You Don't Need To Know Music To Appreciate Music

You Don't Need To Know Music To Appreciate Music

(This was carried as an article in eambalam.org in 2013)

It is no irony that every human being's singing career flourishes in the confines of a bathroom, for both music and time spent amidst running water everyday are liberating experiences. No wonder, many of us simply break into our favourite song as soon as we relieve ourselves of the garments that thus far sanctified us by protecting our morality.

When I received an invitation to write a blog from Ambalam for their website on Indian classical music and dance, I felt both honoured and amused. The closest I have come to appreciating carnatic classical music is through the songs of the Tamil film Sindhu Bhairavi and the Telegu film Shankara Bharanam. And the closest I have come to playing any form of carnatic music is by dabbling my fingers on an old, creeky harmonium at my place, courtesy a few lessons from a teacher many years ago as a kid.

I wondered whether the promoters at Ambalam had mistaken my innocent nods at one of the concerts in their premises to be my deep interest in the nuances of classical music. The truth is I was nodding out of sheer wonderment at the singer's ability to drag a few words and sentences in a rhythmic note of sorts, with the knowledgeable audience assembled there furiously engaged in appreciating the classical display of ragas.

My short cut to fame as a music lover comes from a curious and hidden place on Earth – the bathroom. I am a confirmed bathroom singer, and in the glorious solitude of the bathroom, with running water for support to lend whatever background score is possible, I too from time to time try my hand at singing the various film songs with hindustani or carnatic touch, far away from the glares and comments of critics. It is no irony that every human being's singing career flourishes in the confines of a bathroom, for both music and time spent amidst running water everyday are liberating experiences. No wonder, many of us simply break into our favourite song as soon as we relieve ourselves of the garments that thus far sanctified us by protecting our morality.

I have had an opportunity to attend a concert or two, and have always held in great reverence the classical performers who play something like the ghatam, or a nadaswaram, or twist their vocal chords to elicit from deep within them a rendition which holds you spellbound. An untrained singer like me has never understood the nuances of a raga – for me bhairavi is both the name of a girl as well as a raga; my knowledge of classical music ends there – yet, when I hear someone deliver it with panache, it provides a soothing effect which comes naturally, without even being able to comprehend the reason behind it.

Therein lies the real power of music delivered with a strong cultural base to it – which is what classical music is all about. The lyrics, singing methodology and play of instruments have a context based upon a story, being presented in a musical form. You need not intellectually comprehend its meaning, and can still end up appreciating it from a purely aesthetic perspective. If nothing, a well delivered recital performs the most basic function of relaxing your mental muscles, providing you with a few moments of relief from the humdrum unrhythmic responsibilities of life.

Being efficient at music requires the performer to be passionate about the chosen area. Even a music illiterate like me cannot escape the magic of a Kunnukudi Vaidyanathan on the violin, or a Chitti Babu on the veena, or an MS Subbalaxmi reciting Bhaja Govindam, because of their sheer involvement with the whole process of creating melodious sounds, making life itself seem like an orchestra. This just goes to show the immense power of classical, quality music to communciate, and provide an experience to the listener which transcends his own comprehension of its contents.

Truly, you don't need to know music to appreciate music. All you need is an ability to surrender your heart strings to the cords or chords – as the case may be – of an unlimited reservoir of creativity and intelligence bestowed on the world by the cosmos.

Why Geniuses Don't Make Great Leaders: Lessons From Cricket

Why Geniuses Don't Make Great Leaders: Lessons From Cricket

Geniuses like Sachin and Kohli perhaps unconsciously expect the same levels of ability from the people they lead. They cannot easily fathom why people cannot match up to their standards as it seems to come to them so naturally. As a leader, they tend to lose sight of the fact that while their less able colleagues can probably match up to their attitude, they cannot measure up to their skill. Bravado is not just attitude, it is also skill.

I am prompted to write this blog inspired by the result and leadership discussions surrounding the recently concluded Adelaide test between India and Australia. Virat Kohli, leading from the front in every sense of the term, engineered a brave chase on a fifth day pitch that eventually left Indian fans sobbing and Australia smiling.

Kohli, who made his debut as test captain, scored hundreds in both the innings and set up the possibility of a famous win, until he got out. The rest of the batsmen followed him to the pavilion in a hurry, reminiscent of the Sunil Gavaskar days and first half of Sachin Tendulkar's career..

Opinion is divided on whether Kohli did the right thing by instructing the team to go for a win, even though a more prudent course could have been to shut shop and play for a draw. In the quest to win a battle, India may now lose the war, with every likelihood of another 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Aussies. My own take is that while the decision to go for a win was the mark of a true genius, who believes in his ability and in the habit of winning, it does not account for the technical as well as temperamental flaws in the other batsmen, especially when playing overseas.

This is typical of great individuals who become leaders. They excel as individuals, but fail to galvanise the team into a winning combination. This is not to write off Kohli as a leader – it is far too early to judge. The idea is to share a critical perspective concerning the art and science of leadership.

In cricket or in corporate life, geniuses hardly make inspiring leaders. In cricket, the country's greatest sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar failed as a captain. Sir Ian Botham, an iconic all rounder from England, failed as cricket captain. In our country, we remember Sunil Gavaskar more as a cricketing genius than as a great captain. Kapil Dev, though he won India the 1983 World Cup, was not seen as a great test match captain.

India's greatest cricket captain, notwithstanding MS Dhoni's record as skipper, is Saurav Ganguly, who himself was not an iconic batsman. One of cricket's most celebrated captains is Mike Brearley of England, who was more in the side for his leadership qualities than for his scoring ability. Just as Ganguly brought out best in Sehwag, Brearley brought the best out of Botham. Brearley also wrote a classic on leadership titled `The Art of Captaincy`. An exception was Imran Khan, who was both an iconic player as well as a terrific captain.

This phenomenon can be seen in corporates too. A great salesperson often does not make a great sales leader. Companies with charismatic CEOs hardly fail to sustain their performance either when the CEO's CQ (Charisma Quotient) goes down or he leaves the company.

There is a key reason why this happens. Kohli's hunger to win is admirable, but geniuses like him can lose sight of the fact that their colleagues carry less ability than them. Geniuses like Sachin and Kohli perhaps unconsciously expect the same levels of ability from the people they lead. They cannot easily fathom why people cannot match up to their standards as it seems to come to them so naturally. As a leader, they tend to lose sight of the fact that while their less able colleagues can probably match up to their attitude, they cannot measure up to their skill. Bravado is not just attitude, it is also skill.

Geniuses who become leaders tend to judge their team members wearing a lens which is more attuned to their abilities than their team's. But a captain who has leadership qualities, but himself is not an iconic player, is likely to be more empathetic towards his team members' limitations. A quality of success as well as leadership is to be aware of one's and others' limitations.

Iconic figures like Tendulkar, Botham or Gavaskar may also create an approachability issue for the team members they lead. It is not that these icons deliberately create a barrier – it is just that their team members are too much in awe of them. In the case of a non-iconic captain, he creates the approachability. Depending on his people management skills, he provides enough mental space for the iconic players also to perform at their peak. Thus, the trio of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman flourished under Ganguly's captaincy, and so did the great Anil Kumble.

MS Dhoni offers an interesting paradigm. He took over captaincy as a person with potentially good leadership skills and on the back of successes rose to become an icon. Since the 2011 World Cup win – when his iconic status got well and truly established -- his leadership in tests is not just uninspiring, but the overseas losses have become embarrassing.

Young Kohli has a lot to learn from all these people. Success is not just about knowing what others did right, but also learning from their mistakes or limitations. He is most likely to take over the mantle from Dhoni when the time comes. He therefore has the time to observe, introspect and finetune his leadership strategies. In fact, from Kohli's perspective, it is probably not such a bad thing that India lost the Adelaide test, as that may have pushed some serious limitations under the carpet, only to resurface in a more damaging form later.

Meanwhile, it might be a good idea for Kohli to have a tete-a-tete with Ganguly on leadership and call up Imran Khan to understand how to create a fusion between being an iconic player and a great leader.

Leadership Lessons From Narendra Modi

Leadership Lessons From Narendra Modi

If there is one thing that distinguishes Modi, it is his communication ability. He communicates through television, radio and social media. His leverage of the social media is phenomenal. He is constantly speaking to different sections of the masses. Apart from being a fantastic public speaker, he is using various modes of communication to share about his initiatives and also set his expectations. If you want to know what's happening, you don't have to go anywhere, you can get it from the Prime Minister himself.

I have been watching with some fascination how our still-new Prime Minister has been going about his job in the past few months. There is a national consciousness that has got built around Mr Modi, who is being seen as a role model set to take India into a whole new world of development.

Modi's approach is also a refreshing change from the previous prime minister's aloofness, perceived to be a good man himself, but who allowed not-so-good people to thrive around him. Modi is seen often in various forums and is also being seen as a person with a lot of intent. He is being seen as a leader of the nation, and not just as a Prime Minister belonging to a political party.

Since the campaigning for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections started, Modi has been the most watched, followed and admired politician. The huge mandate for the BJP clearly came on the back of the Modi wave. A nation, frustrated with the functioning of the previous government, handed a mandate and a vote of confidence which came with a humungous amount of expectations. Modi is clearly aware of the expectations and the public scanner that his government is under, and has gone about his job with an urgency that takes into account the hopes of the common man.

Here are a few lessons leaders can learn from the Prime Minister:

1. Don't waste time, get cracking

Modi seemed to have worked out how exactly he wanted to get started. He invited neighbouring heads of governments to be part of his swearing-in ceremony. That way, he projected himself as somebody who wants to reach out to people across nations – emerge as a Statesman, and not just as a political leader. Post that, he got cracking and did not look at settling time. He had a plan even before being sworn in and started executing it. His movements are swift accompanied by a high amount of time efficiency. 2. Communicate, Communicate, CommunicateIf there is one thing that distinguishes Modi, it is his communication ability. He communicates through television, radio and social media. His leverage of the social media is phenomenal. He is constantly speaking to different sections of the masses. Apart from being a fantastic public speaker, he is using various modes of communication to share about his initiatives and also set his expectations. If you want to know what's happening, you don't have to go anywhere, you can get it from the Prime Minister himself.3. Speak the performance languageIn leadership, it is said that team is the reflection of the leader. As the party keeps expanding its political footprint, Modi's team speaks the performance language. A very corporate like performance culture is being spread across the country. Modi realises the mandate is not just one for change, but for performance. 4. Take Initiatives, Bind people through a common language

The Prime Minister has been at the forefront of taking initiatives. He interacted with students during Teacher's Day, launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan during his Independence Day speech, launched the Unity Run on Sardar Patel's birth anniversary, visited Siachen to meet up with the jawans. He has even visited neighbouring nations and Japan, and also made a historic visit to the US. Through these initiatives he is attempting to bind people through a common language and common objective. He is not just communicating, he is also educating.

These are early days for the Modi government and the signs are extremely positive. The nation is watching its leader's moves with a lot of interest. For Modi, there are myriad aspirations to be met and promises to keep. He has captured the imagination of the nation like perhaps no one has since Indira Gandhi. These are expectant as well as exciting times for the nation, carrying its hopes very close to its heart. Modi has a big job to do, and he knows it.

He Comes, He Sees, He Blesses, He Leaves

He Comes, He Sees, He Blesses, He Leaves

Ganesha, for the average Mumbaikar, is more a friend than a God. He is someone with whom he can communicate effortlessly and feel assured that he is being heard.....The immersion, in a very spiritual way, each year also makes humans realise one more time the ultimate destiny of human life – to go back to the expansive consciousness. The return of the Ganesha next year is again symbolic of the recurring creativity of human birth and rebirth. 

The return of the Ganesha is one of the most awaited events in Mumbai city. Since childhood I have seen important festivals like Holi, Diwali lose sheen in terms of their outward expression, but festivities related to Ganesh Chaturthi have not only not ebbed, they have in fact risen and grown to different levels of excitement as well as creativity.

What makes Ganesha the God so special is the intricate human connection that Mumbaikars have with the Lord. This is one God whose arrival is awaited with the excitement reserved for a guest whom we deeply love. I have personally experienced that when we get the idol home on the appointed day, the house ambience seems to undergo a dramatic change. Ganesha brings happiness with him. There is a natural pull for relatives and people living around you to visit your home to have darshan (auspicious sight) of the idol.

The representation of Ganesha in its various forms conveys the very strong bond that people have with the Lord, whom they consider a member of the family. The idol-creators build expressions that bring alive the human personality ever so beautifully. Ganesha, for the average Mumbaikar, is more a friend than a God. He is someone with whom he can communicate effortlessly and feel assured that he is being heard.

Ganesha enlivens the mood of the city like nothing else does. When one of India's great leaders of the freedom movement Lokmanya Tilak launched the Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav (public celebration of the Ganesh festival) concept in pre-independence India as a tool to ward off the British, even he may not have envisioned the longevity of the idea, which has now acquired a relevance and context of its own. The expansion of the social dimension sprung from a political-religious context is truly stunning. Ganesha, in his various forms, mirrors not just human creativity, but also showcases emotions which are superbly human.

Ganesha is a God that Mumbaikars associate with very closely. He is their `silent` friend, philosopher and guide. Besides the social-religious significance, the festival also provides relief to the average Mumbaikar from the at times excruciatingly challenging life he has to lead in this fascinating but complex city. The festival in many ways is a celebration of this relief. The Lord's departure on visarjan (immersion) day therefore evokes emotions that you feel when a loved one is leaving for a long sojourn. On visarjan day, as the Lord gets carried into the deep waters for being immersed, tears bid farewell to a friend who arrived one more time at the appointed hour to bless and take away some of the burdens of human existence.

The immersion, in a very spiritual way, each year also makes humans realise one more time the ultimate destiny of human life – to go back to the expansive consciousness. The return of the Ganesha next year is again symbolic of the recurring creativity of human birth and rebirth. Thus, the chant Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudcha Varshi Lavkar Ya (Hail Ganesha! Come Back Next Year Soon) is not just a slogan, but a clarion call to the Lord to one more time Come, See, Bless and Leave.

No One REALLY Knows – A Poem

No One REALLY Knows – A Poem

Why there is life, we know, but no one REALLY knows,
Why there is death, we know, but no one REALLY knows,
Why we need love, we know, but no one REALLY knows,
Why we fear, we know, but no one REALLY knows,
Why we hate people at times, we know, but no one REALLY knows.

Life is a mystery, we know, but no one REALLY knows,
Life is our master, we know, but why, no one REALLY knows,
Life springs surprises, we know, but no one REALLY knows,
Life is full of uncertainties, we know, but no one REALLY knows,
Life is born out of itself, we know, but no one REALLY knows.

Researching life is a favourite past-time of humans,
Unravelling for centuries fascinating existential facets,
Through the twin tools of introspection and investigation,
Creating clear ideas out of a vague blueprint,
Yet, what really life is all about, we wish we could know, for no one REALLY knows.

                                                                                                                                         Hariharan Iyer

Decoding Elections 2014 - A Common Man's Perspective

Elections 2014 can be said to be a ruthless mandate against the inertia of one man Manmohan Singh and non-performance of one party the Congress. It is also a mandate for one man's exuberance Narendra Modi and one party the BJP, which has been knocking on the doors of power for decades now and is eager for a sustained stint at the helm.

Lok Sabha Elections 2014 was undoubtedly the most fascinating since independence. The largest democracy in the world took to the ballots like never before to fire a bullet at status quo and catapult one man, one party to the throne of power, in the hope that they will deliver what an entire nation's consciousness has willed for.

The decimation of the Congress is all but complete, for it must be incredibly humiliating for the country's oldest party to not even get 50 seats in a 500+ seats Lok Sabha. The Congress is dubbing this defeat as a `communications failure`, but make no mistake, this is not a communications failure, but a loss of credibility. The BJP's and Modi's hi-tech campaign caught the imagination of the voters, many of them young, as they mounted a crusade so to say to get rid of a regime which was seen as fueling corruption, apathy and misgovernance, with a `silent` prime minister at the helm.

The Indian voter is never the one to like being taken for granted. They decimated Indira Gandhi and the Congress in the 1977 elections, punishing them for the Emergency. In 1980, they brought them back as this time they punished the Janata Party for in-fighting and opportunism. The Indian voter, through the ballot, has always found a way to let the political class know what exactly he thinks about them. Thus, since 1989, as single political parties failed to prove their ability to govern by themselves, the voters found a middle path by denying a clear mandate to any party. This created a `forced teamwork` culture in Indian politics through coalition governments.

That the BJP, maybe against its own expectations, got a majority this time, says something about the Indian voter – he is now sick of coalition politics, where opportunism masquerades as teamwork. He has given the mandate to a single party, a single man to take India on its deserved development path.

The decimation of the Congress is a culmination of the process that perhaps started in 1975 when Indira Gandhi declared an emergency. For long, the Congress thrived on the `There Is No Alternative` (TINA) factor. But the Indian voter now believes he has found the alternative. The Congress may not have done well even in 1984 – when it won a landslide – but for the sympathy wave that Rajiv Gandhi received on the back of Mrs Gandhi's assassination. It is very significant that it has taken the nation thirty years to gave a clear mandate to a party.

India has changed changed dramatically in these thirty years. We now live in a liberalised world, where technology forms the core of information and communication. Life, governance, issues and agendas are all an open book now. A youthful nation is demanding accountability like never before. There is a kind of corporate culture that has set in, where society respects and honours performance and ruthlessly dismisses non-performance.

Elections 2014 can be said to be a ruthless mandate against the inertia of one man Manmohan Singh and non-performance of one party the Congress. It is also a mandate for one man's exuberance Narendra Modi and one party the BJP, which has been knocking on the doors of power for decades now and is eager for a sustained stint at the helm.

A clear mandate for Modi and the BJP comes on the back of huge expectations of development and an opportunity to live in a clean, non-corrupt society. The BJP and NDA now face a peculiar behavioural challenge of being able to handle power. Receiving a clear mandate is one thing, but managing the heady feeling of having got power on your terms after such a desperate and high decibel campaign is another thing.

All said and one, the days ahead are very interesting, for the nation will watch with bated breath what the BJP, NDA and Modi will do with the mandate they have received.

The Politics Of Individuality

The Politics Of Individuality

With the BJP announcing its prime ministerial candidate in Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal being seen equal to AAP and AAP equal to Arvind Kejriwal, the Indian voter is being enticed to form his judgements based on the credibility of individuals than on the credentials of the party. As in many strata of Indian life, the adoption of the Presidential style is half baked. The `debates` are being held in absentia. The leaders are loathe to come face to face for a debate in full public view. It simply seems to be a question of choosing the one who is less wrong than the one who is more right. 

It's all happening in India right now. The election buzz has acquired an IPL-like flavour. Indians, never the one to miss out on something entertaining which gives them some relief from the daily humdrum existence, are lapping up the political tamasha like never before.

Never before in the history of Indian elections has there been such a political climate created. For decades it was always about two parties - the Congress and the Jan Sangh/BJP. But now with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the fray, at the least there is immense potential for one party – possibly the BJP – to feel its negative impact in terms of the number of seats it will win at the hustings. AAP, through the Delhi assembly elections, has already demonstrated its immense potential to be a party spoiler. While it may or may not manage to come to power on its own, by winning as many seats as it does, it can send the political equations into a tailspin.

As in sports, it is dangerous in elections too to predict the winner before the game begins. The BJP got a rude shock when it did not shine enough with the voters despite its much hyped India Shining campaign in 2004. While it appears that the Congress is in for a drubbing in this Lok Sabha elections, it would be preposterous to suggest that it is already a lost cause for them. The Indian voter has the uncanny habit of surprising political pundits. The only time perhaps the Indian election results were decided before the first vote was cast was the one after emergency was lifted in 1977. The nation was too angry to forgive Indira and the Congress for the cruel emergency.

Much has changed in India since then; India itself has changed. Its demographic profile, expectations and awareness levels have altered dramatically since the 1984 elections, the last time a non-coalition government was formed at the Centre, on the back of a sympathy wave for the Congress and Rajiv Gandhi following the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

In this election, which will probably see the highest voter turnout, the youth, given their sheer numbers, are likely to determine the swings. The atmosphere is one of Presidential form of elections, with individuals being projected as bigger than their parties. It is a paradigm shift from a time when the party was discussed more than the individual. In the past too individuals were attacked, but the party culture reigned supreme.

Yet, there is nothing paradoxical about this phenomena. India as a country has always hero worshipped – whether they be politicians, film stars or cricketers. Who can forget the slogan `India is Indira, Indira is India?` But the rhetoric was always couched in the party parlance and direct attack at individuals was couched within the party framework. But with the BJP announcing its prime ministerial candidate in Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal being seen equal to AAP and AAP equal to Arvind Kejriwal, the Indian voter is being enticed to form his judgements based on the credibility of individuals than on the credentials of the party. As in many strata of Indian life, the adoption of the Presidential style is half baked. The `debates` are being held in absentia. The leaders are loathe to come face to face for a debate in full public view. It simply seems to be a question of choosing the one who is less wrong than the one who is more right.

The Congress, however, has stuck to tradition and not announced its prime ministerial candidate. For the Congress, this has never been an issue. From the time of Nehru, it was more or less clear to the public who was in charge irrespective of who was Prime Minister, and up until the Sonia-Manmohan partnership, the Prime Minister was the one who was seen to be in command. The Congress shying away from announcing its prime ministerial candidate is being projected as the party running away from a fight. If elections be seen purely as a vote on credibility, the Congress has received multiple red cards in the past five years of its rule. But the reality of Indian politics is that a lot happens in terms of backroom discussions both pre- and post-elections. India is a complex society and the elections mirror this complexity. There is another reason the Congress cannot be written off – they know a thing or two about winning, as out of sixty seven years since independence, they have been in power for about sixty years.

While a lot has changed in the past few decades, there is always the element of non-change within the change. The country is expecting one individual to swing a magic wand and resolve its problems. This is simply a manifestation of our hero worshipping attitude. In that sense, in this lies the curious `politics` of the common man, where he trades hero worship in return for the leader to solve his problems. The escapist attitude in Indian society is well entrenched, but the desperation to see a leader who will resolve his daily struggles is palpable. The emergence of such a messiah is unlikely. But what is surely possible is for every citizen to take responsibility for his life.

We will of course reserve the responsibility discussion for another day. But right now, let us take off to the wonderland called the election booth on the appointed day, cast our vote as responsible citizens, and elect the leader who will SERVE us and not rule over us.

Rex Ideas For Action Conclive: A Galaxy Of Extraordinary Change Makers

Rex Ideas For Action Conclive: A Galaxy Of Extraordinary Change Makers

This blog cannot capture the extraordinary contributions being made by so-called ordinary people spread far, wide and deep in Indian society. They are the unsung heroes who are holding this nation together. It is their silent contribution that is providing harmony to a nation torn between various discordant forces. It was a privilege that I participated in the conclive and rubbed shoulders with what I call doyens of the `Contribution Industry`. That I got an opportunity to share space and stage with such purpose-driven people was reward itself. Though a huge personal moment, but in the overall contribution space of humanity, my receiving an award in recogntion of my work in the field of Reiki was the least important one in the conclive.

The mind and heart are still coming to terms with the extraordinary experience of having attended the Rex Ideas For Action Conclive, organsied in New Delhi from February 26-28, 2014 by iCONGO (International Confederation Of NGOs). Every moment spent at the conclive listening to extraordinary speeches is worth cherishing for a lifetime, though you know that what you witnessed was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the kind of humane work that is taking place all aorund the world.

The speeches were not extraordinary because they were great examples of public speaking. They were extraordinary because the people who delivered it were doing far more than what they were saying. Over fifiy speeches spanning varied age groups simply created an energy and aura which comes only from the strongest of intent to do good to people. The audience did not evaluate the speaker, they simply watched dumbstruck at the contents of their work.

Just sample this. A gentleman by the name Mr Ravi Kalra shared how one day he was moved by seeing a dog and a human eating from the same garbage and decided to do something about it. And something he does! He picks up abandoned people from the streets in Delhi and nurses them at his The Earth Saviours Foundation home. He lets them die in his arms and provides them with dignity in death.

There was another speaker Deepa Malik, who is an Arjuna awardee and a swimmer. But that is not the whole story. She is a swimmer, biker and athlete despite being a paraplegic. She is paralyzed from waist down. Listening to her speak at the conclive was awe inspiring.

Then there was also Amala Akkineni, a celebrity film actress, who carried herself as just another volunteer. Her passion – to give dignity to animal rights.

There was another another speaker Mr Sunil Jain, a successful chartered accountant tied to a wheel chair due to polio affliction early in life. He spoke about how we cannot rid of our problems, and therefore the best way was to embrace a problem and dedicate our life for a cause. Surely, we found people who had dedicated their lives to a problem: rural development, senior citizens' welfare, women empowerment, etc, etc, etc.

This blog cannot capture the extraordinary contributions being made by so-called ordinary people spread far, wide and deep in Indian society. They are the unsung heroes who are holding this nation together. It is their silent contribution that is providing harmony to a nation torn between various discordant forces. It was a privilege that I participated in the conclive and rubbed shoulders with what I call doyens of the `Contribution Industry`. That I got an opportunity to share space and stage with such purpose-driven people was reward itself. Though a huge personal moment, but in the overall contribution space of humanity, my receiving an award in recogntion of my work in the field of Reiki was the least important one in the conclive.

I returned from the conclive humbler, more committed and empowered to continue to do the good work. For sure, a lifetime won't be enough to accomplish the humungous change that our fellow humans and fellow creatures deserve.

Common Man Is Now A `Celebrity`

Common Man Is Now A `Celebrity`

The vociferous voices in the political landscape pitching for the common man's welfare has made him the country's most sought after `celebrity`. With the Lok Sabha elections just round the corner, he will once again have the opportunity to stamp his authority on the course political discourse should take. 

The events of the past few weeks have catapulted the common man to cult status. Thanks to Arvind Kejriwal and his band of highly purpose driven colleagues, it is no longer a disadvantage to be common, in fact, it is quite cool to be one.

Delhi, which has been the epicenter of various `revolutionary` activities in the past few years, has thrown up a political alternative constructed out of a vague sense of imagination which jostled for prominence amidst the intense cynicism that had gripped the nation in the past few years. The emerge of the Aam Aadmi Party is more than just a dream come true, it is the manifestation of a collective intention of the nation.

The real significance of the `re-emergence` of the common man phenomena is that this time it is for real. There is a real face which the aam aadmi can now look up to. This is a departure from the past so many decades when the common man had to be content with giving vent to his feelings through illusory mediums like cartoons and films.

In the good old days, the two great champions of the common man in the illusory space were RK Laxman and Amitabh Bachchan. For decades, every morning the common man got up to look up at You Said It in The Times Of India and laughed at his own plight, acquiring the strength to fight the day's battle that awaited him on the roads, in public transport and in the office. Laxman taught us to laugh at ourselves and at the system in which we thrived, and move on with panache and perseverance. In a way, it was a fatalistic acceptance of our condition, but it provided a unique corridor of escape from reality, and replaced the gloom that greeted us everyday with an ability to take satirical potshots at our own selves.

RK Laxman's representation of the common man was subtle – he was a mute witness to events and circumstances. While the caricature stood silent, Indian homes reverberated with laughter. But Amitabh Bachchan, through his fight-for-justice characters in the 70s' and 80s' gave voice to the frustrations of the common man. Bachchan can probably be termed as the `First Larger-Than-Life Celebrity Common Man` of India.

While Laxman provided relief through humour, Bachchan provided relief by delivering punchy dialogues and by taking on the system as an aam aadmi with no intentions of getting bullied by unjust people. Bachchan's extraordinary portrayal as an angry young man on reel of real life issues made him a darling of the masses. The issues on the ground however remained, as obviously both Laxman and Bachchan were merely executing their professional duties with a conviction that resonated deeply in the minds and hearts of the masses. Even as the years caught on, their iconic representation of the common man ensured they remained the prima donnas of their craft.

But the common man today seems to have come out of the closet of a cartoon strip and reel characters. First through Anna Hazare and now through Arvind Kejriwal, he is resonating with an attitude that suggests he is no longer content with `entertaining escapism`, but wants to tackle issues head on and take responsibility for his aspirations. The insecurity of being lost in the crowd is dissolved; instead, he seems quite elated with the vociferous celebration of the aam aadmi identity across the nation. He is elated that he has found his voice, which is of far greater relevance for him than getting noticed in the crowd. The common man today is fine with his or her being just another face in the crowd, as long as there are people who project themselves in the public space as a genuine representative of the hidden faces.

These are very interesting times for the common man. The promise of going strongly back to the basics with the help of `like-leaders` holds greater romance for him today than being a recognised individual who has to fend for himself all alone.

The vociferous voices in the political landscape pitching for the common man's welfare has made him the country's most sought after `celebrity`. With the Lok Sabha elections just round the corner, he will once again have the opportunity to stamp his authority on the course political discourse should take.