What's that? A link to the list of the Bharat Ratna Awardees over the years. This is the modern way of beginning an article. Whatever (crap) you write, you must mention internet somewhere in it otherwise you will be called e-illiterate. Now it is really unfortunate and saddening not to find Shri Pravin Patil (That’s me…) on that list and that's what I am gonna discuss.
On the eve of Republic day, I got a call from a dear friend (unfortunately, again, male). After initial Hi-Hello, we discussed about, of course, girls and came to the usual conclusion “Apna Kuch Nahi Ho Sakta”. Suddenly he changed the track and the conversation went like this…
My Friend: Yaar, Tuze Bharat Ratna Milna Chahiye….Matlab Tuze Bhi Bharat Ratna Milna Chahiye…
Me: What crap? What are you talking about? Are you alright?
M.F.: Arey, I was just joking. Now a day, everybody is demanding Bharat Ratna. So I thought you can also be right there with all of them.
Me: Oh, that thing. Hmm I have read it in newspapers. Nothing surprising, what else can you expect from our Netas? Ye India hai, yahan pe aisahi chalta hai…
The chat went on. But when the call ended, it created enough curiosity in my mind which made me to google Bharat Ratna. I came across a lot of info about the awards. Like this…
“The award of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour, is given for exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of Public Service of the highest order.”
This is posted on Ministry of Home Affairs‘ website. Don’t be surprised, these days Ministries too have their websites. Coming back to the topic, I read the statement again and again and a passing thought went through my head. I should also receive the award as I perfectly fit the criteria. Here I present my case for Bharat Ratna.
Now you would be wondering what exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of Public Service of the highest order I have given. Hold on. The argument goes like this.
Looking at the list, you will notice all these great people have made huge contributions to their respective fields. But what we usually miss is they have made even bigger sacrifices to achieve whatever they have achieved in their lives. I will explain this with the example of Lata Mangeshkar. Now imagine what she could have done, had she not chosen to become a singer. Let’s say she could have chosen Literature field. Now I do not have a slightest doubt she could have achieved the same laurels as she received as a singer. Here you are. This means she actually sacrificed her literary career (in the present case under discussion). This is just one of the sacrifices. There must be many of them.
How is it related to my case? Read on and you will be enlightened.
I will start from my childhood. When I was a child I went to school. Huh…What's exceptional about it? Everybody does that. Yes, but had I not gone to school I would have explored the nature and its beauty in a manner that nobody ever did. That would have made me a fantastic artist as being an artist is all about thinking out-of-the-box, being creative and who knows I could have been next Satyajit Ray or next Ustad Bismilla Khan. So this is my first sacrifice. After school I went to college. Again everybody does that. I chose Science stream instead of Commerce. I think you got what I am trying to say. Yes, you are right. Had I chosen Commerce stream, I could have been another Amartya Sen. This one is the second one. Then I opted for Engineering after that NITIE. Again you guessed it right, I could have pursued career in research and could have become a great scientist. Now the count is three. As you can see, I have been very conservative while counting my sacrifices and that's why I have only mentioned the major ones. There are thousands of other not so significant sacrifices which I will write in my autobiography. And the count is only going to increase as it just the beginning of my career.
Having made so many sacrifices and hopefully having a bright career ahead, is not perfectly fitting for Govt. of India to honour me with the Bharat Ratna? Just imagine what will it mean the youth all over India and world ( Thoda Jyaada Gaya Shayad….)? It will inspire millions (yes there are lots of them!!!) of young Indians, it will awaken them, it will stir them, and it will make them revolt…blah blah blah…
Now I am damn sure that after reading through you are as convinced as me. So what are you waiting for? Do what they usually do these days. Grab your cell phone. Open the Write Message window. Type Pravin and send it to 1234. For landline users, mera code hai 505 (My room number where I get such Sacred thoughts every day..) Dial 123454321 and then dial my code. Vote for me. Please, please, please…(Here you can see me pleading in typical “Indian Idol Contestant” style)
P.S.: In the hindsight I see this analysis holds true for each one of us… (Ohhh … What a discovery!!!) So I propose everybody should be given the Bharat Ratna. Imagine then everybody will be writing Bharat Ratna before their names instead of Shri/Smt. Bharat Ratna Gajodhar Raja.. Bharat Ratna Billo Rani..Wow!!! After all, I believe in the philosophy- “Kaddu katega to sabme batega…”
