NDTV poll and BIG B

Today I was going through the results of a poll conducted by NDTV. As India celebrates its 60th year of Independence, NDTV conducted a poll to identify the icons, events and landmarks that have preoccupied Indians.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070022301

The results of the poll on India’s Greatest Icon caught my attention more than any other category that they had.

I wasn’t surprised but shocked to see the name of Amitabh Bachchan in that list of icons. I wasn’t surprised because he is a household name and that he is known to everyone in the country. I was surprised to see his name there along side the others in the category simply because I feel you cannot compare him with the likes of Mother Teresa, JRD Tata, Narayan Murthy or Indira Gandhi.

I know him as someone who ruled the bollywood in his days and off late one who has been endorsing products ranging from banks to paints, chocolates to washing powder. More recently as one who is trying to project himself as an actor farmer or a framer actor or whatever.

All this while if I had been sounding as someone who hates Big B please correct yourself. I love him on screen for all the role he does and for the way he came back strong after the debacle of his ABC Corp but I think he simply is not that big to get his name listed alongside others in that list.

Big B in that list means he has taken away a position that could have been filled by Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (he needs no introduction for all the things that he has done for India) or P.V. Narasimha Rao one who led one of the most important administrations in India's modern history overseeing a major economic transformation and several incidents affecting national security. Or one that could have been taken by Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji who when he was a PM gave a new definition and Attitude for India. May be even our current PM not for his stint as a PM but for his great work as a Finance Minister. I would have also liked to see the name of Dhirubhai Ambani and many more who have contributed a lot to India rather than just act and endorse products.

Anyways these were just my thoughts and hope all the people who voted for him think about this.

RJ.