO THE DEAL . IT IS ALL FISHY ?
LOVE RENU
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Namashkar Amitabhji,
Very nice interpretation and presentation about the situation in the country, but still is it not our right to chose right person hoping for some change in situation?. I feel a person who does not vote has no right to blame Government one should do his responsibilities and then he holds moral right to ask others to do the same.
I do agree there would not be any sudden change in situation of common man but yet the economy and living status of people has increased tremendously in last 60 years and all cant be without Governance.Well if BJP had ruled instead of Congress then today India would have been the strongest country in world.
Lastly,, I feel Government does affect everyone directly or indirectly positively(If BJP rules) negatively(if Congress rules)..
With regards,
Sandeep
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i know many in my village donot know who is prime minister of country
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harivanshji ki akavitaon ko padh kar man harshit aur utkrisht hua. rajniti par unki tippani jitni tab ke liye vastavik thi, utni hi aaj bhi hai.
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looking from where I sit , India is getting a brand name for sure if not improving the lot of the bottom.
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Dear Sir,
This is heart wrenching. I do not know if you are aware that there is a video of yourself on you tube where you are reading your father’s poem “Madhushala”. I believe it is an occassion which is held every year in honour of Shri Harivanshrai Bachchan. Indeed “Madhushala” is beyond doubt a beautiful script, but the way you have sung it, adds more charm.
Have a good day. Lots of love and best wishes,
Tina
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Touched…. Thanks for sharing such Poem…
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Dear Mr. Bachchan:
For someone, who has “Neeid Ka Nirman Phir Phir” as the name of his blog and has “Koshish Karne Waalon Ki Haar Nahin Hoti” as the catchline of another page of his, it was slightly disappointing for me to read Shri Hariwanshrai Bachchanji’s poetry in the ‘blank verse’. Maybe, I too am a victim of “liberal fanaticism” - which while talking of complete freedom to all individuals and expressions, often finds it difficult to give respect to all the forms of expression; largely because of ‘fanatically classifying’” things / expressions as liberal or non-liberal.
However, your description of his early aversion to the style and other details surrounding the ’switch’ to the style made me open up a little more.
One more thing: I’m not sure if you follow Formula 1 racing or not (I generally don’t!), but if you do, you would be delighted to know that the great F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton has said, in an interview with NDTV, that the last movie that he had seen was … GURU!
Keep fascinating us with your writing. The only ‘harm’ I see in your writing is that you just might force old-time (fanatical) admirers of yours (like yours truly) to end up placing Amitabh Bachchan, the writer, on a higher pedestal than Big B, the ACTOR-Star.
Best Regards,
Anshuman Rawat
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Dear Amitaabh Jee :
In response to your writing onday 75 of July 8, 2008, I write these few lines. Hope you like this Kavithaa
yurs
vd das
===================================================================
AAGE KISAKAA RAAJ HOGAA?
Kyoon main jaanoo, kisakaa raaj hogaa ab, kyaa fark padathaa hai jaankar
Kaoun hai manthri aour kaoun hai raaja, kyaa fark padathaa hai jaanakar
Mahaathmaa ne kabhee kahaa thaa, ho na tab thak har ek baraabar
Tab thak main pahanoongaa yah ghutane thak kee dhothi barobar
Rahoonga main bhee ek aam gareeb kee tarah, khaaoongaa, peeoongaa bhee
Main safar karoongaa bhee nimna darje maen ek gareeb kee tarah bhee
Par kaoun yaad karathaa hai baapu ko aaj , ‘gar din na ho 2 aktoobar
Yaa phir ho 31 jaanvaree, kaoun chalathaa hai unke kahane ke mutaabiq
Koyee Aaye, koyee jaaye, kuch bhee badalanewala naheen hai
Aaj bhee wahee boz dhothaa hoon, kal bhee wahee boz dhonaa hai
Kyoon main jaanoo, kisakaa raaj hogaa ab, kyaa fark padathaa hai jaankar
Kaoun hai manthri aour kaoun hai raaja, kyaa fark padathaa hai jaanakar
‘Daasoham’ july 9, 2008, 8;40 hrs, ist
===================================================================
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Amitji,
I am from Bengal and I cannot read Hindi although thanks to hindi films I can understand the language. I was unable to read your father’s poems but read the ‘gist explanation’ provided by you and wondered hmmm.. are any translations available in english or bengali?
Regards,
and best wishes..
take care of your health
Bye Bye..
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DEAR SIR
HOW ARE YOU SIR?HOW WAS YOUR DAY?TAKE CARE.
BEST WISHES AND WARM REGARDS
HIMMAT SINGH GREWAL
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Mr. Bachchan
Many people now wait for your blog with the same eagerness and anticipation as they do for the morning news paper and their cup of tea.
Hope you will continue to give it to them each day.
Subhash Kaura
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Sir, You have raised a very important matter .The condition of the poor is not changing because both the leaders and the people of our country are neither honest nor sincere.It is character which leads a country to the path of progress,which we are losing.We have to think over it seriously. Jayshree.usa.
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Dear Amit ji,
I read your father’s work above supplied by you.
First of all a lot of thanks for providing this opportunity and your comments on the latest instability of central government.
I think , now a days the politics became a source of personal profit and power rather than public profit. Every now a then there is a new controversy in Indian politics. Indian politics is all about plus and minus.
Your father’s work is a true reflex of this game
While reading these it reminded me a newer age author Shri Harishankar Parsai and his “Kataksh” on the social issues.
You said it right that whichever government be in India nothing is going to be change for the poor.
And most of all i liked the line “Pustak bhar mein bharat bhar ke sabse jyada zahrile sapon ka kahin jikra nahin hai”.
And most of us know that who is this “Most Venomous Snake”.
again a lot of thanks….
regards
Pappu kumar
Nalconagar, Angul
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Amitji.
You seem to be oversensitive to criticism.As long as u r happy doing your bit , why shd you bother about what others say. And dont make an effort to show that u care for the downtrodden. If u care