I’ve been in Tamil Nadu for the last 4 days, and this morning, something interesting happened.
A family suddenly showed up outside my hotel, asking the reception to call me.
I went downstairs and met the family. He said that he has been following me on social media for the last 2-3 years.
I thanked him and we talked for around thirty minutes, but what was troubling me the most was how he knew I was staying in this hotel.
So I decided to ask. He replied that one of his relatives lives around this area and had spotted me entering the hotel earlier.
The relative felt too shy to come and meet me, so he told him instead, and he brought his family to see me.
I was at a hospital yesterday, and one person recognised me and started shouting with joy when he saw me.
In my experience, everyone in Tamil Nadu is extremely cheerful and sweet. They will literally go out of their way to help you.
So far, I have met around 10 people who know me, and each of them has gone out of their way to help me.
When I was at the hospital, the guy who recognised me stayed with me for the entire 3 hours because I couldn't speak Tamil.
He spoke to everyone on my behalf in Tamil and then translated everything back to me in English.
I never thought that I’d be getting so much love in Tamil Nadu, or that a state 2,000 km away from my home would have so many people who love me.
If you are not from Tamil Nadu, trust me, everything negative you see about the place on social media is a lie.
Each and every person is sweet and helpful, except auto drivers as they scammed me once, but it’s fine.
Everyone should visit Tamil Nadu once in their life and experience the warmth and love the people here have to offer. It is a truly beautiful state. I've fallen in love.
एक बार एक इंटरव्यू में नसीरुद्दीन ने कहा कि अमिताभ बच्चन का सार्थक सिनेमा में खास योगदान नहीं रहा क्योंकि वो विशुद्ध व्यावसायिक अभिनेता हैं.
इसके बाद एक पत्रकार ने अमिताभ बच्चन को यह बात बताई और उनकी प्रतिक्रिया चाही.
बच्चन ने कहा "जब नसीरुद्दीन शाह के जैसा अंतर राष्ट्रीय स्तर का अभिनेता कुछ कहता है तो आत्म मंथन करना चाहिये, प्रतिक्रिया नहीं देना चाहिए"
बहुत पहले दिलीप कुमार से किसी पत्रकार के कहा कि राज कपूर ने उनके बारे में कोई बयान दिया है और उसके बारे में दिलीप कुमार क्या कहना चाहते हैं
दिलीप कुमार ने कहा कि राज उनके बहुत प्रिय मित्र हैं और वो दिलीप कुमार के बारे में कुछ भी कह सकते हैं
एक दफा गुलज़ार से किसी ने उनके पांच सबसे पसंदीदा गीतकारों के नाम पूछे.
गुलज़ार ने पांच गीतकार गिनवा दिये, उसमे जावेद अख्तर का नाम नहीं था.
फिर क्या था एक पत्रकार ने ये बात जावेद अख्तर को बताई और प्रतिक्रिया चाही.
जावेद अख्तर ने कहा "इस बात पर बस मैं ये कह सकता हूँ कि गुलज़ार साहब की लिस्ट में जगह पाने के लिए मुझे अभी और मेहनत करना होगा"
बोलना और प्रतिक्रिया देना जरूरी है लेकिन संयम और सभ्यता का दामन नहीं छूटना चाहिये.
ये ही सहिष्णुता है.
साभार
◾Amitabh Shukla