Reel versus Real life

It is now reported that actor Paresh Rawal did not get renominated for his Parliament seat. He is not the only one who didn't deserve renomination. Almost all the cine actors and actresses of this outgoing Parliament were flop shows - logging scant attendance and hardly participating in serious debates, not to mention rarely staying connected to folks from their constituencies.

Our reel life heroes who portray a larger than life of themselves on the screen rarely replicate a fraction of their action on real life. Many make a mockery of themselves by giving misstatements, only to regret or retract them later. (It's another matter some deliberately go controversial in order to boost their faltering career or the prospect of their soon to be released movie. Often there is a political undertone acting as precursor, a launching pad towards a future career in politics).

Come election season, scores of movie stars (retired Bureaucrats and Military personnel too), make beeline to join political parties. Barring exceptions like Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna most of them have failed to leave their mark in politics. Amitabh Bachchan, the better known celebrity from the celluloid world had a forgettable political career, resigning midway through his term as an MP from Allahabad. Arguably the most popular Bollywood actor of our time he famously said in his movie SATTE PE SATTA "Saand ko Saand, Our Bhand ko Bhand Bolte Hain" - "Bull is a Bull, a Jester is a Jester". (It is not unusual in India to equate actors as jesters in a derogatory way).

Amitabh's self proclaimed rival in the 80s, the overrated Satrughan Sinha hardly did anything noteworthy as a minister in Vajpayee's government. He has since been sidelined (rightly so), sulking and whining to the hilt. Govinda, when a Congress MP, performed so well that that once he was chased and showered with rotten eggs, tomatoes by his constituents. Swinging hips doesn't necessarily swing voters towards you, but can propel a few vegetables as inswingers.

Dharmendra's repeated dialogues from the iconic movie SHOLAY "GAON BALON MEIN AA GAYA HOON" (Villagers, I have arrived) won him a seat. But histrionics apart he did nothing noteworthy for his fellow villagers. His wife Hema Malini, is known more for her autocratic style than service to her electorates. BJP took Victor Banerjee to his fold couple of decades back in order to set a foothold in Bengal, but he hardly made a dent into the party's fortune. Examples are many. 

In South, especially in Tamil Nadu and Andhra, there is a viscous partition between the movie world and politics, which at times completely vanishes. Actors MGR and NTR had a fair degree of success in politics in their respective states, especially the former who had a demi God status in Tamil Nadu. Many give him credit for initiating the Mid Day Meal Scheme in his state, which was replicated by others - catapulting India's fledgling Literacy rate to a respectable figure. 

However not all from South leave their mark in their newly adopted profession. Many flop like flop movies. Chiranjeevi, the erstwhile Telugu superstar flopped spectacularly in politics, faltered and merged his Telugu Desam party into Congress.

It's said that MGR once warned NTR of entering into politics, saying it is easier to be a Superstar than being a politician. This is important coming from the mouth a person who was so popular in Tamil Nadu that in 1984 he and his party won hands down when he was going through Kidney dialysis in far away New York. 

The other Superstar from his state, a cult figure named Rajnikanth, post plunging into politics still looks confused about of his strategy and future. (Interestingly MGR and Rajnikant, both Deities in Tamil Nadu are not Tamils by origin. MGR was born a Malayali, Rajnikant a Marathi. The former was successful in politics, the later is still in wilderness).

There is a lesson to be learnt here, if history throws some indications. Voters these days can't be taken for granted. Our movie stars often fail to realize the difference between the real life and real life. Politics, like any profession is a performance based business. Though the star status comes with some benefits of doubt, eventually it's a matter of Perform or Perish. Politics is not every body's cup of tea. Stardom can only take you so far.

Idea of Presidential form of government in India

In the early 1980s Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. A minister in her cabinet, Basant Sathe was mulling a Presidential form of government by floating the idea as a trial balloon. 

Made perfect sense for the Congress Party at that time as Indira Gandhi was the undisputed leader Congress and India. There was nobody, neither in her party nor outside close to her stature. All the opposition parties unitedly pooh-poohed the idea opposing it tooth and nail for the obvious reason. Not a single leader then was in a position to be a counterweight to Indira at nation level. The idea remained stillborn. 

Congress must be breathing easy as the concept of a Presidential form of government never saw the day, remaining a non-starter. Now I wonder if the constitution ever changed to that effect then BJP would be reaping the benefits now. Vajpayee could have won in 2004 and Modi now, both hands down. Modi would be relaxing at home now rather than huffing and puffing across the nation in the heat and dust of this election season.

God, Gagarin and Pope

Khushwant Singh's who passed away exactly 5 years back was a prolific, passion filled writer (he published his last book in October 2013 at the age of 98). He was also a self proclaimed agnostic who mocked at his own religion. A fearless writer and a journalist who during his long innings didn't spare anyone, not even himself.

Reminded me of a story he mentioned in one of his columns - for decades he was India's most widely read columnist. (PS: I have no intention of entering into a debate about the existence of God. We might have believers, atheists, agnostics in this forum who have every rights to their beliefs).

It goes like this - After coming back to earth from space the Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was being felicitated by the the Russia leader Krushchev. The later asked the Yuri in private " I think God exists. Did you see Him in space ?" "Yes, I did" replied Gagarin.

After a few days Gagarin met Pope. The pope whispered into his ears " Heart of heart I don't believe God exists. Did you see Him in space ?". Gagarin replied "No, I did not".

Not sure about the validity of this but it speaks volumes. Moral of the story - Belief in God is a relative thing, better left to the individual.

Advantage BJP as Lok Sabha 2019 Elections are announced

The announcement of a well spread out Lok Sabha (Parliamentary) Elections in India today, ranging from April 11 till May 19 certainly favors the ruling party BJP. Though Elections in India is held in a staggered manner, this one beats all. For example last time the Elections in my home state Odisha for its 21 seats was held in 2 phases, this time it will be held in 4 phases.

Why this staggered elections spreadout into multiple phases will favor BJP ? Just do your math. Simply look at the pattern. In Andhra Pradesh where BJP is not expecting much, Elections for 25 seats will be held on the same day. Similarly Elections for Tamil Nadu (39) and Kerala (20) will be held on one day. No prize for guessing that BJP is a fringe player in the above Southern states where its total seats tally in all these states is likely to remain in single digit.

At the same time in the states crucial to BJP - UP, Bihar, MP, Bengal and Odisha polls will be held in 4 to 8 seats in every week. It will be easier to micro target these seats by carpet bombing them by the cadre based party led by its Campaigner-in-Chief Narendra Modi. 

Though India is a Parliamentary democracy, on many occasions it is run on Presidential style - Indira vs JP (who brought all opposition under a single umbrella of Janata Party) in 1977, Rajiv Gandhi vs V P Singh in 1989 and Modi vs Rest (Rahul Gandhi in Congress ruled states and Regional Satraps like Mamata, Mayawati, Lalu Yadav, Naveen in the states). 

Love him or hate him, you can't ignore the fact that Modi has succintly managed to project himself as a leader at the national level. In contrast the opposition lacks coherence and strategy.

Next to him is Rahul Gandhi who chooses to stay forever young and in learning phase  who got some catch up to do. Other leaders are at best Regional Sartraps, their fiefdom limited to the border within their own states. The Left Front, a combination of Communist parties has hardly any presence at the national level - already shrunk to it's now solitary base of Kerala.

On the other hand, BJP has used its power and presence at the Center to tweak the Poll Schedule into its favor. So, as of today it's advantage BJP. Elections in India is full of fun, color, fiesta accompanied by violence, loss of life and bitterness amongst individuals with friends turning into foes. So, buckle up your seats and brace for a bumpy ride on the hot, dusty heartlands of India.

OIC - An Useless organization

The OIC which stands for Organization  of Islamic Countries condemned the Indian incursion and aerial violation and dropping of four bombs. It urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid any steps that would endanger peace and security in the region. There resolution didn't fail to mention "Indian Terrorism" and "mass blinding" in Kashmir.

In this context, it's amazing OIC's invitation to Sushma Swaraj is being  celebrated by some as a huge diplomatic victory. Considering something is better than nothing, it is certainly an important step being invited for the first time. But claiming it as a "huge" diplomatic victory is both premature and preposterous when "Indian Terrorism" and "mass blinding" in Kashmir is served on a platter to a first time invited special guest.

In this context, it is moronic to go ga ga over the invitation to this useless organization. OIC is not United Nations Security Council and India is not exactly a veto wielding membership of it. It is hardly a coveted forum of distinguished gentlemen to cheer about being invited as a special guest. 

I can't think of any tangible contributions of it to the Islamic world is general and the Middle East in particular which is already in a mess. It has done hardly anything worthwhile to alleviate the ever rising Shia - Sunni divide in the Islamic world. One thing it has done religiously so far - never forgotten to humiliate India by condemning the later for its perceived illegal occupation of Kashmir.

And this is not the first humiliation of India by OIC. This has been happening from the Day I of its inception. In 1969, India wanted to send Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed who later went on become the President of India. OIC refused to admit him.

The humiliation didn't stop there. For the last 40 years or so, it has ensured to censure India on Kashmir. It's ironic that some rabid Right wingers who spew venom against Muslims at drop of hat, no fan of Islam and vouch over Kashmir being an integral part of India, are getting unduly ecstatic about India being invited at an Islamic meet - which has no qualms about humiliating India time and again.