Recently Supreme Court Judge Justice N.V. Ramana had said that the fate of the country would depend on the character of the leaders administering it. How true and valid an opinion, specially in the context of our country’s administration conducted since 70 years.
It is only after 2014 when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister the country’s fate, riddled with terrorist attacks, corruption, policy paralysis, inordinate delay in taking decisions or procrastinating decision-making indefinitely — on J&K Article 370 and 35A, Ayodhya, GST, Defence Purchase, Abolition of Triple Talaq etc., no end — seemed to be changing for the better. It is because of the character of our new leader Modi. Because of the extraordinary humane and patriotic character of one leader who had the courage to take decisions — Narendra Modi. I shudder to think what would have been the fate of this country if the same UPA Government had continued for further period from 2014 with puppets as PMs and courtiers as Ministers. Perish the thought.
To humour, I guess those thousands of Gods and Goddesses in the Hindu pantheon must have brought in Narendra Modi to save the country from the endemic communal and vote-bank related social disharmony, staggering development, corruption, periodic violence and finally, God forbid, Balkanisation.
The provocation for these rambling thoughts came to me on reading about Rajinikanth in an article after he was honoured with the Icon of Golden Jubilee Award at the recently concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa and after he gave an interview to Doordarshan (DD) which I happened watch. Both were interesting because it revealed the man and his mission with some messages.
First the article. It mentions of his and another iconic Tamil actor Kamal Haasan’s concern for the development of Tamil Nadu and their readiness to join hands to achieve this noble end. In quick response, Rajinikanth responded saying, ‘If it is for the total development of Tamil Nadu I will not hesitate to keep aside politics and work with Kamal Haasan.’
Wonder how, in a democracy, without being in politics one could take on such responsibility? Social service, yes. But State’s development? Rajini may not join BJP, not even support it or take its support in case he plunges into State Assembly elections. In that event, if need arises for a political alliance with whom will he go? Kamal Haasan? Everybody knows Kamal Haasan’s political ideology.
Well, that will be like expecting water and oil to mix into a compound! Oh! Yes. I forgot the miracle that keeps happening in Indian democracy. Just now, are we not witnessing Shiv Sena (considered the rank Hindu Communal Party), Congress (considered the cornucopia of Secularism) and the crony Capitalist Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) jettisoning their ideology and embracing the newly-discovered ideology POWER? So in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan too may join hands to worship the Goddess of POWER !
Now let me come to the DD interview. I liked it because it had lessons for old men like me.
Lesson No. 1: To be happy, be natural ‘I am so before the camera and off the camera’.
Lesson No. 2: One must love what one does. Only then there will be success.
Lesson No. 3: This was told to him by Amitabh Bachchan, his friend. ‘Always be busy. It will help keep good health and make you forget your age!’
Enough for now. Alleluia !!
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A friendship forged on the sets of Apoorva Raagangal (1975) has lasted four decades, and now, Kollywood’s two biggest stars Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth have hinted at a joint political venture.
Kamal Hassan was the first to answer the question of a possible alliance. There is no miracle in our joining hands,” he said on Tuesday at the Chennai airport. “We have been together for 44 years. If the need comes for us to get together [in politics] then we will. Right now, work is important; talking about this is not. For the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu, we can take this journey together.”
Within half an hour, Rajinikanth, too, had made a similar statement: “For the benefit of the people, if there is a situation to form an alliance with Kamal Haasan, we will definitely come together.”
These hints have made fans of both men extremely happy. Arunachalam, a member of Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam party said, “I am a fan of Rajini sir as well, and if Kamal sir and Rajini sir join hands then it is the best news that I have got in the 50 years of my life. Tamil Nadu will be a glorious state if these two join hands and come to power.
Mo di has not improved India better economically for example. Merely winning elections -Congress did that for 2 decades after independence did not imrove India economically. The remittances from Indian immigrants in Middle East and West improved the hard currency situation, as the country does not export relative to its size and population.
“Yes. I forgot the miracle that keeps happening in Indian democracy. Just now, are we not witnessing Shiv Sena (considered the rank Hindu Communal Party), Congress (considered the cornucopia of Secularism) and the crony Capitalist Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) jettisoning their ideology and embracing the newly-discovered ideology POWER?
Shiv Sena outthought and caught the arrogant BJP by surprise through the above coalition. Modi and Amit Shah were taught a good lesson.
BJP made coalition offers to JD(S)in Karnataka, although their ideologies differ
Blind admiration has made you not see the real politik in India.