A Starstruck Nation!

Are we a star struck nation, too much in love with our favorite sportsmen, cinema personalities or for that matter artisans from any field? So much so that we go on to debate and defend our favorites stars to such extremes that it makes it feel that they are not mere stars but are our family members instead. Looking at the impractically emotional reactions that we usually exhibit which is usually supplemented by heavy statistical details, the answer to this question seems to be strong ‘YES’. Now it can be argued that it is the media that feeds us with those rather imbalanced, spiced up stories and thereby adulterates our though process. But some of the instances are so true and surreal that we can easily identify ourselves in such situations.

So when a certain Ricky Ponting scores a valiant century and his fans rejoice his ton by various means, why do all the Sachin Tendulkar fans pounce on the former group with a plethora of stats and adopt a strikingly venomous approach towards the Ponting fan base? As if, former’s ton is a direct attack on latter’s credentials. It’s beyond understanding that why do we have to bring Tendulkar into equation when Ponting has played well, even if we are die hard Tendulkar fans can’t we appreciate somebody else’s excellence on the cricketing field. This knack of corona ting a star by bashing his competitor is sheer insanity. Wish we could cherish Tendulkar’s class and Ponting’s ruthlessness in the same strideJ!

Similarly if a Shahrukh Khan flick does well at the box office, the Salman fans or for that matter Aamir fans (vica versa as well) take it as a direct attack on their heartthrob. And in retaliation ( at times even without watching the movie), they start bashing the movie in worst of the worst manners, in addition to further discounting the former’s success by emphasizing on the box office records that latter’s movie created recently. And it’s not just about Salman, SRK or Aamir most of use carry such a petulant attitude towards any of those so called rival stars. Now neither we receive a cut from those hundreds of crores that these otherwise senseless movies rake nor are we the appointed spokesperson of these stars, so exhibition of such temperamental loyalties is a bit weird. And even if we can’t appreciate the success or work of all these artists, can’t we simply abstain from such unnecessary criticisms and comparisons?

And the same dynamics are applicable to the great Federer Nadal chemistry as well. Every Federer Nadal contest is a connoisseurs’ delight and worth savoring to the fullest but for some it’s a matter of life and death. So every time Fed gets the better of Nadal, Fed fans get into the chest thumping mode and start reminding the rival Nadal contingent that Fed has ‘X’ grand slams in his kitty which Nadal can’t even dream of scaling. Nadal fans being no saints either, vehemently retaliate with their age theory which professes that Nadal has age by his side and by the time he hangs up his boots he will have double of what Fed has in his kitty. The debate continues with Fed fans mocking this argument saying that Rafa won’t survive for that long as his typical power game will burn him down pretty soon. But in true sense such senseless debates dilutes the pleasure derived from these classic ties and once again raises the same question that can’t we just relish the game rather than entering into this ugly slugfest( supporting our respective favorites)? Can’t we enjoy Fed’s class and Rafa’s belligerence at the same time?

Sadly a majority of us prioritize artists/sportsmen over their respective trades and this is where we get it all wrong. Surely howsoever big a cricketer Sachin Tendulkar may be, he can't be bigger than the game, similarly SRK or Salman can't be bigger than their trade and Federer can't super-cede the game he rules(d). So unless we stop idolizing these excellent personalities as immortals and Gods we can't enjoy their art in true sense. We will always keep on watching them perform with a fear that 'what if he fails?' and spoil the party for ourselves. So its time we evolve over our star struck egos and enjoy the trade irrespective of the artist who is at the center stage. After all it's certainly not about life and death!

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And the award goes to....Mr Politician!

It's that time of the year when the most prestigious awards in various trades are announced and presented to the much deserved artisans and sportsmen globally. So if the coveted Laureus awards have been announced for the excellence in sports, Academy awards for the excellence in movies (globally) will be announced in few weeks and our very own Filmfare awards for excellence in Hindi cinema were also announced a short while back. Though not quite sure in which category this unique breed should fall into but undoubtedly where ever they are placed, they will easily topple best of the bests. It's election time in as many as 5 states of India and this ruthless unique breed is that of our beastly POLITICIANS.

These not so gentlemen are so good in their trade that despite having fooled the people of their constituencies with their inefficient, irresponsible and corrupt ways for the last 5 years, they still have the courage to face these helpless people and lure them with a plethora of fake promises in an attempt to get elected. And some of these promises or claims are so outrageous that they can easily fetch the highest honors on any stage, any trade and any category. Lets have a look at the 5 most horrendous claims made in the recent poll campaigning -

5. The saffron party has assured the people of the largest state of the country (UP) that if they come to power they will install statues of saints like Kabir, Ravidas and other great personalities across the state. So if Maya's drama and splurging on her statues wasn't sufficient to destroy the state's fund, that could have been utilized in so many important and essential activities, yet another political party is ready to do an encore and hoping to come to power by making such promises. What a Shame! Don't know how these statues will help thousands of malnourished children in the state who are dying in dearth of proper food but the party is quite upbeat about this claim.

4. The BJP has also requested the people of UP to vote for them and has assured them that if they come to power they will build a spiritual Disneyland in Mathura Vrindavan as it will pave the way for building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Not sure what good such a not so secular act will do to the people of the state, as in all probability a Temple, Mosque or a Church can certainly not improve the livelihood standards of the poor but again the party probably thinks that a spiritual Disneyland in the state can solve all the socio-economic problems of the state.

3. The BJP manifesto also talks about gifting a COW to every poor family in UP. They have no solution for that poor family's much important needs like electricity, sanitation, shelter etc and they are trying to lure them with this cow catch. Any idea how will they (poor) will maintain that cow overhead when are they struggling to feed themselves?

2. A leading regional party in Punjab has announced that if they come to power they will distribute free tablets (Aakash) to all the class XI & XII students. But Sir, any plans on improving the battered state of primary education in Punjab? Unfortunately no such mention or promises have been made. Probably because the class XI & XII students would turn into their potential voters much sooner!

1. And the most outrageous of them all! The Samajwadi Party has assured the people of UP that if they come to power they will ensure jobs for rape victims in the state. Can it get any worse? They could have so easily said that if they come to power they will eliminate all sorts of crime, including rape from the state. But it seems they are quite confident that they can certainly not stop such heinous acts, so lets top that untoward act with a freebie. Horrendous! It can only happen in India, rather UP!

No doubt with such shameless acts and promises on stage they can beat the best to win all the awards in the offering. But its a pity that the common man as to pick one among st these bunch of morons to dictate terms for next five years. Naturally a feeling of helplessness is bound to creep, leading to abstinence from voting. But we need to act smart and choose the best among the worst to minimize the potential damage. As unless we vote we don't have the cribbing rights for the next 5 years and thereafter Mr Politician(s) will once again sweep all the awards with those glorious (faking) performances on stage.

PS- No favoritism or anything against any particular political party as each of them is making far worse claims than the other.
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