MAN KA HO... MAN KA NA HO

There will be nothing new to write on my hero – Amitabh Bachchan, today. Everything about him is written and spoken by someone or the other. Even if I say in my Post, today, “A very happy b’day, sir”, it will simply pass by like a ship passing by the night!

Still, I want to say something… I just die to!

I was in eight or ninth standard. During the lunch break, one afternoon, I was flipping through the pages of a magazine in our school library, back home in Mangalore. There was a short article on this tall, new-comer and his just released movie – ‘Bombay to Goa’. 

I don’t know why, but I fell in love with this star, immediately! It was 1972. Forty years since that afternoon, I still feel the same admiration for the man – who like that roller-coaster ride in that movie – has come this far. And, unbelievably so!

There is nothing new for me to write about him… as I said at the outset, today. 

His initial rejections… The breaks… The stupendous success… The fatal accidents… The forgettable experience in Politics… The financial bankruptcy that was to bring crushing humiliation… The isolation… hopelessness… and, then, the phoenix-like rise through KBC… and, the best to come… 

Who doesn’t know about all these?

If I write about his down-to-earth humility, his impeccable time sense, his passion and commitment to each and every task he takes up… his grace, gentleness, even the lightheartedness… 

Who doesn’t know about all these?

If I write about his love for simple pleasures such as his passion to say something everyday through his Blog – yes, even if that means at two or three in the night!

Who doesn’t know about it?

The other day, I heard a middle-aged businessman telling in one of our groups, “I feel blessed to be born in the same nation where Amitabh Bachchan is born!"

Believe me, when I heard that, for a while, I felt, this gentleman had said all that I ever wanted to say about the legend!

So, what more is there to say ?

“I get incredibly inspired even by just thinking about this amazing human” – is just one more statement. Call it, one more confession of an Amitabh Bachchan fan!

O God! That life, so far – for seventy long-years – has had everything an inspiring story-book should contain. And, what is more to come? Well, like a good thriller – we never know. But, whatever it may be, it will be an inspiring stuff!

Amitabh is never tired of talking about his famous father – Mr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s influence in his life. One of the influences is what Amitabh has made his motto in life:

“Man ka ho toh acha… Man ka na ho toh, aur acha!”

“God always gives us what we ‘deserve’… 

and not necessarily what we ‘desire’!”… 

This confession sums up 

the legend of Amitabh Bachchan!

 

Even this is something what is always said and written about the legend! Yes, nothing more left for me to say or write!

Maybe, I can pray, today:

“Happy b’day, sir. May God grant you in the years to come

not just what you deserve, but, what you desire, too!

Sir, you really, really deserve what you desire!

With loads of love, respect and gratitude…”

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pics.: 1. Sandeep Nair

         2. Raj Dhage Wai