Happy Bhai Dooj !!

The day after Diwali when sisters pay respect and tribute to their brothers. Brothers seek togetherness and love and sisters apply a ‘tika’ on their foreheads and give a gift to them. Every traditional ritual talks of remaining together and of respecting each others presence and relationship. Every ritual talks of the bond that exists in a family, of their importance and place in society. And yet in today’s world we see so many of us drift apart from each other; from the protection and security of a joint existence. Drifting away from love and understanding. Moments of association and times spent together in happiness and joy. Moments spent sharing what was ours with them and what was theirs with us. And then suddenly something snaps and we break away, forgetting and ignoring all that had been the glorious past. I doubt very much that we entirely forget. It remains with us in our thoughts, in our times of solitude and introspection. But some very persistent force keeps harping upon us to ignore it and move on. The cruelty with which we address these issues, the indifference that we construct are all manifestations of a mind that has been pushed beyond a point. A mind that has closed itself to any sanity, forgiveness or compassion.

Yet I believe, that a mind that once did love, that once did show affection would never be able to entirely remove those endearing moments from within. There may never ever be an occasion to relive them. But somewhere deep inside our system there is a safe compartment that houses all these feelings. When one notices families breaking up, houses and homes being destroyed because of petty and small uncalled for incidents, one is filled with remorse and distress and sadness.

May there be a Bhai Dooj in every home, in every home a Diwali and a celebration that brings us together. May the lights of prosperity and success be ever bright in all our homes. May we never ever despair. May there be no need for want and excess. And may there be peace and love among all of us.

Many perhaps are unaware that I represent the United Nations as their goodwill ambassador in UNICEF. I have worked tirelessly for the eradication of polio in certain distinct parts of our country - namely Bihar and U.P. The UN authorities had come over to meet and discuss how they could extend the appointment further and how we could work together for the benefit of children. Work towards infant mortality - the rate for which is perhaps the highest in the world in our country. How we could work towards the right of education for those less fortunate, to be able to afford these facilities, or even be a part of a program where literacy was being given due place and position. The Government is in the process of initiating an Act through our Constitution or through Parliament, where every individual shall possess the right to be educated. This shall be a most laudable initiative. Similar actions should be initiated in the field of medical care. There is such a paucity of hospitals and proper medical care in and around us, that one shudders to think what and how the poor or the common man deals with conditions where his health is at stake.

I drove down today with Sujoy Ghosh the director of ‘Aladin’ to review some portions of the film under post production and having been suitably impressed with it, could not carry the energy of excitement back home because at the traffic signal you get accosted by the poor and those that beg in the most deplorable conditions. Mothers with little babies unfed and undernourished, men and children with obvious disabilities made more stark and sympathetic by their handicapped conditions. I shy away in disgust and shame at describing some of them, for I am helpless in being able to do anything. I am first in doubt and in horror at the possibility of these humans being deliberately maimed to gain attention and perhaps that little extra from those that patronize them. Giving them alms could be falling into a trap where we are not certain where the end result is going to be. Do they actually feed themselves or do they collect to feed those that control them. It is a most sad and deplorable condition. Giving to them runs the risk of its misuse, not giving leaves a guilt in the mind. We shut ourselves away from the sight invariably and pray and hope that the vehicle move away from this ungainly sight at its earliest. The plight of these unfortunate humans is unbearable and as the car moves away you wonder why the creator built some this way and others the other way. You think of the good fortune you have had in the life you have led and continue to lead. You think of the less fortunate and wonder whether they did something wrong in their past birth, if at all there is one, to be subjected to such misery thus. Is there a principle that the Almighty works on. And if it is so, can we be privy to it so we could repair and construct our condition in this life before we pass ourselves on to another.

Max New York Life which I endorse arranges a function to launch their Max Vijay Insurance event in the city of the Taj Mahal, Agra tomorrow. I shall be departing early, spending the entire day there and then the next day to Delhi for the promotion press on ‘Aladin’.

But before this, a promotional for Polio and the Environment was undertaken. Polio eradication has been having a good run in most parts of the country. I am informed that in U.P and in Bihar, the two prominent regions where polio still abounds, the number of polio strains that were at one time six in number, has now been reduced to just one and for this they have been complimenting our rigorous campaigns. Its still not a completely free situation, but it is almost there. Which is heartening to note.

Abhishek and Aishwarya have driven off back to shooting at Malshej and the house shall get lonely again. Jaya shall soon be shooting as well and the only unemployed member shall be yours truly. Well not exactly unemployed; BB3 gets even more intriguing and time consuming.

My yawns now compete with the number of times I look at the clock and the word count at the bottom. I must to bed … and to the night !!

Love

Amitabh Bachchan