Oct 17 2014 : Mirror (Pune)
MY BAD - How shameful nobody knew Kailash Satyapati!
In which Aakar Patel locates his `humerus'Likedhated his column? Write to
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The thing that shocked me most about the Nobel Peace Prize for Kailash Satyarthi was how unknown he was in his own country.Journalists, politicians, filmstars, nobody knew about him.
Why do we not appreciate our own talent? Why should it require the outside world to tell us about our hidden gems? It has always been like this, I am sorry to say. We are ignorant of their work and their quality and even of their name till a foreigner tells us they are good.
The whole Bachpan Bachao Andolan name was a total secret till it was pronounced in foreign accents. How awful Kailash Satyapati would have felt, just think, on the most important day of his life with nobody even recognising his name. His own relatives were like “Who?“ when they heard the announcement on Times Now.
I was, of course, always familiar with Shailesh's work. I have long followed closely the doings of the Bachchan Bachao Andolan (I think it has to do with rescuing Abhishek's career, though frankly I do not know if it was worth a prize). But the rest of the media? What can I say? Shameful. Where I think the committee was spot on was Kamlesh’s work in illegal trafficking. If there is one problem we have in India it is trafficking and, as anyone who has driven on our roads will know, most of it is illegal.
The other field he has spent a lot of time on was bonded labour, which, the ignoramus media has doubtless not informed you, is about Fevicol and carpenters. There is no respect for labour in this country and it is shocking that a global prize should be needed to inform people about this sticky issue.
Anyway, so I am totally delighted that Kailash Kher should have been finally recognised. He was only the second Indian to get this particular prize after Teresa, who you will remember from her modeling days when she posed for Raghu Rai and M F Husain.
And finally, it is not just about the individual. It is the noble cause that the Nobel prize has made everyone aware of. Definitely the Narmada Bachao Andolan is going to benefit from being associated with this award.
I would be remiss at the end in not mentioning the other awardee, merely because she is a citizen of the enemy nation.
It was a joint prize and not only was Puttaparthi’s work honoured but also that of Malai Yousufzai (is she that Amul girl? She’s very cute). Anyway they said she was campaigning against the Tali-ban and I have always been on her side. What is wrong with that part of the world that they should even prohibit applause?
Why do we not appreciate our own talent? Why should it require the outside world to tell us about our hidden gems? It has always been like this, I am sorry to say. We are ignorant of their work and their quality and even of their name till a foreigner tells us they are good.
The whole Bachpan Bachao Andolan name was a total secret till it was pronounced in foreign accents. How awful Kailash Satyapati would have felt, just think, on the most important day of his life with nobody even recognising his name. His own relatives were like “Who?“ when they heard the announcement on Times Now.
I was, of course, always familiar with Shailesh's work. I have long followed closely the doings of the Bachchan Bachao Andolan (I think it has to do with rescuing Abhishek's career, though frankly I do not know if it was worth a prize). But the rest of the media? What can I say? Shameful. Where I think the committee was spot on was Kamlesh’s work in illegal trafficking. If there is one problem we have in India it is trafficking and, as anyone who has driven on our roads will know, most of it is illegal.
The other field he has spent a lot of time on was bonded labour, which, the ignoramus media has doubtless not informed you, is about Fevicol and carpenters. There is no respect for labour in this country and it is shocking that a global prize should be needed to inform people about this sticky issue.
Anyway, so I am totally delighted that Kailash Kher should have been finally recognised. He was only the second Indian to get this particular prize after Teresa, who you will remember from her modeling days when she posed for Raghu Rai and M F Husain.
And finally, it is not just about the individual. It is the noble cause that the Nobel prize has made everyone aware of. Definitely the Narmada Bachao Andolan is going to benefit from being associated with this award.
I would be remiss at the end in not mentioning the other awardee, merely because she is a citizen of the enemy nation.
It was a joint prize and not only was Puttaparthi’s work honoured but also that of Malai Yousufzai (is she that Amul girl? She’s very cute). Anyway they said she was campaigning against the Tali-ban and I have always been on her side. What is wrong with that part of the world that they should even prohibit applause?
