Recently, i was watching a
comedy show on television. The theme of the show was quite simple. The
host goes around the city asking simple questions about India to
seemingly educated, informed people. The responses of the people are so
shockingly stupid that they make viewers laugh.
The show makes one realise how most people on the street are totally ignorant about and indifferent towards what is happening around them. Consider this: a participant was asked about the person whose signature is present on the currency notes in India. To the great disappointment of viewers eagerly waiting to be entertained, he correctly answered, "governor".
But he was not done! The host asked him, "Which governor?" To which he confidently replied, "Andhra Pradesh governor", to my limitless satisfaction. But deep inside, there was also relief that he didn't say, "Rajinikanth signs on the currency notes." The occurrence of such an event is not totally improbable given the level of awareness of most participants on the show.
Though the chairman of the Press Council of India has stirred up quite a few controversies in the past few months with his candid, well-meaning remarks on a range of issues, the one where he said, "90% of Indians are fools", particularly stood out for its brashness. I, being a core committee member representing the '90% Indians' group, was quite outraged initially.
But come to think of it, there is an element of truth in what he says. Most Indians today are only concerned with three things: cricket, films and the downfall of their neighbour. It is therefore imperative to educate people using cricketers and film stars. The reason behind leaving out the third item is the practical difficulty associated with employing all the neighbours of all Indians to educate people.
In this context, the recent development where Sachin Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha assumes great significance. This development has attracted a lot of criticism from different people. Some critics were of the opinion that the legislator in question is generally reticent and has hardly taken a stand on issues of public importance in the past, thus making him unsuitable for the post. Others were sceptical about whether he would actually have time to attend Rajya Sabha sessions, given that he is still playing international cricket.
But we should take a dispassionate view of the issue and try to analyse it. I am an eternal optimist. I try to look at the positive side of everything and this development is no exception. Let us, for a moment, examine what good has come out of this cricketer becoming a Rajya Sabha MP. The most important benefit, in my opinion, is that this issue has enlightened the '90% Indians' group about the existence of an entity called the Rajya Sabha.
This issue has also taught people that 12 members (out of a maximum of 250 in the Rajya Sabha) can be nominated by the president of India under Article 80 of the Constitution. Thus, it has also made people aware of the presence of a Constitution for the country. Also, people who generally spend a large part of their adult lives wondering what the president of India actually does are now aware of at least one activity of the president.
The point i am trying to make is that we should not be cynical. Why have we become so insular? Can't this great, tolerant nation accommodate just one more non-performing MP? Let us learn to look at the brighter side of things.
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Of-cricketers-and-fools/articleshow/13138414.cms
The show makes one realise how most people on the street are totally ignorant about and indifferent towards what is happening around them. Consider this: a participant was asked about the person whose signature is present on the currency notes in India. To the great disappointment of viewers eagerly waiting to be entertained, he correctly answered, "governor".
But he was not done! The host asked him, "Which governor?" To which he confidently replied, "Andhra Pradesh governor", to my limitless satisfaction. But deep inside, there was also relief that he didn't say, "Rajinikanth signs on the currency notes." The occurrence of such an event is not totally improbable given the level of awareness of most participants on the show.
Though the chairman of the Press Council of India has stirred up quite a few controversies in the past few months with his candid, well-meaning remarks on a range of issues, the one where he said, "90% of Indians are fools", particularly stood out for its brashness. I, being a core committee member representing the '90% Indians' group, was quite outraged initially.
But come to think of it, there is an element of truth in what he says. Most Indians today are only concerned with three things: cricket, films and the downfall of their neighbour. It is therefore imperative to educate people using cricketers and film stars. The reason behind leaving out the third item is the practical difficulty associated with employing all the neighbours of all Indians to educate people.
In this context, the recent development where Sachin Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha assumes great significance. This development has attracted a lot of criticism from different people. Some critics were of the opinion that the legislator in question is generally reticent and has hardly taken a stand on issues of public importance in the past, thus making him unsuitable for the post. Others were sceptical about whether he would actually have time to attend Rajya Sabha sessions, given that he is still playing international cricket.
But we should take a dispassionate view of the issue and try to analyse it. I am an eternal optimist. I try to look at the positive side of everything and this development is no exception. Let us, for a moment, examine what good has come out of this cricketer becoming a Rajya Sabha MP. The most important benefit, in my opinion, is that this issue has enlightened the '90% Indians' group about the existence of an entity called the Rajya Sabha.
This issue has also taught people that 12 members (out of a maximum of 250 in the Rajya Sabha) can be nominated by the president of India under Article 80 of the Constitution. Thus, it has also made people aware of the presence of a Constitution for the country. Also, people who generally spend a large part of their adult lives wondering what the president of India actually does are now aware of at least one activity of the president.
The point i am trying to make is that we should not be cynical. Why have we become so insular? Can't this great, tolerant nation accommodate just one more non-performing MP? Let us learn to look at the brighter side of things.
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Of-cricketers-and-fools/articleshow/13138414.cms
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