May 2015 — NIMBLE FOUNDATION BLOG

Family of Four Generations in Indian Cinema

It started with Prithviraj Kapoor who was born in 1906. 29^th May happens to be his death anniversary. He died in 1972. He was an Advocate in Lyallpur. Inclined towards acting he tried to work on stage in Peshawar and Lyallpur. He came to Mumbai in the year 1928. He had to take loan from one of his aunts for coming to Mumbai. In Mumbai he started acting as an extra in his first film role.

He remained fond of stage. He founded Prithvi theatres. It’s traveling troupe staged memorable plays across India. To begin with he was producing plays to inspire youngsters to participate in the Indian independence movement. In over 16 years the theatre the troupe staged more than 2500 performances.

His first important film happens to be the first talkie- Alamara, it was produced in 1931. In 1941 he played the lead role of the Alexander the great in Sorab Modi’s Sikander. His eldest son Raj Kapoor is considered as the greatest Show Man in Indian Cinema. Further Raj Kapoor’s son Rishi Kapoor and Rishi’s Son Ranbir are all actors of great significance. Thus, what was started by Prithviraj Kapoor love for acting and cinema is continued for 4 generations. Kapoors have a unique place in the Indian Cinema.

His role in Mughal-e-Azam was memorable indeed. He received Padam Bhushan in 1969 and Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1971.

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Dealing with difficult people.

Each person is an individual. The way they are, think, act or react are also different. So they are bound to be. Often times we perceive certain people as difficult even though they may not be if we try to understand them closely. In any case there are indeed some difficult people. We have to deal with them, nevertheless. We cannot avoid them in society, family and/or work place.

It is necessary to form a strategy of dealing with difficult people who are important to us. The critical steps are

To specify what we want to achieve.
Which means could be best to achieve the objective.
To understand them (difficult people) dispassionately
To try to get in to their shoes to evaluate the situation from their perspective
What they perceive about you and what could be their objective in your relationship.

Once you have reviewed the above, the next logical step is to reassess the situation. And review your actions. Take time to do it. In meetings, listen to them closely. Make them realize that you are assimilating their concern not because you have to but also because you like to. This will change the way difficult people look at you and your disposition. Your task becomes easier.

Further, during the meeting ask most relevant questions and briefly. It’s necessary to control your modulation during these conversations. You need to make your interaction informal, interesting and earnest. Listen to their response to your questions intently. Assess their response and think through your own response. And then be prepared to meet them again.

Difficult people are not so difficult, after all.
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The Mystic Poet

Kabir was born on 20^th May 1399, so it is believed. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Kabir was born to a Brahmin widow near Kashi known as Varansi today. His mother abandoned him for the fear wrath of society. He was raised by poor family of Muslims. The head of the family was a weaver.

Kabir was always contemplating as a child. Swami Ramananda a well known saint in the area accepted Kabir as his disciple. That shaped Kabir’s religious thoughts. He started composing poems. His couplets known as Dohas were easy to understand and became very popular. The mystic poet, Kabir, was considered as a common mans saint. He wielded a great influence among the people around. Later his legacy was carried forward by his followers. They called their sect as Kabir Pant. The members of the sect are known kabir panthies. The popularity grows and the members spread over north and central India. Today, they are estimated to be 9.6 million living in the various parts of the world. According to 19.1census they were only about 8 and half lacks.

His couplets have been compiled in a number of books. These include Bijak, Sakhi Granth, Kabir Granthavali, Anurag Sagar and others. Most of this couplets reveal his down to earth common sense. His poems resonate praise for saints. Kabir believed in Bhakti which gave simple knowledge. Chanting of complicated mantras according to him did not bring people closer to God. His poems are full of imagery. These are expressed in vernacular Hindi influenced by various dialects including Avdhi, Braj and Bhojpuri. This couplets compiled in various books are very relevant in the society even today.

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Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata

Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata was born in 1839 in a family of Parsi Priest in Navsari which was a small village in Gujarat. At the age of 14 years he took up to business. He was so passionate about business that he determined to set up the biggest (at that time) steel plant, the most modern hotel and a world class institute for study of sciences.

He graduated from The Elphinstone College, Mumbai. Even while he was studying he was devoted to his vision of becoming the greatest businessman and industrialist in India. There is no doubt that his determination and his focus in the pursuit of his goals created the Tata Group as we see it today. Taj Mahal Hotel was the first hotel in India to have electricity when it was commissioned in 1903.

His other projects could not be completed during his life time; but were completed by his family members and the executives that he had recruited. It is not an exaggeration that to say he was the first great visionary businessman of this country. Mr. G. D. Birla who formed the Birla Group came much later. J. N. Tata also started a textile mill in Nagpur which is still running as the Empress Mills. The world class educational institution has also progressed and is now known as Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai. This institute imparts world class education in Social Science and attracts students from various countries.

Today, 19^th May happens to be death anniversary of Shri. J. N. Tata. We remember and pay homage to this great Indian.
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Mother’s Day

Tomorrow, Sunday the 10^th May will be celebrated as ‘Mother’s Day’. Undoubtedly, most important creation of universe is ‘The Mother’. Humanity exists because of her presence. More importantly, the love that mother exhibits for her child is the purest form of love. Nature has given to the woman the courage to face upfront the extreme pain that she undergoes while giving birth to a child. Yet it is dream of every woman to become a mother.

In Hindu philosophy, Mother evokes respect & devotion second only to God. Instead mother is no less that the almighty herself while in all kinds of difficulties are part. Mother wishes well for the child. She does not look for her happiness and or long life; she does that for her child.
In Mahabharata, Kunti portrays an exemplary mother. Then unflinching love for the five sons is unique and can be considered as a role model.

Yashoda’s love for lord Krishna is another great example of Mother’s love. Though Krishna was not her real son, but having accepted him as her son, she takes great care of young Krishna & natures bring with all his naughty activities, the relationship of mother and child in this case too brings can’t the selfless love of the mother.

In fact, Mother’s Day is tribute to the entire womanhood. On the lighter I remember art of repeated dialogue of the Hindi Film “Deewar”. Two brothers are arguing about their possession. One of them (played by Amitabh Bachhan) is a rich goon, while the other one is a police inspector (played by Shashi Kapoor). Amitabh Bachhan: Mere pass bangla hai, gaadi hai, aishoaraam ka saara samaan hai, tere paas kya hai?
Shashi Kapoor: Mere pass Maa hai! And the audience is undoubtedly with winner- Shashi Kapoor who holds Mother’s love in high esteem!”

Let’s all celebrate the Mother’s Day by writing tributes to the Mother from all own experiences.
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4 Essential elements of disaster reporting on TV

The recent earthquake in Nepal has case extensive damage in the Himalayan country. Thousands of lives have been lost. Many children have become orphans the damage to the infrastructure is incalculable. In the circumstances India played its role to help Nepal, a nation in peril.

Sadly our television media reached Kathmandu and other places to cover the disaster. I said sadly, because instead of providing information to evoke sympathy that would motivate people to help; our TV jokers engaged themselves in extracting TRPs. Disaster is not to be treated thus. It is inhuman to ask a person who has lost his near ones ‘How do you feel?’. These TV reporters consider themselves as belonging to a special privileged class. Unfortunately they do not even know the basics of reporting.

The 4 essential elements of disaster reporting on TV according to me are as under:

Language and tone of voice must be serious and somber. However we found that these Johnnies were taking pride in their speech. At times they were energetically emphasizing how their channel was the first to display the disaster.
There should be no unnecessary details, no sensational images to hook the audience. It is an accepted norm of disaster reporting not to show details which can evoke uncontrollable emotions. However, TV reporters were taking pride in bringing all the details for the information of the viewers. Evidently it appeared that reporter was engaged in a task most dear to him. And the task was to hook the audience. It was shameful indeed.
No dramatization whatsoever of tragedies. Unfortunately some of the reporters of private channels devoted themselves to dramatizing the disaster. Their voice modulation and facial expressions depicted as though they were shooting a serial. They thought they were performing their job nicely. They disregarded the suffering of people around and their feelings.
Never ask silly questions to people in grief: That is the attitude expected of everyone; more so of the media reporters. However totally disregarding the same – some channel reporters were even interviewing the people in grief. A mother who lost her son was3. No dramatization disaster is shameful indeed.

It appears television in our country has mushroomed very fast and the medium is often a abused rather than used. Our government should direct that only official Doordarshan or All India Radio should cover and provide all necessary information to news agencies and TV channels.