Influence and inspiration

I watched "Ferrari ki sawaari" yesterday. A cute, feel-good movie, based on our national obsession, cricket. The final credits thanked Sachin Tendulkar for being an inspiration for kids. It is true. Sachin's phenomenal success has stirred the imagination of all wannabe cricketers, showing a path of possibility for the truly talented. Inspiration is essential. Inspiration is the equivalent of the magician's "abracadabra" that ignites motivation in an individual to act upon his calling.

I also watched Amir Khan's Satyamev Jayate this weekend. The topic was domestic violence and was handled in the characteristic format of bringing to light individuals who have suffered, those who can shed light on the matter and others who show a way out. Some members of the audience speak in what appears to be impromptu statements but is probably finely orchestrated to fit the format of the show. But I still love to watch the show with my daughter and discuss the topic again, sometimes while watching the late night repeat. By bringing subjects like dowry, female foeticide, abuse and violence to mainstream television, Amir Khan has managed to shine a light on issues that we seldom discuss openly. These are issues that plague our country, across states, religions and social class. These are the stains on the image of "India shining" that the world sees. Like other countries, we have our social problems, compounded by the size of our population. But brushing it under the carpet has been the way we like to deal with it. Educated, informed people make choices every day that fuel the greed for dowry, that favor boys over girls, that systematically encourage violence against women. To change society, what we need is not just the occasional inspiring story, but a voice that influences choices and behaviors. A sustained debate, a possible solution, a tangible helping hand. The mass appeal of television can be channeled to encourage public discussion on topics that are not popular. But for people to listen, the spokesperson has to be one who has the charisma and the conscience to build the confidence of the audience. With his work and his image, Amir Khan does that, easily. While it may be easy for him to portray an image of earnestness considering his acting abilities, it is definitely not a popular choice for an actor to be typecast as a "do-gooder".

I am glad that Amir chose to host this show. While I am inspired by his decision to take up a task which no other Bollywood actor chose to do, I am happy to see today's youth being influenced by the sentiments expressed in the show. Whether its inspiration that brings about an individual change or influence that motivates social upheaval, one thing that is not up for debate is the fact that it is time for a change.