Today December 14 2013 is 89th Birth Anniversary of Raj Kapoor (1924 - 1988)
Lao Tzu (6th century BCE):
"...The more laws and restrictions there are,
The poorer people become.
The sharper men's weapons,
The more trouble in the land.
The more ingenious and clever men are,
The more strange things happen.
The more rules and regulations,
The more thieves and robbers..."
Thomas Paine (1737- 1809):
"...Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worse state an intolerable one;..."
"...There are periods when man is free in a common cause. Then the activity towards which every energetic nature strives, coincides with the aspirations of the society in which he lives. At such times—which are rare enough— everything flings itself into the whirlpool of events, in it finds life, joy, suffering and death..."
Peter Marshall (1946 - ), "Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism", 1992/ 2008 :
"...Anarchism remains not only an ultimate ideal, but increasingly a practical possibility. If we are to survive nuclear annihilation and ecological disaster, if we can steer between the Scylla of roaring capitalism and the Charybdis of authoritarian socialism, then we may reach the land where a free society of relative abundance exists in harmony with nature, where the claims of the free individual are reconciled with general solidarity. Even if we cannot reach it in our lifetimes, we can at least enjoy the exhilaration of the journey, sailing our ship together towards the beckoning horizon without fettering slaves in the hold or shooting the albatross on the way."
Our father encouraged us to watch all Raj Kapoor films. I liked some and found others boring. But I truly love three of them:
1. Jagte Raho (1956)
2. Shree 420 (1955)
3. Mera Naam Joker (1970)
For me, Amit Maitra and Sombhu Mitra's 'Jagte Raho' is the greatest Indian film ever made. It remains highly underrated. I keep watching it and discovering new 'angles' I had not seen earlier.
'Mera Naam Joker' is like a Shakespearean tragedy. But it goes little awry in the last third of the film when Padmini arrives on the scene.
As I watched the aftermath of Delhi assembly elections on TV in December 2013, I remembered more and more of 'Shree 420'.
Whenever Mr. Arvind Kejriwal spoke I kept thinking about Raj Kapoor's speeches from the film...What innocence...What hope!
courtesy: Shemaroo and legal owner of copyright to the film
First, I remembered the scene where Mr. Kapoor tries to sell his brand of tooth powder and almost gets away with it. I would never get angry with RK for his attempt to con the crowd because I always prefer him to Nemo.
Nemo (on right) and his toothless crony
courtesy: Shemaroo and legal owner of copyright to the film
Similarly I have millions of questions for AAP but I am likely to vote for it next time around - the way I would have voted in favour of Janata party in 1977 had I been eligible to vote then- because I prefer RK's likely anarchy to Nemo's regime.
I hope Mr. Kejriwal also makes the speech like the one RK makes towards the end of the film when he reminds people that you can't build a house for Rs. 100.
courtesy: Shemaroo and legal owner of copyright to the film
"Delhiites, They all are Shree 420 alright but you have to pay a reasonable price for a unit of electric power and a kg of onions."
No matter what, I know the life of a common man over the ages has always been like that of RK's character in 'Jagte Raho' but with a new hope in my heart, I am ready to try AAP brand of tooth powder in 2014 because I am just fed up of Nemo and his toothless crony.
Lao Tzu (6th century BCE):
"...The more laws and restrictions there are,
The poorer people become.
The sharper men's weapons,
The more trouble in the land.
The more ingenious and clever men are,
The more strange things happen.
The more rules and regulations,
The more thieves and robbers..."
Thomas Paine (1737- 1809):
"...Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worse state an intolerable one;..."
Alexander Herzen (1812-1870):
"...There are periods when man is free in a common cause. Then the activity towards which every energetic nature strives, coincides with the aspirations of the society in which he lives. At such times—which are rare enough— everything flings itself into the whirlpool of events, in it finds life, joy, suffering and death..."
Peter Marshall (1946 - ), "Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism", 1992/ 2008 :
"...Anarchism remains not only an ultimate ideal, but increasingly a practical possibility. If we are to survive nuclear annihilation and ecological disaster, if we can steer between the Scylla of roaring capitalism and the Charybdis of authoritarian socialism, then we may reach the land where a free society of relative abundance exists in harmony with nature, where the claims of the free individual are reconciled with general solidarity. Even if we cannot reach it in our lifetimes, we can at least enjoy the exhilaration of the journey, sailing our ship together towards the beckoning horizon without fettering slaves in the hold or shooting the albatross on the way."
Our father encouraged us to watch all Raj Kapoor films. I liked some and found others boring. But I truly love three of them:
1. Jagte Raho (1956)
2. Shree 420 (1955)
3. Mera Naam Joker (1970)
For me, Amit Maitra and Sombhu Mitra's 'Jagte Raho' is the greatest Indian film ever made. It remains highly underrated. I keep watching it and discovering new 'angles' I had not seen earlier.
'Mera Naam Joker' is like a Shakespearean tragedy. But it goes little awry in the last third of the film when Padmini arrives on the scene.
As I watched the aftermath of Delhi assembly elections on TV in December 2013, I remembered more and more of 'Shree 420'.
Whenever Mr. Arvind Kejriwal spoke I kept thinking about Raj Kapoor's speeches from the film...What innocence...What hope!
First, I remembered the scene where Mr. Kapoor tries to sell his brand of tooth powder and almost gets away with it. I would never get angry with RK for his attempt to con the crowd because I always prefer him to Nemo.
courtesy: Shemaroo and legal owner of copyright to the film
Similarly I have millions of questions for AAP but I am likely to vote for it next time around - the way I would have voted in favour of Janata party in 1977 had I been eligible to vote then- because I prefer RK's likely anarchy to Nemo's regime.
I hope Mr. Kejriwal also makes the speech like the one RK makes towards the end of the film when he reminds people that you can't build a house for Rs. 100.
"Delhiites, They all are Shree 420 alright but you have to pay a reasonable price for a unit of electric power and a kg of onions."
No matter what, I know the life of a common man over the ages has always been like that of RK's character in 'Jagte Raho' but with a new hope in my heart, I am ready to try AAP brand of tooth powder in 2014 because I am just fed up of Nemo and his toothless crony.
2 comments:
Khupach Chhan...can I share this article on FB?
Sameer Kamble
Thanks Sameer Kamble.
Please go ahead and share it on FB.
best,
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