Posted on: December 23, 2008 - 12:01 pm
Pune, Maharashtra December 23/24, 2008 12:26 am
I found the above article in a Pune daily and have posted it here for all to read. It impressed me. Made me think.
Much of what the Lady Commissioner says strikes a chord and I agree with her on most counts. We have become so apathetic towards the police force that we forget the good that is done and at what price. We are quick to blame but slow to absolve. Quick to criticize slow on praise. Sometimes, indeed most times, completely eradicate praise from the system. Until we witness personally a carnage through the TV of a Mumbai attack, realize the call of duty of brave soldiers and start the accolades. But if you will notice that as time drifts by a whole list of those unsung heroes is slowly emerging.
Does it always have to take a severe incident as 26/11 to bring to notice the sacrifices of the services ? Are there not many among them that dutifully serve selflessly so that we can live and function in peace ?
I believe when we shall show them respect and honor, that they will equally acknowledge what is desired of them. When we shall agree to pay the fine for a violation and not corrupt the policemen by paying him, we would have taken a step in the right and fruitful direction. When they will treat us well, there is no reason why we will not reciprocate.
When I visited the Soviet Union in the 80’s there was a remarkable feature I noticed on the streets. If you were to stop your vehicle to ask the policeman directions, or were he to stop you for a committed violation, the policeman would first salute you before executing his duty; that of guiding you to your destination or writing out a ticket or an arrest. Irrespective of what your status was, it was mandatory for the cop to show his respect to the common man first before he commenced anything. Marvelous procedure. I wonder if it still exists !!
Aamir calls me in Pune and invites me to come and see his film, ‘Ghajini’. I will when I return. Funny that his message came through now. When he had returned from Leh-Laddakh some months ago after the shoot of one of his other films, he had very thoughtfully bought me a shawl; white in color and large enough to fill in three of me. In the pleasant and cool climes of Pune I have been putting that warmth to good use when I return from work. Coincidence, a happy one.
Word-Press the software used by the BigAdda server, went through an upgrading earlier in the day. And I now sit and configure all the new features it has on offer. I doubt if the respondents will notice much, but for me it is an entire training all over again. Good. Keeps the brain young !!
The day was enlightening !! There was work of course in front of the camera, but there was work too with FLAME, the Institute in whose premise we shoot. The faculty wanted me to address the students and to spend time answering some of their questions that they had been wanting to from the time I came in.
The facility if I may say so is exquisite. Serene and picturesque surroundings. Ensconced within the outstretched arms of the ends of a mountain, horse shoe in shape. Modern structures, eager and excited students and a very qualified team of professors forming the faculty. The curriculum encouraged its educational attributes to liberalism; the option of selection based on personal choice and acumen, of building an all round academic, guided by some of the brightest scholars from the country and on invitation, from other countries as well. What an impressive gathering it was and what a joy to be able to spend some time with them, talking to them about life and society and principles and outlooks. Ending, as was expected, by recitation and a rendition of my Father’s works. On the ‘Rush of Life’ - Jeevan ki Apadhapi mein…
I was so enamored, I wanted to enroll all over again.
Which, coming to think of it, is not too bad a thought. Get back to College, attend classes, pick up all that you missed out earlier because the coffee house and the cricket fields and the College cafeteria were more exciting pursuits !!
I hope the desire to learn exists with me through out. I would relish that. And recommend too.
Learn. Just anything. History, the Constitution, our legal system, commerce, public speaking, philosophy, anything. How wonderful the thought of preparing for examination again after having hated it 40 years ago !
Life is so peculiar. That compulsory afternoon nap that our parents subjected us to in the blistering heat of Allahabad and one that we loathed, now a deliberate, welcome and voluntary necessity at this age. The warm woollies that Mother forced upon us during the harsh winter and that we hated because it poked our skin, now pulled out at the drop of a remote in an air conditioned room. The utter disgust in being force fed with salad and cod liver oil, now being happily welcomed as a health necessity. The curbs put on us as we grew older and into adulthood, now giving way to self abstinence - late nights, parties, the cigarettes, alcohol..
The cycle of life and time keeps eternally moving and ironically, it asks us to keep peddling, else it shall stop.
What a beautiful universe we exist in. We are blessed. And we must never forget that. Never forget to be kind. To love. To express grace and gratitude. To show affection and consideration. To care and to hold hands. To relish the beauty of nature in its supreme purity. And..
To not defile all the above with warped and misguided minds..
Christmas cheer and prosperity and love for the coming year..
Amitabh Bachchan
