Happy birthday Irfaan Khan

 Irfaan Khan, the versatile, talented actor of many Bollywood and Hollywood movies and one of my favorites  succumbed to his battle with cancer in the year 2020. He was only 53, a tragic young age to go. A brilliant actor, he had acted in Hollywood movies too.

I am reminded of his movie "PAAN SINGH TOMAR" where he has done a commendable role playing the leading character Paan Singh - a class IV drop out from the Badlands of Chambal, who joins the Army, where his passion for running is recognized by his Superiors. 

Yes, Indian Army in 1950s was part of a system which was was fair, honest and efficient at a time only a few years after independence. We then still retained the old school of ethics inherited from the English (Corruption hardly existed during British days, but slowly crept in when we owned our own nation - a concern by Gandhijee to Home Minister Sardar Patel moments before his assassination).

In this movie Paan Singh's talent was recognized by his Sardar (Sikh) senior in the Army as he makes him run for arriving late during the perfunctory military drills. A la Forrest Gump from the iconic Hollywood movie, he never stopped running. Soon he crashed into limelight when he broke the National record in Steeplechase at the 23rd National Athletics meet held in Cuttack, Odisha. It earns him a ticket to the Asian Games held in Tokyo a few year later, where he ran the 3000m Steeplechase race representing India.

A heart touching saga of a person whose sacrifice to the nation as a Sportsperson and a veteran Army man never came to his rescue, when circumstances turned a hard working, proud patriot into a dacoit-cum-kidnapper. It was in the 1970s when Corruption well aided by the high handedness of Indian bureaucracy did everything possible to turn the man to take to guns for his own survival. The system failed him big time.

In the movie, Irrfan playing Paan Singh is a straight shooter, both from his mouth and gun. When a newspaper reporter interviews him asks why he became a dacoit, the fugitive retorts back - DAKAIT TO PARLIAMENT MEIN MILTE HAIN, HUM TO SIRF BAAGHI HAI (Dacoits are found in  Parliament, I am just a rebel). He wasn't far from the truth.

Another monologue from Irfaan Khan needs some reflection - "After crossing 28 barriers to be the Steeplechase champion and earning accolades for my motherland, no one cared about me. Now that I have become a Baaghi and a thorn in the flesh of the tri-state Police (UP, MP and Rajasthan), I am getting fame and attention.  While I ran and won medals for my country nobody took a note, now when I became a BAAGI  (rebel) on run I make news."

Quite a story and kudos to Irfaan Khan for his remarkable role. You crossed 28 barriers as Pan Singh Tomar. You, the fighter fought bravely against a malignant disease. Salute to you, Sir on your 57th Birthday. Rest in Peace.