The title of this article may suggest to you that this one is all in praise of the man-SRK and that he is India's pride.How i wish that was true!India is in desperate need of role models,people who are successfull in public and take pride in being Indians.SRK has often said that he is a proud Indian but his actions have always indicated something else.The latest being the IPL episode.
This is my analysis of the roles played by all those who matter in this issue:
1.The govt at Centre:After the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai,the sports minister MS Gill said that we should not have any sporting events involving Pakistan until issues related to terrorism are not resolved.As a consequence to this,Pakistani players were not allowed to take part in IPL 2009.We still have the same govt in power.Just what was the need to allow them this time??Whats the answer they give:Sports and politics should not be mixed,then why were they not allowed in 2009??What has changed so dramatically in the last one year that necessitated a flip-flop??The entire world including India boycotted South Africa as long as they practiced Apartheid as a state policy.No sporting contacts,nothing.Why cant we do the same to Pakistan??The Govt here thought that the feeling amongst the public this time around is not that angered as it was in 2009.Afterall 14 months have passed since Nov 2008.They mean to say that the ghosts of Nov 2008 have died down from public memeory.They are infact right.Look how many are supporting SRK and how many the Shiv Sena!
2.Now, coming to Shahrukh:Wah!! what sympathy for Pak players!If he really cared about them,why did he not chose them in the first place??Afterall he is the owner of one of the teams in the IPL.He himself says that nobody asked him NOT to chose Pak Players.They why did he not chose? Arey, i had only one slot is what he says.So what?You care a lot for them so go for it.By choosing a Pak player,you would have really proved that you care for them.5 Pakistan players were in the KKR squad in IPL2008.Umar Gul who was in the auction list this time was one of them.The least SRK could have done was to RETAIN him.He is a fine T20 bowler and records suggest that.
The truth behind all this is that all the 8 franchisees got together and decided not to chose any Pak player.They simply did not want them.SRK was a party to this.Then there was an outburst from the PCB,Pak players and some sections of the Indian media.SRK thought:Arey,i have a huge fan following in Pakistan.My relatives stay there.I must do something now to please them.So he comes out with this,'Pakistan is a fine T20 team,they are great cricketers' kind of rubbish statements.
Amidst all his selfish interests,Sharukh crossed the line when he said Pakistan is a great neighbour.Those like the Shiv Sena which are opposing him feel that Pakistan has aided so many bloodbaths in India and particularly in Mumbai,that there is no reason to show sympathy towards them.We really do not need reasons to say that Pakistan is not a great neighbour.Firstly,it is a crime to have views which translate to Pakistan being a great neighbour and secondly having held such views,he should have been a little sensitive in not airing them in public and stayed off the political pitch
3.Now the media:I'll tell how how the media could have changed the game with their approach.Ironically it was'nt to be but here is an example:
SRK was detained for more than 2 hours in a US airport and said his name being Khan was the reason.He seemed to be very annoyed at that moment.Within hours,media and people back in India contested his claim and felt that there are certain procedures in every country and you need to follow them.SRK then literally backtracked from his original position and said that he has no grudge against the US govt for the incident and will not seek any apologies.He realised immediately that he is not going to get any support from anybody if he plays such games in the US.
But India is no USA.You can hurt nationalist sentiments,play double games,sympathasize with a terrorist nation and get the media support as well."Put your comments here supporting SRK" were all over the news channels webpage.
If the media had atleast said that people like SRK need to think twice before giving out statements on such sensitive issues,i bet SRK would have apologised to the nation by now.Instead their support has emboldened him!!
If the physical intimidation of the Shiv Sena has to stop,then the mental violence spread by people like SRK needs to stop first.Freedom of expression does not give you right to wishful thinking!
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Let me share my view point on the so called "BAADSHAH OF BOLLYWOOD".
ReplyDeleteHe is the most greedy person at present in bollywood and always runs behind money, i say so because, whenever he takes stand on critical issues and if certain section of influential society are against it, he softens his stand and sometimes he backtracks them.The reason is obvious,his money and popularity are at stake . Not bothering about the fate of his much hyped film at the box office he could have stuck to his stand, but NO! he says, he is ready to have a drink with those who are uncomfortable with his statements. This makes me to conclude that he lacks principles in life.
I sometimes wonder how can people have such a person as their role model!!
Shahrukh is neighbors pride not envy. He seems to be more worried abt his movie than India. How can he forget 26/11 when he himself is a resident of mumbai
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