When I had visited Shashi Kapoor ji in hospital the other day and written about it, a member of our FmXt raised a point of ethics in doing so and objecting that there is a certain code of conduct in the medical profession and a moral code in society where such descriptions are not permitted. I do admit that such ethics do exist and are very religiously adhered to. I believe that such ethical codes are just and that every patient should have the right to be protected by the medical profession in this regard. I do however have a point in my defense. I did mention in detail my visit to the hospital and I did talk about it on my blog, primarily because Mr Shashi Kapoor is no ordinary individual. He is a large public figure and celebrity and has a huge following and contribution to a profession that connects him to the world of his followers. People would be interested to learn of his condition. In fact many did not until I wrote about it. Fair and square till now. What needs to be understood is that even though I was made aware of his actual medical condition, I made no mention of that. And for me therefore, that is within the prescribed limits of information that anyone should be permitted for.

I have been to visit Mr Shammi Kapoor this evening too in hospital. He is unwell, in a different hospital. He was his most charming self as always and joked and laughed over his condition. I gave him a copy of the special edition ‘Madhushala’ that we had brought out on my Father’s 101 st and he was delighted. Remembered his days at Prithvi Theaters, not the modern performance theatre built in Juhu by Shashi ji in memory of his loved Father, the doyen PrithviRaj Kapoor, but the days when he toured with his Father’s group to various parts of the country, performing plays written and directed by Prithvi Raj ji. Prithvi Theaters at Juhu Janaki Kutir, a very popular destination for theater lovers in Mumbai is named after the doyen and head of this illustrious family. Prithvi Raj ji lived during the last days of his life at Janaki Kutir, the small designated residential area in Juhu by the beach. Shashi ji along with his wife Jennifer, herself a famous theatre artist and daughter of the thespian theatre personality Geoffrey Kendall of Shakespeareana fame, built this very artistic facility on a plot of land just opposite the house where Prithvi Papa ji, as we all fondly called him, lived. And it is the one facility now patronised by the most important theater activity in the city.

PrithviRaji and my parents were close friends. Every time Prithvi papaji came with his group to perform in Allahabad, he would come over to our home and of course we would all go over to see their most dynamic and pertinent plays, performed by a group of very talented artists. Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor are all products from this theater group. So also are some very other prominent artists and writers from the same group that have worked in the Film Industry. After each performance, my Father would spend time with the group in recitation during their leisure time late into the night. The entire evening conducted under the guidance and control of the thespian Prithvi Raj Kapoor, who would insist on all his actors to spend time listening to my Father’s works. It was this that Shammi ji was remembering when I gave him ‘Madhushala’. Zohra Sehgal, that firebrand actor in ‘Cheeni Kum’ who played my Mother’s role, was a very prominent member of the troupe. That is how far back we go. And look where we are now. That was the 50’s, 1950’s, and today it is 2010 ! And this family has been at the top of the fraternity in its contribution to our industry. Today Ranbir Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor children of Dabboo ( Randhir ) Kapoor and Chintu ( Rishi ) Kapoor, sons of Raj Kapoor, son of PrithviRaj Kapoor are ruling the turnstiles. Today too, Ritu Nanda, daughter of Raj Kapoor is related to me as my ’samdhan’. Her son Nikhil is married to Shweta !

The day was spent doing a photo shoot for the ICICI endorsement and a public interest audio visual for the Mumbai Police, in Hindi and Marathi on traffic rules and the respect that needs to be given to safe driving. So important in today’s times because of the extreme lack of discipline in following traffic laws and rules. Nobody follows regulations. Blatantly and brazenly traffic laws are broken in the region I live and it is so frustrating and annoying to see so many offenders get by without paying any heed to the law.

Yes the police force is there to reprimand and take action but it is impossible to be everywhere. What is required is to initiate the drivers at the time of issuing licenses to some rigorous road sense and rules. Many countries have the most rigid examinations to pass before they can be issued a license. Here there is little or no criteria at all. Many an innocent by passer shall become a victim to an accident not because of poor police vigilance, but because the man on the road or the man behind the wheel was never given adequate training. There has been no effort to educate the pedestrian on common traffic norms, or to instill any semblance of discipline in them. It is important for a pedestrian to know what it is to drive a car on a road and equally, the driver of the car to know what it takes to be a pedestrian on the street. Only then shall there be better coordination and safety. Merely running Tv advertisements shall only be watched and understood by a handful of people. The people that need to understand what they proclaim shall only be possible when steps are taken from an early stage of their basic education. A certain culture has to be prompted. It will reflect the condition and nature of an entire polity. Their manners, their reaction to order and value and many more such attributes. Then and only then shall there be order. It is wonderful to build massive and very attractive sea links over the land, to build well designed and efficient highway systems. But what use are they, when the people that are supposed to use them are unaware of how to correctly use them.

During the past three days I have had to travel to South Mumbai crossing the sea link, where the specified speed limit, boldly and prominently displayed all over the bridge asks for a limit of 50 kmph. I have stayed on that specification throughout, but am saddened to say that every car that has been on this eight lane edifice of great beauty has sped past me, almost in defiance of the stipulated order !

There are three signal lights at the crossings between Jalsa and Prateeksha. Not a single day passes by without at least 10-12 vehicles breaking the red light order. I stand parked at the crossing, helpless, watching this blatant disobedience, unable to do anything. At times I am the only one obeying the law and feel, as I see others breaking it that maybe I am the one that is in the wrong !!

I wonder then, what this 10 second audio visual requesting drivers of vehicles to be careful while driving, will be of any use at all.

And what of the pedestrians. They need to be trained too in the discipline of roads. How many do we see and encounter during the course of the day, when they shall spring out from the middle divider across your path unannounced and so sudden, it is a wonder we are able to steer clear from them. Or that nonchalant walker in the middle of the road coming at you in the opposite direction, animatedly conversing on his mobile,  with not a care of where he is and what he is doing ! And then when he shall get hit, the driver of the car shall be assaulted and arrested for rash and negligent driving, with a strong allegation of being under the influence of alcohol !!

Its a matter quite ‘out of control’. And that was a quote from a police official !!

Good night dearest ones !!

Love and more to you ~

Amitabh Bachchan