Taare Zamin Par

Ram Shankar Nikumbh the Art Teacher and Ishaan Nand Kishore Awasti the student. The Movie “Taare Zamin Par”. Why am I talking about this Movie today when, this was released, seen by many and discussed already?

This movie was aired on TV (Zee TV) yesterday from 2000 hrs to 2345 hrs. We had finished all our works and that includes Vishnu’s study before 2000 hrs.

I am not going to delve into the story line as all are aware of it. But I have some perspectives to share with you all.

I had the privilege of watching this movie for the first time only yesterday. Somehow this one eluded me for long, though I heard, read and listened from Vishnu about this movie. Vishnu happened to see this movie when it was released (Is it Dec 2007??) through his school with his class mates.

The movie was so natural and I got involved in every bit of it. The song “Tujhe sab patha hai meri maa” was so moving and tears rolled down out of my eyes. This song, I have listened many times in CD & in FM.

The class room scene, When Aamir describes his class about a boy whom he know had Dyslexia, the reaction shown by Darsheel Safary is beyond his age. He showed the fear, embarrassment, inferiority, struggle all rolled into one and gave a masterpiece shot. But when Aamir later reveals the class that he was referring to Albert Einstein, the flash of relief across the face of Darsheel (Ishaan) was even better, which must have given all top actors a run for their money. In the same scene, when Darsheel was asked to switch on the light, and when Aamir follows up with a question as who invented the bulb, pat comes the reply from Darsheel as “Thomas Alva Edison” and the proud look that he gives after answering the question is worth watching 1000 times. The entire struggle he has coped up has been relieved by giving that one answer.

The imagination to bring what dyslexia is very innovative. When given the question paper of Maths (surprise test) and asked what is 3 X 9 = ?, the boy imagines it as third planet goes round the entire planet system and crashes onto the ninth planet and what remains is third planet. So he ends up in writing the answer as 3!!

I need not mention about Aamir. He plays the support role to his perfection and gave enough room for Darsheel to perform. After a long time I had the satisfaction of watching a fantastic movie.

We came to know that this movie is to be aired on Zee TV three days before. Sudhakar, Revathy & JK were travelling to Pune on that day (Friday 12 Dec) to Pune for the week end with parents. Vaishali asked me that if Sudhakar is aware of this? I told her to give him SMS informing this, as they are returning and should be reaching Mumbai at 1900 hrs on Sunday. While Sudhakar returned, he told parents twice to watch this movie. Yesterday evening on my regular call to parents I also emphasized the fact that language cannot be a bar for watching this movie.

I must mention here that I was in for a pleasant surprise. Appa gave me a call at 2345 hrs and said the movie was very good and we spoke about the movie for 10 min!!!. Generally parents do sleep by 2230 hrs and I was not expecting a call from him at late night. I was very happy that Appa / Amma didn’t miss this movie as they watched the entire movie. Sudhakar gave us a thanks SMS at 2350 hrs!!

PS: We were treated to a “Double” as Sony was telecasting “Lagaan”. Another very good movie of Aamir, where India beats England in a cricket match and gets a waiver of 3 times Tax. Today at this point of time India plays England at Chennai and India in their secnd essay are at 185 / 3 with 202 to get. Will India make it??!!

படித்ததில் பிடித்தது

I have read a book named "The Creation of Wealth" by RM Lala. This book was first written in 1979. It is all about TATAS. Many of you are aware of what Tatas have done to this nation. Yet I thought I would share my views with you all about the aspects which interested me.

This book is so beautifully written bringing fore the Vision, Mission, Sacrifices, Dedication and Determination of TATAS. It is an account of how the foundation of India's Industrialisation was laid by Jamsetji and his heirs. This book evokes an era so different from today's business world. It is different in the sense that TATAS were adventurous with undaunted hearts who dared to accomplish things for the sake of the nation and not just the bottom line.

No single Industrial House around the world has ever contributed in such large scale to any nation. Be it hospitals, industries, hotels, research institutions, Electricity, Automobiles, Atomic Energy, they were pioneers.

In a reply to a question, JRD Tata once said: "What would have happened if our philosophy was like that of some other companies which do not stop at any means to attain ends.............. If we were like other groups we would be twice as big as they are today. What we have sacrificed is a 100 % growth, but we wouldn't want it any other way".

When Jamsetji Tata started a trading firm with an investment of Rs 20,000 few could have guessed that he was also opening an important chapter in the making of modern India. Throughout history there have been two categories of people - those who create wealth and those who consume it. The present century has added a third dimension in the form of controlling the wealth. To consume or control wealth need little qualification but to create it is a different proposition altogether.

As Jawaharlal Nehru said: "When you have to give the lead in action, in ideas - a lead which does not fit in with the very climate of opinion, that is true courage, physical or mental or spiritual, call it what you like, and it is this type of courage and vision that Jamsetji Tata showed."The Times of India in its tribute said: "He (Jamsetji Tata) was above all a patriot, who made no public speeches. To his mind wealth, and the industry which led to wealth, were not ends in themselves, but means to an end, the stimulation of the latent resources of the country and its elevation in the scale of nations".

This book accounts JN Tata's spirit towards nationalism that he contributed generously in 1885 when Indian National Congress was formed. It is rooted in his love for humanity, arising out of his passionate love for his own land. He surveyed the untilled industrial field of India and he perceived the benefits it could gain thorough Science & technology. He thought that Steel was mother of heavy industry. Hydro electric energy was his passion while technical education coupled with research was his vision.

Once Mahatma Gandhi told: "May God grant that in serving the Tatas you will also serve India and will always realise that you are here for a much higher mission than merely working for an industrial enterprise." This is a clear evidence of the patriotism displayed by TATAS which prompted MK Gandhi to say such words.

Tatas have shown and still showing the way to India. "It is not getting to the top of Everest that matters in life. It is how and why you get there." There lies a lesson for all. It is not the popularity one attains, but how that has been achieved and the way the objective has been reached.

When nationalisation proposals were aired by a couple of ministers of Janata Government in 1979, Workers were ahead of management in their protest against nationalisation. Every employee realised that he is not producing for a company but for a group that looks after his wife when she is in hospital, and looks out for his child at school. Even Jayaprakash Narayan failed to destabilise Tata Steel and his secretary wrote in a letter: "In Bihar, except the Tatas nobody has ever succeeded, not even the Gods". Such loyalty cannot be purchased at any price.

Tatas realised the important asset in the form of people. A Famous chinese proverb goes to say: "If you plan for a year, plant corn; if you want to plan for thirty years, plant a tree; but if you want to plan for hundred years, plant men". Tatas have patronised many small people and helped them in developing small scale industries.

TATAS have given everything to India from steel to automobiles/components, from engineering to communication, from Information systems to consumer products such as Tea, coffee, from Atomic Energy, electricity to chemicals, from financial services, insurance to consultancy and Chain of Hotels. Their Vision is undaunted amidst many obstacles right from pre-independence days to till date. It is their steel mind and never say die attitude make them special above the rest.

Their social responsibility is spectacular. They have created cities, towns wherever they have set up any industry. TATAS were the first in Industry to have conducted a social audit. They were very much ahead of Indian and International Labour laws in having a 8 hour working day, free medical aid, leave with pay, Provident fund, Profit sharing bonus etc., Of course some of these are adopted by Indian Government as Labour Laws much later. JN Tata claims that "health and wealth of employees, the sure foundation of nation's prosperity". TATAS believe strong human chain is critical to the nation's development.

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore is a testimony to TATAS in pioneering effort of education. JN Tata didn't want it in his name. Instead he said this is for the nation and it should bear a national name. What a man!!

In short, TATAS have built a nation in every possible way and still continue to do so.

This book was presented by Sudhakar in Dec 2007. Though I have already written this review in email dated 24 Dec 2007, I am reproducing it again. I was so happy that I could read this book and come to know the highest ethics and traditions set by TATAS.

பிள்ளையார் சுழி

சின்ன சின்ன ஆசை
எழுத நிறைய ஆசை

பல வருடங்களின் கனவு
நவம்பர் 2008இல் ஆனது நனவு

எதில் தொடங்குவது என்பதில் குழப்பம்
எதையாவது எழுத வேண்டும் என்ற ஏக்கம்

எப்படி எழுதுவது என்ற தயக்கம்
எனக்கு என்ன தெரியும் என்ற மயக்கம்

மீண்டும் மீண்டும் கிடைத்தது ஊக்கம்
என் மனதில் தோன்றியது ஆக்கம்

யோசித்ததில் தோன்றியது வானமே எல்லை
பெயரை வைத்து விட்ட பிறகு கவலையே இல்லை

முதன் முதலாக எழுத நினைத்து, போட்டேன் பிள்ளையார் சுழி
ஆனால் நடந்தது என்னவோ ராஜேந்தர் வழி...............