Laughter is good, especially when it comes because of the acts of others. Others, that even though do not carry the burdens of a clown, behave like them. The world is full of such jesters. They inhabit a space that remains deeply immersed in our beings and surroundings.

It is a known fact that the clown, the jester, the comedian has traditionally and through history, remained the one with the deepest wisdom and knowledge. The Court jester has always enjoyed a prominent place in the palace and indeed has remained by the side of and not too distant from the King. The clown in a circus is the one that does the most intricate and difficult acts. The comedian in film has invariably come about with the most poignant moments. Charlie Chaplin’s acts of fun and laughter always carried a deeper philosophic meaning, some of which were cynical and full of, at times, dark sarcastic black humor.

These fools we love and admire. But what of the fools that pretend to be fools and are far removed from them. Society from time to time keeps throwing up exquisite examples of such specimens. Specimens that survive on the foolishness of others. They are all about us in spirit and mind and may the Almighty in which ever form it wishes, protect us from such elements, who know not what they do, know not what they say, know not what they believe. Their claim to recognition comes from reflected glory, in a somewhat obtuse manner. No harm in that. The only tragedy is that this fool is more noticeable than any other and hence has the distinction, albeit falsely, of being believed than any other. And those that follow and believe them, build up a monumental core group of people, that continuously subject the rest to their belief and manner. This core then formulates opinion and brandishes it about as though gold had been struck in the wilds !!

It is a pitiable condition, but one that sadly exists. And in its existence it becomes a threat to all that is genuine and good and believable. This to me is the most dangerous situation. It is dangerous because the wrong fuel has been used to make an airplane airborne. And once you are up there in the skies and start to stutter and slip, that is when realization dawns. But by then there is no time even to bail out individuals. It is the demise collectively of the ‘correct’.

How absolutely incredible to find such conditions of existence. A condition where one finds himself or herself bound to follow a path that may or may not necessarily take you to the desired location. And so ..

I laugh … ha ha hahah … hah ah ha haaa …

I laugh because they do not know what they do. I laugh because righteousness shall never then be seen as being right. I laugh at lost opportunity due to lack of understanding. I laugh because the truth shall always be shadowed by perceived knowledge or fact. And that is so dangerous … it makes me laugh … !!!

Remain well dearest ones, I travel tomorrow morning early to Bhubaneshwar in Orrissa for the inauguration of a Gurukul under the tutelage of the great flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia. While there I am attempting to visit the Jaganath temple in Puri and then return home by the evening, to later take a flight to Hong Kong for the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asian Film Festival.

In such circumstances I shall always remain in love and in fondness towards all …

Amitabh Bachchan