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My Column 20-08-2024

My column 20-08-2024

Shashank Purandare

The olympics are over. Indian performance was as usual. Nothing great. A lot is written about it. I only want to say that a big hue and cry has been made about Vinesh Fogat. The issue is really simple. She was overweight and was disqualified. Rules followed. End of discussion. Similar things have happened in the past and I do not remember any hullagulla about it. All this is being done just because she has become a political entity thanks to media circus and of course, the opposition parties.

We indians, and most of the public in general are crazy about a few species. Bollywood stars is one of them. Not because they are any bigger than many people in many other walks of life, but because of their visibility. In fact many of the self appointed "actors" are followed because of their looks and physic. Take two examples. One is Akshay Kumar. He is no great actor by any stretch of imagination. But because of his physic, and the "stunts" he performs on screen he is popular. The other is Rashmika Mandhana. Name one outstanding role of her and I will give up writing columns. But she is a media darling because of her looks.

Same is true with sportstars. Okay, they excel in their chosen fields. But so do many others. But no one mentions them because they are invisible to gneral public.

Everyday, stories of personal bravary and good deeds are published. But most are forgotten the next day, due to lack of visibility.

Bollywood stars, sportsmen do their do. They do entetain us and do their jobs. I do enjoy many Akshay movies. These stars deserve their dues. But let us not go overboard in their praise.

The third catagory is of course, the polticians. I remember a few heated family discussions in my family about the current situation in India and the world. It was always young generation against the old ones. Nothing ever came out of these discussios. At the end of it I wondered, what the hell was that? Why have heated family discussions for some idiotic politician?

There was an incident when a youth died of heart attack after he participated in a protest instigated by his political leader. These leaders themselves are safe and sound in their z-securities. I do not remember not a single comment from the leader for whom he protested.

I remember a comment by a "great" leader, who incidently, always enjoyed z-security. He had said that we should have our own suicide squads to counter terrorism. Wow! Great! So while he remained safe he wanted others to die by suicide bombing!

I think we should guard ourselves against such entities. Especially those sitting in the opposition. Why do you thinks a trouble is fermented everytime the parliament sesion is about to begin? While we fight among ourselves about some Hindenberg report, people in the know made money quietely in the stock market by short selling.

Why a political leader is allowed to say that Mharashtra will become another Manipur due to Marath-OBC issue? is this not instigation?

My point is simple. Let us not get carried away by false narrative. Both the rulers and opoosition are adept at creating this.

There is an unwritten golden rule in stock market. Buy only stocks of those companies whoes products you normally use day by day. Similarly, look at the scenario and decide yourself what is right and wrong. Do not go by what others say.

Shashank Purandare 20/08/2024