"An innocuous smile that forayed deep and captured millions
of hearts
A ravishing silhouette that augmented her screen presence
The acting prowess the made her the hailing icon of Indian
cinema
A name that is intertwined with most of our childhood
memories"
A woman who fought ageing to appease the growing demands and
scrutiny of the Indian obtuse media.She clambered all the way up through dirt and gossips to lead a respectable life in the Society.
One morning the world woke up to the shocking news that this
amazing soul has rested down in peace forever under the most mysterious
circumstances.
What exasperated me was not her death but on the brutal
aspersions that attacked the reputation and integrity of this woman who has had
an elusive success in the field of Indian cinema.
Few weeks’ back I was surprised to see a few of my very own
friends having a debate in social media if she deserved to be draped in Indian
national Flag and that it was an insult as she has not contributed anything for
the nation and that she was just an actress.
I m suffering from an intense ambivalence from the moment I
saw these debates.
This outburst of mine is not because I m movie buff or an
ardent fan of this actress but how younger generation in India is becoming highly
judgmental and intolerant towards almost everything these days.
None of these friends I know have done anything either for
their country. Most of us work abroad after the coveted degrees in engineering
and science. Patriotism soars high in these individuals only during Indian
cricket matches. Most of us visit India once in a year to meet our abandoned
aged parents who have spent most of their lives earning hard to meet our needs.
And we jump at every chance to offend, instantly judge,
compare and stomp at fellow Indians who seem to be doing better than us at work
or in life.
Are we really worthy enough to debate if the late actress
being draped in Indian national flag for the funeral is right or wrong?
She has acted in almost 300 Indian films, received accolades,
state, national awards and Padmashri, India’s fourth highest civilian award
recognizing her distinguished contribution to Indian arts. She married an
Indian producer and lived in India 50 years of her life, definitely not a brain
drain. She was fondly remembered in the memoriam section of the Oscars this
year.
Why is not befitting for her to have a state honored funeral
with her body draped in tricolor flag?
Why were such debates not raised when Shashi kapoor,
another late Indian superstar was given a 3-gun salute during his funeral?
Anybody who loves their country irrespective of the lives
they have led or mistakes they have done in the past, if they wish to be
wrapped in their country’s flag after they are dead, should not be subject to
any judgement from any one.
Respect the dead and grow up from those tiny statures you
call mind…