Going back to school with Ash.

Blog by Ram Kamal Mukherjee, a noted film journalist, at buzz18.com.

Going back to school with Ash.
Even before Aishwarya Rai fans attack me for yet another 'Ash-bashing' article, I would like to mention that I'm extremely happy that Amitabh Bachchan has decided to open a school in the name of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

But I have a genuine question to ask. Why did Amitabh think of opening a school which will bear the name of Aishwarya? Now one can obviously ask me, what's my problem? Frankly speaking, I don't have any problem with the issue, but it seems that people have already started talking about it. I believe that when people start talking about certain things, then it has some kind of relevance in our society.

While I was driving back from town, my driver asked me about the school which Mr Bachchan was planning to open in some remote village in Uttar Pradesh. "Dada, Bachchanji ne yeh kaam bahut achcha kiya," he said. In the same breath, he added, "Lekin school ka naam Aishwaryaji ke naam pe kyon rakkha? Unhone kya kaam kiya hai?"

I shrugged and concentrated on my Paulo Coelho. I tried to reason with him, but had nothing to say. Maybe Amitabh wants to name the school after his beloved bahurani Aishwarya. How does it matter to us?

I entered this coffee shop near Juhu, and two college students were having a heated debate on whether Amitabh should name the school after Ash or not. It seems that most have a certain kind of problem with Bachchan naming the school after Ash. The conversation went on over several cups of coffee. Allow me to reproduce an excerpt from the conversation:

Student 1: "What shit man… now we have to read about a school in Ash's name?"
Student 2: "Really… I mean give me a break!"
Student 1: "Don't you think Amitabh is pushing it?"
Student 2: "Arre, Amitabh pagal ho gaya hai. Kucch bhi karta hai. Aur bolne jao toh bahut gussa karta hai…"
Student 1: "Someone should just tell him, I mean, he should have named the school as Harivansh Rai Bachchan. He was so deserving..."
Student 2: "True… he could have named it after his mom also. She was a strong lady."
Student 1: "Arre, his father-in-law was such a gentleman and a veteran journalist. He could have named it after his name also…lekin nahin, he thought of naming it after Ash."
Student 2: "And look at these media people… they are talking about it, as if it's some national news!"
Student 1: "Pata hai what will they teach in that school?
Student 2: "What?"
Student 1: "The art of giggling…"

I stepped out from the coffee shop and started thinking about the reaction which people are having after reading the news that Aishwarya Rai will have a school in her name, which is a gift from her father-in-law. I mean that's something really nice. I’m impressed with the kind of support Amitabh is giving to Ash. Even at the music launch of Jodhaa Akbar, pop-in-law came with Ash and attended the ceremony. Amitabh's endeavour deserves kudos. To start a school in a village that has the record of the highest rate of illiteracy is praiseworthy.

I pity that people don't know what a brilliant student Ash was. Plus, she's a successful name in today's world. The lady who has carved a niche with her potential and continues to be a thorough professional. But people still relate Ash with her 'predictable statements' and giggles. It's sheer ignorance.

At the same time, I feel that naming a school is something which one has to think about. Ash may be successful and talented, but it's too early to have an educational institution in her name. One might argue that it's absolutely Bachchan's personal choice.

Even after that, I strongly feel the school should be named after Amitabh's versatile and immensely talented father Late Harivansh Rai Bachchan. I’m sure even bahurani Ash would agree with me on this point…

NB: While talking about Harivansh Rai Bachchan, I came across an excerpt from his autobiography – In The Afternoon Of Time. Translated by Rupert Snell, the book was published by Penguin Books. A certain chapter in the book touched me. He writes:

"The wedding, long foreseen, was set for June 3, 1973 and was to be kept a secret, because with Amitabh's rising popularity, the crowds of admirers gathering around the house had been growing every day. The only guests to be invited from our side were the Rajans and the Gandhis."

"Jaya's family decided not to hold the ceremony at their flat in Beach House but at a friend's place on the top floor of the Skylark building in Malabar Hills, where it could pass off unnoticed. We sent a telegram to Jagdish Rajan to 'come with your family immediately', with no indication of the reason."

"Teji invited Mrs Gandhi by telephone: as was expected, she sent her felicitations but could not come herself (just as well – her coming would have been the end of the secrecy); Sanjay would represent the family."

"... The baraat was welcomed without fanfare in front of the Skylark building; a few people gathered to watch, but there were no crowds. We went up in the lift. Jaya was in her bridal adornment, and for the first time, I saw a bashful shyness on her face and realised what a particular aspect of beauty it is. She was enough of an actress to be able to simulate shyness, but what I saw now was very natural and real."

"A Bengali pandit conducted the marriage, whose ceremonial went on late into the night. The five baraatis had dinner and set off for home, leaving just the family members to eat alone after the proceedings were completed. Then, we too took our leave."

"Before we left, I embraced the father of my new daughter-in-law and congratulated him on getting a son-in-law like Amit, expecting him to say the same in respect of Jaya."

"But he said, 'My family is utterly ruined'."