I want people to remember me as a friend: Nasser Khan

Disability is not a brave struggle or courage in the face of adversity. Disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live.’ - Neil Marcus

Life is complicated for many, but easy for those who instead of complaining about what they don’t have try to make the best of whatever they have for achieving their aim. One such admirable person is the visually challenged Naseer Khan, whose debut release ‘Shadow’ is touted to be a different kind of cinema.

Born with visual defect owing to cataract, he has been operated upon several times. An enthusiastic and dedicated person, he learnt to drive a scooter and car at the age of 12. Even in Class VII, when he lost his eyesight completely, his failure never stopped him from setting sight on the stars. Born and brought up in Kanpur, the man is perfect example of sheer genius and positive attitude towards life. An industrialist, an actor, a producer and may be a director in near future, he is versatile and never fails to amaze with his long list of achievements.

The debut actor in an exclusive interview with Devika Chhibber of Zeenews.com shared some cherished memories through the journey of his life.

Devika: Tell me something about Nasser Khan - the man?
Nasser: Well Nasser Khan is filled with optimism, has a positive attitude towards life, is dedicated, and can learn things very quickly. He also has a very strong sixth sense and can never forget those whom he has met once.

Devika: Please tell us about the journey of your life?
Nasser: Since childhood I suffered from this eye problem therefore after studying for some years in a local school I directly took admission in 5th standard in St Joseph convent in Kanpur, but could not study after 7th grade. During those three years, I topped in each class but then I had to leave school. A tutor was kept for English, Hindi, Maths, Arabic and Urdu. I also learnt to type and later in 1996 started my own leather tannery. Now I am into Saddlery export and cosmetics business. So, the journey so far has been favourable.

Devika: Please tell us something about your family background?
Nasser: Apart from my other relatives, I have a beautiful wife and a 10-month old daughter Ayesha.

Devika: What would you like to be called - Nasser Khan the industrialist or the actor?
Nasser: I prefer Nasser Khan the industrialist because as a businessman I am able to enjoy all the comforts of life. I have peace, freedom, independence, money and all the luxuries of life. Being an actor is a hectic job for sure.

Devika: ‘Shadow’ is doing well in theatres, tell us about behind-the-scene incidents?
Nasser: Sonali Kulkarni and Milind Soman are very fine actors to work with. They used to be so patient while I used to rehearse my lines. I am really lucky that I got a chance to work with such talented actors in my very first movie. Let me share an experience I got my leg fractured on the sets. But my co-actors were wonderful as ever. They never complained about anything.

Devika: Why did you choose Sonali Kulkarni and Milind Soman?
Nasser: Well, to be very honest nobody wants to work with a new actor in Bollywood - that’s a known fact, which was repeated in my case. And I was determined to take those actors who would sign my movie for the sake of role and not money and the rest is history.

Devika: Why did you want to become an actor? Were you not skeptical about your acceptance in the industry?
Nasser: I wanted to become an actor because I wanted people to know about me and how I struggled in life and how I reached here. For this it was necessary to first introduce myself. Let me share a secret (with a smile) - I don’t invest into anything where I am doubtful about the returns.

Devika: You are visually challenged. How difficult it is to exist with that kind of handicap in the world?
Nasser: It is very difficult I must admit and quite a number of times I felt very depressed, but then you have to face reality and accept that you are part and parcel of this world. Hence I am here. I have learnt to face life instead of blaming others for my troubles.

Devika: What made you feel depressed?
Nasser: I remember when I was in 7th standard I lost my vision then I tried to shun the world, maintained distance with all those who loved me. I became very frustrated and used to remain in my room even on festive occasions. But finally, I gathered courage to fight the darkness.

Devika: Share with us the happiest moment in your life.
Nasser: Recently when I received ‘India book of Record Award’ for my work in ‘Shadow’, I was really excited. I was on the verge of crying that day.

Devika: Is there anything else you wanted but have not achieved?
Nasser: No, I don’t think so. I have achieved whatever I wanted to and wished for in my life. Yes, now I want to direct a movie and soon you will hear me directing my next venture.

Devika: What inspires you?
Nasser: Bluntly speaking, whenever somebody ignored or snubbed me about something I was inspired to do that particular thing. The first instance came when one of my relatives told me not to touch a typewriter because I was blind and would therefore destroy it but today I thank him. It was because of him that I learnt both Hindi and English typewriting, my first step towards the success ladder.

Devika: Your upcoming ventures?
Nasser: I have two upcoming movies in line ‘Rocky Rockstar’ - an action packed thriller and ‘Rajasthan weds Punjab’, which is a soft romantic movie.

Devika: What kind of music do you like?
Nasser: I love the song ‘Dil de diya hai, jaan tumhe denge’ from ‘Masti’. All Kishore Kumar songs are my favourite. Among female singers I like Asha Bhonsle. Sunidhi Chauhan is yet another favourite and for the same reason I made her sing two songs in ‘Shadow’. I am also crazy for party songs.

Devika: What would you like to do for others like you?
Nasser: I love to help the needy; rest is very personal to answer.

Devika: How would you define beauty and how will you relate it with life?
Nasser: Beauty for me is not materialistic or something which you can see through eyes. For me beauty is when somebody or something touches your soul and whose feel lasts forever.

Devika: How would you like people to remember you?
Nasser: I would like people to remember me as a friend and yes, girls please don’t remember me as ‘Bhai’.

Devika: What’s your message to the world?
Nasser: Tu sansen hai tu dhadkan hai tu zindagi ki aas hai, Tu aarzoo, tu justju, mujhe teri hi talash hai…. (You are my breath, you are my pulse, you are my hope of life, you are the thirst, you are the passion, and you are the desired one I search for in life.)

Here is the link- http://www.zeenews.com/news557507.html

Gaining Independence from illiteracy

India’s literacy growth rate since independence: 18% to 65% as per 2001 consensus
Male literacy rate: 76%
Female literacy rate: 54%
Variation from state to state: Kerala’s 91% against 47% in Bihar

Statistics mentioned above indicate that while progress has been made, measures have been far from adequate. We therefore need to upgrade our education system so that illiteracy can be completely uprooted from India. No matter how hard we try to fight the problem, it simply seems to persist. That even after 62 years of independence we have to lay stress on this issue is a shame- but at least it’s better than brushing it under the carpet.

India, the land of Vedas, where we have learnt over the years that culture flourishes with literature, is one of the nations with highest illiteracy rates. Even underdeveloped countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand have achieved higher literacy levels in shorter time.

In his India Development Report 2002, Kirit S. Parikh pointed out, “With a literacy rate of 65, we have 296 million illiterates, age seven years and above, as per the 2001 census. The number of illiterates today exceeds the population of the country of around 270 million at Independence, age seven and above.”

Our society faces several challenges in the form of poverty, unemployment, child labour, female feticide, overpopulation etc. But all of them evolve from illiteracy which is actually the mother of most our problems.

A high literacy rate can contribute to valuable social and economic participation by the people which will go a long way in human development and poverty eradication. Spread of education is necessary for modernization, urbanization, industrialization, communication and commerce. You name an issue and literacy will be a prerequisite for its solution.

Illiteracy in India can be easily characterized by the wide gaps between the urban and rural populations. The urban population is more educated and therefore desires a life of comfort and luxury. On the other hand, the rural population depends on agriculture for their survival. They are the food providers of our country, who work for basic necessities and thus feel no need for education in their lives.

Children in rural areas drop out of schools for a variety of reasons: some leave because of a sheer lack of interest; others quit so that they can work in fields or elsewhere, while some have no other choice due to inaccessibility and lack of school teachers.

In villages, a large percentage of the dropouts are females. Forced by their parents, they are limited to performing household chores. They are married at a very early age and are taught since birth that what is important for them is their family and the looking after the house. Education is not even a secondary item on their to-do lists. Inadequate number of teachers and their absence in schools across the country is another roadblock towards complete literacy. A large number of teachers refuse to teach in rural areas and those who do, are usually under-qualified. Many teachers lack the necessary enthusiasm because of their meagre salaries.

In one of his research papers, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has mentioned, ‘Absenteeism of comparatively well-paid teachers, particularly where bulk of the students come from scheduled castes and tribes, poses a major problem. Students are circumstantially forced to go in for private tuitions. Sometimes the very institutions that were created to overcome disparities and barriers tend to act as reactionary influences in reinforcing inequality.’

Lack of infrastructure like buildings, benches, books etc is a widespread problem too. Some schools are located in warehouses while others in small thatched rooms which are of little use during rains. Many rural schools operate without electricity. The distribution of government funds is another major hindrance in the reform of our educational system. According to World Bank, ‘30 % of the total educational funding goes toward higher educational institutions.’ What with announcements of quota in higher education and an increase in the number of IIMs & IITs, the government clearly cares little for primary education.

Even private institutions are seen to be a hindrance in the progress of children. In such schools, the children from poor households are seen as lowly, below average and thus not fit to sit and study with the children of upper caste or class. Untouchability has been abolished but this new rift between rich and poor students continues to take its toll on the country’s fortunes.

Our education system is more or less a remnant of the long gone colonial system of the British Empire. No emphasis is ever laid on vocational courses, which can provide many job opportunities. "We are bumbling along with this out modeled system of elementary education, which is a real shame," says Krishna Kumar, director of the Central Institute of Education in New Delhi.

Reservation is yet another problem. Though it exists in other countries as well, reservation in India has a totally different approach. Our government grants reservations on the basis of caste when the correct basis of granting quotas must be the economic standards of the people. As a result, even better off backward caste students seek to get an entry in venerable institutions like the AIIMS through petty quotas. Quality be damned, seems to be the motto of such policies.

Amidst this gloom, a recent welcome measure has been the passage of the Right to Education bill, during this session of Parliament. Its guidelines are like this: - Compulsory education for children between 6-14 yrs- Rs 10,000 fine if any child prevented from going school - No selection and screening process to choose preference over candidates- No physical punishments- States need to plan techniques to monitor advancements in the program- Roping in private schools to keep 25% seats reserved at entry level- Banning capitation fees.

It is a commitment that has taken decades to get fulfilled, but more efforts will be needed to implement it properly. As we have seen all these years, only directions and guidelines cannot resolve any crisis in the country

Various organizations and schemes have been fighting this problem. In 2003, the Magsaysay Award was awarded to Shantha Sinha in recognition of her work to end child labour, a major reason for illiteracy. The Supreme Court, in 1993, ruled that children had a fundamental right to free education.

The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan launched in 2001 was to ensure that all children in the age group 6–14 years attend school and complete eight years of schooling by 2010. District Primary Education Programme launched in 1994 has so far started more than 160,000 new schools, including almost 84,000 alternative schools. The National Literacy Mission, launched in 1988 aimed at attaining a literacy rate of 75% by 2007.

India is developing but at a very slow rate and one of the main reasons is the low level of literacy. Literacy enables a person to think rationally- for himself and others around him. A literate person is aware of all his fundamental rights and duties. It is a kind of panacea to fight problems like communalism, terrorism and under development. Not only the government, but also every literate citizen should contribute in battling the demon of illiteracy.

Each one should teach one if we are to become a superpower. Mahatma Gandhi once said, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ So let us enlighten the world by bringing this change into our and everybody’s lives.

Here is the link---http://www.zeenews.com/IndiaFirst/story.aspx?aid=555164

Woes of an Indian village

Isi gali mein wo bhuka kisan rehta hai Ye wo zameen hai jahan aasman rehta hai - Munavvar Rana (This is the lane where the hungry farmer resides; this is the ground where the sky belongs)

Can anybody forget July 27th, the day when it poured heavily in Delhi for 6 hours? Arrival of the monsoon was a blessing in disguise and a happy respite from the sultry weather. I was glad that the refreshing showers had finally greeted Delhi, but all my spirits vanished in thin air when a friend showed me the acute reality in so many parts of our country, with or without the rains.

It was my friend’s birthday, so I thought that I would probably be getting a delicious treat somewhere. But to my shock, he took me to a village on the outskirts of Ghaziabad in UP.

It’s called Milak Duhaipur and the village basically comprises Gujjar population. Initially, the greenery and the beautiful surroundings impressed me. I was quite sure that the farmers residing there must be rich and prosperous, but reality struck me soon enough. I learnt about their constant struggle for survival in the difficult circumstances.

Water, water, everywhere, not a drop to drink- the scenario fit Coleridge’s legendary lines. Just a day ago we were celebrating the onset of monsoons in Delhi, but in this village, the vast spread of water was dirty, unhygienic and germ-infested.

The farmers there face grave troubles. Sugarcane cultivation has been nearly clogged due to untimely rainfall. Half of their crops have dried up and termite has finished the remaining harvest. Due to the continuous use of pesticides, the quality of their lands has declined which further adds to their misery. Allotment of nine hours of electricity every week to a farmer is of no use either. Imagine these conditions prevail when this village falls next to the highway!

Farming is their ancestral occupation, but, in the current situation, the land is becoming increasingly uncultivable. Because of these reasons agriculturists are so poor that they have only rags to wear. Their children are perfect examples of malnourishment. Their wives work with them in the field. Very few have basic amenities, forget about any other modern equipment. Most don’t even own a tractor and still depend on the traditional system of using animals for cultivation.

To describe in the words of Dushyant Kumar: ‘Kahan to tai tha charagan harek ghar ke liye, kahan charag mayassar nahi sheher ke liye’ ( Once basic amenities where promised to every household, but fulfillment of those promises has just become a dream even for the urbanites)

Villagers have thus taken to doing temporary labour in brick kilns, rice mills and embroidery factories, which have gained an easy access into their farming lands. Wages are so meager for most that they resort to extreme measures of sometimes even selling their children to others. `Kya Karen, kai baar aisa karna padta hai, warna kya khayenge, apna aur bachchon ka pet kaise palenge`, (What to do, we have to sometimes do this, otherwise what will we eat and how will we feed the children), they say grimly.

For them, raising children is no different from raising a crop. Children can be sold for a profit as wheat, isn`t it? That’s what many say.

Indebtedness, crop failure and the inability to pay back loans due to high rates of interest lead them to commit suicide. Due to the decline in lending by government banks, farmers have no option but to turn to private money lenders whose interest rates are much higher.

More and more farmers have failed to earn enough to pay back their loans and so have fallen deeper into debts. The phrase ‘peasant lives and dies in debt’ fits completely.

Already 58 out of 71 districts in UP have been formally declared as drought hit. Normally being declared drought hit means farmers will get a lot of doles from government. However the point is as to how much actually reaches them. It would be worth watching as to how Mayawati and Rahul Gandhi`s turf war will play out for those who constitute the biggest vote bank for any party - farmers.

It goes without saying that the life for these poor farmers is harsh and severe. Once the owners of land, they are no more than slaves today. Parting with their ancestral freedom for submission has a price, which is hard to bargain. With their deteriorating condition, the age old way of livelihood country is also fading away- that’s what I realized in that small village.

Visiting Milak Duhaipur was an eye opener for me. Here is a little tribute for the food providers of our country…

Mehnat ki dastaan hai, Har pal ek imtihan hai, Mitti ki khushboo me girta pasina, Kabhi lahlahati kabhi sookhi faslein, Haan ye kissa-ae-Kisan hai ...

(This is the saga of hard work, each moment is a test, the scent of land in enriched with their sweat, sometimes a flourishing harvest sometimes a drought and this is the story of a farmer)

Here is the link- http://www.zeenews.com/blog/26/blog195.html

Chandamama - My friend forever

Maiya main to chand khilona lehon (Mother I only want the toy named moon)

Now, let me remember when it was that I first heard this rhyme. Hmmm… I must have been 5 or 6 years old. One day I asked my father what was that big white dot in the sky (Moon), which travels with us. With a cheerful smile he answered, “it’s your bedtime friend ‘Chandamama’ beta,” and delivered the lines. He also explained that it was Lord Krishna, who first recited them.
While writing this piece I was struck afresh by the large cultural space that Moon- the celestial body- occupies. ‘Chandamama’ as all of us call the Moon, is a part and parcel of everybody’s childhood. A small child is always happy to be in his company while travelling. All bedtime stories are incomplete without him.

Moon has always been the centre of attraction of my childhood memories. My mother used to warn me that Moon will disappear if I were to leave my homework incomplete, and on No Moon days I used to be very upset and depressed that my best friend had forgotten me for some unknown reason.

I think one can never forget the famous lesson in our English books `Rabbit on the Moon`. I read in my history book that in 1835, the ‘Great Moon Hoax’ fooled some people into thinking that there were exotic animals living on the Moon. Since ages the contrasts between the brighter and darker areas have created a pattern seen by different cultures as some human like creature on the Moon, while others believed it to be rabbit and the buffalo.

In every person’s life, youth is a period of freshness, with wonderful dreams and passions for life. Love is one such relationship that forms an essential element of this phase and what better than the enchanting moon to portray it?

Be it the lovers’ paradise or a parameter for beauty, Moon has been seen in all these roles. The metaphor of the darkened moon, or the incomplete moon, has been used to express one’s sadness. In the words of Parveen Shakir- “Pura dukh aur adha chand, Hijr ki shab aur aisa chand”. Full pain, and half a moon, Night of separation and such a moon.

Moon depicts romanticism in the best possible way and magnifies the beauty of love. Bashir Badra says- “Wo ghazal walon ka usloob samjhte honge Chand kehten hain kise khoob samjhte honge” She understands the principles of ghazal writers, Who is called moon, she must know.

The Moon has also been the subject of many works of art and literature and the inspiration for countless others. It is a motif in the visual arts, the performing arts, poetry, prose and music. It has taken several roles in the lyrics of some very famous songs such as "Blue Moon", "No Moon at All", "Moonlight Serenade" and "Moonlight in Vermont ". The Moon is also viewed as an unobtainable object in songs such as "Reaching for the Moon", "I Wished on the Moon" and "Oh, You Crazy Moon", once again mirroring the situation of the protagonist. Michael Jackson`s ‘moonwalk’ is yet another example of using the ‘moon’ word.

A glance at the most romantic Bollywood flicks shows its abundant use for creating all manner of scenes. Who can ever forget the famous description of Dimple Kapadia given by Rishi Kapoor in the evergreen hit `Sagar`.

“Chehra hai ya chand khila hai, zulf ghanehri shaam hai kya Saagar jaisi aankhon wali, ye to bata tera naam hai kya…….”

Moon effectively plays a significant role in some of India`s most prominent festivals like Karwa Chauth, Holi, Diwali and Eid, which are mainly observed on Full Moon, No Moon or First Moon days. It is also a prominent feature of astrological studies and in making horoscopes. Another unique astronomical phenomenon which involves Moon is eclipses.

Being the nearest celestial body, it continues to be a source of great interest to scientists. In 1949, history was created when Apollo-I spacecraft landed on the moon and Neil Armstrong and Edvin Aldrin took their first steps on its surface. Recently India also tried its hand by initiating Chandrayaan-I mission to study the features of the moon surface.

The moon has always been a source of mystery to the human race. It has been associated with mythology, beauty and darkness. There goes a very famous saying that, “Every one is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody”. Yes, Moon also has its presence in several horror flicks, which does make you bite your nails. Often it is associated with the dark world where witches love to perform all their witch crafts, blood-thirsty vampires sacrifice humans and beasts or Werewolves come into full power on the full moon day.

Even the Ramsay brothers of Bollywood applied all their blood churning dramatic horror formulae on either Full Moon or No Moon days. But since that side is always turned away from us, let us focus on the bright side we see. In the end, let me express my feelings, a once in a blue moon phenomenon, through this song.

Blue Moon in the The Marcels - by Lorenz Hart Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone Without a dream in my heart Without a love of my own Blue Moon, you knew just what I was there for You heard me saying a prayer for Someone I really could care for And then there suddenly appeared before me The only one my arms will ever hold I heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me" And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold Blue Moon, now I'm no longer alone Without a dream in my heart Without a love of my own Blue Moon