Millennium Star Amitabh Bachchan & Politics

World fame Indian cine artist, millennium star Amitabh Bachchan is well known in politics also along with his activities in films. After the murder of Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1984, for giving a helping hand to her elder son Rajiv Gandhi, due to his family relations with Nehru-Gandhi family, he came to forefront in 1985, as a member of Congress (I), largest political party of India. Amitabh Bachchan contested the parliamentary election on congress party ticket in 1985 from Allahabad (56) parliamentary constituency situated in Uttar Pradesh, the biggest state of India. Regarding his taking part in politics, he had said it many a time that it was his wrong decision because he did not know politics. As a matter of chance I worked as a political associate of Amitabh Bachchan in 1985 elections in Allahabad. So I had to help him in political correspondence from time to time. After that, one of his letters in October 1987, Bachchan wrote to me and confirmed his faith that he would always be linked with congress and the works of national welfare and would always try for its progress.

Anyhow it is a matter of 1987, about two decades earlier. Since then, Indian politics has passed through many political upheavals, new political equation and rise and fall of many political parties. In 1985, when Amitabh stepped in politics through the congress party, he was star campaigner of congress and one of the most trustworthy companions of Nehru Gandhi family. But after his entrance in politics, he tasted so bitter an experience which perhaps any other film artist might not had. During that period, his political concerns kept him away from the film & besides that some zealous congress leaders laid a conspiracy to insult, to indignity & to dishonour him. In short, his two & half years of involvement in Indian politics, he was so fed up that he resigned from the membership of Lok Sabha in 1987 & he had to come back to his main occupation in film industry. During this period, Amitabh Bachchan bore a great economic loss & had a heavy burden.

At that time Amitabh was in hot waters. Not to say of helping struggling Amitabh, perhaps there was no one in the Congress Party who could understand his mental pain. But an active regional party in Uttar Pradesh in India named Samajwadi Party recognised this Zen & some skilled players in politics won his confidence. With the passage of time, the economic condition of Amitabh began to improve. This great hero got a highly dignified title in India Padam Shri by 1987, during the Congress regime. After leaving Congress party, this great hero reached the embellishing point to have the supreme & honourable ranks as Padam Bhushan & Millennium star. Whereas even his statue was configured in world famous museum of Madam Tussad in London. Flowers started to get name Amitabh in Singapore. On the other side, during this period of two decades, the distance between this great hero & the families of first Prime Minister Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru & Smt. Indira Gandhi went on increasing; some companions came into the life of Amitabh whom he introduces as his chum or brother. Undoubtedly these friends of Amitabh did some good to him but today those friends seem to be demanding price for that obligations.

In spite of many efforts of Amitabh to remain away from politics, reminding Amitabh of that good turns & obligations, Big B is being said to return those good turns. The people who had been near to him & knew his well, know it that he is not dishonest. He is not cunning like skilled politicians. He doesn't have crafty & deceitful habits. He is trustworthy & keeps this attribute in his mind. Regarding his love from public, I don't hesitate to say that when he was in active politics & was present on stage to address the election meetings, people wanted to hear him & none else.

Congress could not make use of this public love for Amitabh, but the skilled organisers of ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh used his this ability. They did some good turns & obliged him & still he is finding himself unable to return those obligations. The skill of these skilled politicians doesn't find an end. They want to keep entrapped, not only Amitabh but all the members of his family so that this great hero who is most popular among the public may not be away from their trap. These obligations may be such as to get membership of Rajya Sabha to former cine artist, Jaya Bachchan, wife of Amitabh Bachchan & make it a point of honour or it may be honouring Abhishek Bachchan, the star of Indian Cinema & son of Amitabh Bachchan with Yash Bharti, as honourable award or may be making the films of Amitabh Bachchan & Abhishek Bachchan, entertainment tax free in Uttar Pradesh. All these obligations are a magic hallucination played on the family of Amitabh. As a result of it, Big B is finding it difficult to through away the shackles of these obligations & as it is his habit & nature, he wants to do something in return for it.

Although Amitabh Bachchan is saying that he would not join the politics yet it is being seen that by one excuse or another, he is being active in politics. He has taken part in many programmes in Uttar Pradesh along with Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party president & Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. In an ad by telling the law & order situation of Uttar Pradesh, a better one, Big B has given a hint about his coming future desires. Now there is a news that the Samajwadi Party may put him as a candidate for the President ship in India. Now there is also going on of unfurling National Flag on the top of 'Ashirwaad' & 'Jalsa', the two residences of Amitabh in Bombay.

No one can doubt the attraction, glamour & ability of Amitabh. The shortcoming in Amitabh can only be seen by his two decades earlier friends when he was busy in making the hands of Rajiv Gandhi, strong. Now the chess being played seems a big planned conspiracy in the efforts to eliminate the relations prevailed between Bachchan-Nehru families. Today, when Amitabh has got the honour as Big B & many selfish & crafty people are around him but he should never forget that in his life journey from Amitabh to Big B, Nehru-Gandhi family has always stood by him. Today a ditch between Nehru-Bachchan families is being made wide & deep by a conspiracy. They have opened the desire of Bachchan to become the President, just to win his admirers, but it is not being told that if Amitabh is kind enough who has the desire to become the Prime Minister of India? It is not being told that who will be the Finance Minister & who will be the Home Minister, if by the blessings of Big B they get the central power in India? Again & again, the obligations done for Amitabh are being propagated. Amitabh is a skilled artist. He should keep in mind the every artistic step taken by the politicians. But he himself is taking part in showing down to Nehru-Gandhi respectable family & is with his friends then it is something different otherwise he should think it that some people are using him as a medium to reach the highest point of central power. Amitabh should not ignore his old political experience whatever it is. They are also part of the same political system. If after keeping in mind, Amitabh is a part of this conspiracy, and then undoubtedly, he may have to face the danger of declining popularity & that too for the sake of his faithfulness & friendship. If such situation arises, nobody will be able to compensate that loss, he may be the self styled friend or brother of Big B.

(About the Author) Writer Tanveer Jafri is a columnist in India related with hundreds of most popular daily news papers/portals in india and abroad.Almost, he writes in the field of communal harmony, world peace, anti communalism, anti terrorism, national integration, national & international politics etc.He is a devoted social activist for world peace, unity, integrity & brotherhood. He is also a member of Haryana Sahitya Academy & Haryana Urdu Academy (state govt. bodies in India). Thousands articles of the author have been published in different newspapers, websites & newsportals throughout the world. He is also a receipent of so many awards in the field of Communal Harmony & other social activities. (Email : tanveerjafriamb@gmail.com )

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