Dr Manmohan Singh - The Man Who Defines ' Talk Less-Work More'

 

The 13th Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh has passed away on 26th December 2024 at the age of 92 years in AIIMS, Delhi. I cast my first vote for him. He was a simple, well educated,soft spoken man who believes in talking with your deeds rather than your tongue which is the reason for the phrase from his last Press Conference as PM (Yes there used to be PC's by PM before 2014) i.e "History will be kinder to him". Today when he is no more in the world and lost the PM post more than 10 years ago many realizes what is the real meaning of this phrase. 

Born in Gah in what is today Pakistan, Singh's family migrated to India during its partition in 1947. After obtaining his doctorate in economics from the University of Oxford, Singh worked for the United Nations during 1966–1969. He began his bureaucratic career as an advisor in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. During the 1970s and 1980s, Singh held several key posts in the Government of India, such as Chief Economic Advisor (1972–1976), governor of the Reserve Bank (1982–1985) and head of the Planning Commission (1985–1987).

In 1991, as India faced a severe economic crisis, the newly elected prime minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao, inducted the apolitical Singh into his cabinet as finance minister. Over the next few years, despite strong opposition, he carried out several structural reforms that liberalized India's economy. These measures proved successful in averting the crisis, and enhanced Singh's reputation globally as a leading reform-minded economist.

He was the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government and is selected as PM by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in 2004. His first tenure as a PM gave MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), National Rural Health Mission, RTI (Right to Information), Indo-US Nuclear Deal, co-founded BRICS, keep country unaffected during World Economic Crisis of 2009. India's economy grew rapidly during his term. His second term marked with controversy including 2G spectrum scam, Coal Scam, Nirbhaya Rape Case and than Anna Hazare nationwide agitation, which lead to his loss in 2014. He came clean out of these allegations and most of the allegations and Anna Hazare stir proved out to be political motivated by opposition BJP and its parent body RSS since many leaders from the movement joined BJP later and Arvind Kejriwal formed Aam Aadmi Party after the agitation which helped him becoming CM in Delhi. 

Dr Manmohan Singh's reform of 1991 and his growth driven successful PM tenure proved him right that 'History will be kinder to him.' Since 2014 we haven't seen a Press Conference by Prime Minister, have seen falling status of centralized agencies like CBI, ED, ECI, etc, weakening of acts like RTI and  NREGA, institutes like CAG and Lokpal are just for the namesake now and the media which was instrumental in bringing out 2G Scam, Coal-Gate and helped build public opinion during Nirbhaya and Anti-Corruption agitation is reduced to government mouth piece unable to work free and fair without government pressure. 

He was the man whose work do the talking. In spite of mocking NREGA in the parliament PM Narendra Modi never dared to remove it owing to its power in uplifting rural lives. Many of his government's projects were renamed by NDA government and many others projects started by him completed after the end of his tenure. I will remember him as the first PM I voted to power and as the man who gave real 'Achche Din' to the country without self boosting himself. 

Rest in peace Dr Manmohan Singh. May those who have not realized your worth realize it soon. Good by Sir. 

RIP Kader Khan

RIP Kader Khan

I was late in writing this post but I am not comfortable with the fact I didn’t give tribute to this man whom I admired very much during nineties and the admiration increased as I knew about his writing skills as script writer and dialogue writer for many hit Hindi films. He died on 31st December 2018 giving sadness to his love one’s in the end of the year. 

Kader Khan was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1937 but got his education in Mumbai where he also became a teacher. His acting was noted by yesteryear’s character actor Agha who recommended him to Dilip Kumar sahib who offered him two films which started his film career. His first film was Daag with Rajesh Khanna and then he did many films with him. I recognized from his films in the nineties where he was mostly doing comedy with Govinda. On watching more of his movies I realized how versatile actor he was with films like Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni, Dariya Dil, Ghar Ho To Aisa, Hum Hain Kamal Ke , Baap Numbari Beta Dus Numbari, etc in which he was almost the lead actor of the film. 

In films like Desh Premi, Suhaag, Parvarish, Amar Akbar Anthony, he played a villain. Khoon Bhari Maang, Kishen Kanahiyya, Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1, Sajan Chale Sasural, Judai, Koyla, Himmatwala, Ghar Parivar, Bol Radha Bol, Raja Babu, Sooryavansham, Aankhen, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and the list is endless which determines how great actor he was. Some movies look incomplete if we imagine them without him. He also appeared on television shows but it didn’t work well. He was script and dialogue writer for many south films also. Sharabi, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar and many Amitabh Bachchan films were written by him. 

He spend his last few years after falling ill outside India in Canada where his children are settled and sadly no one from the film industry with whom he worked never cared for him. Neither news channels nor gossip magazines give any news about his whereabouts in these days. Only we heard some rumors on social media time to time which used to worry his well wishers. 

He will remain alive with his films in our memories forever. Whenever we will thing about family loved humor we will always think about him. RIP Sir Kader Khan. 

RIP Kalaignar - M Karunanidhi

RIP Kalaignar - M Karunanidhi 

Kalaignar literally translates into ‘scholar of arts’ or just artist the title earned by M Karunanidhi from his followers not for being a Tamil film actor but due to active role played in Tamil Nadu politics. M Karunanidhi breathed his last on 7th August 2018 at the age of 94 in Chennai after prolonged age related illness. He married thrice in his life and has four sons and two daughters from different wives among them M.K Stalin second son of his second wife is seen as his political successor. 

Karunanidhi entered Tamil Nadu politics at an early age from anti-Hindi agitation and become part of Dravidian movement by joining DMK. Dravidian movement is associated with atheism and anti-Brahmin ideology the reason he was disliked by fundamentalist Hindus. He was a screenwriter in Tamil movies through which he extensively shared ideas of atheism and anti-Brahminism to masses. His screenplays consists of themes of anti-Brahminis, widow remarriage, abolition of untouchability, self-respect marriages, abolition of zamindari and abolition of religious hypocrisy. He rose to the rank of President of DMK and served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms and twenty years between 1969 and 2011. It is a almost a miracle for me that an atheist ruled those people who are strong believers of scriptures and religion. He must have served them well. 

In nineties I remembered to heard only two names of Tamil politics on national level i.e J Jayalalitha and M Karunanidhi. This shows how they rose to importance in national politics also. M Karunanidhi’s death put an end to an era of stalwarts of Tamil politics; the man who made anti- Hindi and atheism as his tool remain true to these ideologies till his end. He remained in controversy on the issues of corruption by his family members, for his statement on Setusamundaram and existence of Lord Ram. He was accused of connections with LTTE an organisation responsible for death of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and also of charges of nepotism. 

As an observer of politics I can claim that a big void has been created in Tamil Nadu politics which is impossible to be filled by any other leader. No one can earn the support of masses like he does in his lifetime. With him the country has lost the true champion of social causes. RIP M Karunanidhi. 

Hawahawai - RIP Sridevi

Hawahawai - RIP Sridevi

I am in a deep shock after hearing Sridevi’s untimely death news. It’s a sad moment, the one you wish to believe is not true and that’s what I did when first heard the news of her death. I checked with the news portals to confirm the news and then I realize we have lost a legend. I usually write tribute for celebrities who passed away but I am finding it difficult to write about the one who was among my childhood favorites as I am disheartened with the loss. We who spend our childhood in 90’s know about the craze for her in those days and how much we loved her. She is among the most popular female actor of that era the one who is regarded as first female superstar of Hindi film industry.  

She was just 54 when she died of accidental drowning (26.2.18) in Dubai where she was present for a marriage function. She started working at the age of 13 from south film industry and made her Bollywood debut in 1979 with Solva Sawan but it was Jitender starer Himmatwala which made her a Bollywood sensation. It also established her as a ‘Dance Queen’ with song ‘Nainon Mein Sapna’. Later songs like ‘Mein Teri Dushman’, ‘Mere Hathon Mein Nau-Nau Chudiyan Hain’, ‘Kaate Nahin Katte Ye Din Ye Raat,’ ‘Hawa-Hawai’,’Kisi Ke Haath Na Aayegi Ye Ladki’,'Mhare Hibde Be Reh Gayee Re' and many others become favorite among dance loving people.

She proved her acting skills in films like Sadma where she played a child-woman suffering from amnesia, Lamhe, Chandni, Chaalbaaz which has her double role, Mr India in which her ‘Charlie Chaplin’ act is still the best comic act by a female actor. Judai, Laadla,Tohfa,Justice Chaudhary and recent releases English Vinglish and Mom are all her memorable performances. She even acted in a serial on Television. Nowadays she was busy in preparation of her daughter’s launch in film industry.

She acted with every famous superstar actor of her era like Anil Kapoor whose brother Boney Kapoor a film producer she married, Jitender, Dharmender, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and also a film with Shah Rukh Khan. She was a great actor and a loving human being who many time with her roles inspired us. She made us laugh, cry, emotional and attached to her roles. I will never forget her neither the film industry going to forget her valuable contribution to it. Rest In Peace Sridevi. 

Hamare Paas Shashi Kapoor Nahin Hai

Hamare Paas Shashi Kapoor Nahin Hai

The iconic star of 60’s & 70’s Mr. Shashi Kapoor is no more with us. After many rumors of his death in the last one year he finally bid adieu to the world. In my growing years he was not a star to be known by our generation but early introduction to cable TV network took me to his cinema. He was among the handsome male actors of his time who enraptured the cinema goers of his time with versatility of his characters in the movies like Jab Jab Phool Khile, Dhram Putra, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Deewar, Suhaag, etc.

Who can forget calm and composed Ravi in front of angry Vijay answering all questions with just a phrase ‘Mere Paas Maa Hai’. I think most of us will remember him always by this scene. It is difficult to remember his larger than life roles in his films of heroism but we can’t forget him in movies like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Jab Jab Phool Khile, Sharmeeli, Namak Halal, Suhaag, Shaan, Kabhi Kabhi, Aa Gale Lag Ja, Chor Machaye Shor, Kala Patthar, etc. He was also admired for keeping alive the Prithvi Theater by continuously working in it. Even in his last years he was keen to see plays acted in it. 

He even directed many films which were critically acclaimed like Utsav, 46 Chowrangee Lane, etc. These films didn’t much succeeded in box office but to him they give creative satisfaction. He also acted in English films which was a rarity in the time he was active. He started as a child artist in his brother Raj Kapoor’s Awara and enjoyed working throughout his career. He was comfortable doing second lead or supporting actor’s role and did commendable jobs in many films with Amitabh Bachchan, Deewar, Suhaag, Namak Halal, Shaan to name a few. 

His friends and co-stars remembered him as simple, polite and big-hearted gentleman and whatever I have read and seen about him I too believe he was a no tantrum star even when he worked with his juniors. In 2015 he also received the Dadasahab Phalke award which is the highest honor given to a film actor in India. You will always remain in my memory as a jovial star RIP Shashi Kapoor Ji. 

The Lady From The South

The Lady From The South

Jayalalithaa Jayaraman, J Jayalalithaa or Amma for her fans and followers died after 75 days illness in Apollo Hospital of Chennai. She was the stalwart woman politician of the southern India who elected as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times in the span of around 30 years. As a leader of AIADMK the party which she got from the death of her political mentor MGR in 1989 she took the party to the apex of being the kingmaker in the central government. As an observer of Indian politics from years I have not seen the threads of tension on her forehead even in the difficult of times. One can always remember her always smiling ways with soothing expressions.

Her rise to the top spot of the party and to the post of Chief Minister is marked with controversies of being linked romantically to M.G.Ramachandran (MGR) or to her authoritarian behavior in disrespecting members of party and the opposition but no one can deny her hard word and reach to every single person of her state. Her schemes of mass appeal like that of Amma Canteen which serves food starting at Rs 1 along with other programs has made her darling of the masses. This is the reason for people thronging to Apollo hospital, Chennai from all parts of the state and were praying for her speedy recovery since 75 days. Many have lost their balances after hearing the news of her death. I fear people committing suicide or damaging themselves in other ways in 'Hero Worship' after her death as is the trend in southern India at the time of death of big leaders and movie stars. I hope people will act intelligently this time.

Jayalalithaa has also played an important role in national politics from many years. She was among the leader of the parties which stopped Modi wave in 2014 general elections when her party won 37 out of 39 seats in Tamil Nadu. She was the woman of courage and determination. Even after her removal as the Chief Minister for being convicted in disproportionate assets case she remained strong and came out powerful after her acquittal from Karnataka High Court to regain her position. 

In this time of grief I can only pray for her and request her followers to maintain calm in the state of Tamil Nadu. May Her Soul Rest In Peace.