Shatrughan Sinha a ‘gentleman – politician’
‘I am completely self-made’
SBy Chaitali B. Roy
hatrughan Sinha is anything but Khamosh (Silent), but then that is his trademark. One of India’s most outspoken actor-politician, he has never shied away from listening to his conscience and speaking out at times at great cost to himself. It is perhaps this honesty coupled with great talent, extraordinary oratorical skill, disarming humility, and charismatic stage presence that helped him to superstardom, and later stood him in good stead when he made the difficult transition to the murky and uncertain world of Indian politics where he earned the label of ‘gentleman — politician’. Shatrughan Sinha was here in Kuwait along with renowned Poonam Dhillon to celebrate the second anniversary of Life Again Foundation and World Health Day on April 7 at American International School. Life Again Foundation, a renowned nonprofit organization, was founded by Gautami Tadimall, an Indian film actress, and cancer survivor to inspire and support people in the pre/post-transformation stage of terminal disease. “Gautami is the life and soul of this project. She is a brave breast cancer survivor who spreads her message of empowerment through different events and programmes,” said the star politician who is known for his generous and ready support to different social causes.
On the sidelines of his visit to Kuwait, ‘Shotgun’ Sinha as he is popularly known for his straight, off the cuff remarks spent time with Arab Times sharing his views on a gamut of subjects including the current political situation in India. Known for taking the bull by the horn, Sinha has never refrained from slamming his own party which incidentally rules the centre.
When asked about rumours and speculations about his relationship with the party and in particular the Prime Minister and his frequent controversial comments that are deemed as anti-party the former union minister observed, “There is all kind of rumours doing the round. I want to say here very clearly that I still hold the Prime Minister in high esteem for the simple reason that he is not just the Prime Minister of my party but the country. Having said that I also want to add that he is the PM of the nation, and the nation is always bigger than the party.”
Corruption
“The question is whether I am speaking in favour of my country and society or not. If I say demonetization has been bad for the country, am I wrong? People have lost jobs, factories have shut down, and a lot more has happened. If I raise my voice, I am doing it for the country. I am not asking anything for myself,” said the politician with a clean image. “I must be one of the few fortunate ones in today’s political scenario without any allegation of corruption against him. There is no police case against me, no income tax scam. So if I am a gentleman politician, and if I speak in favour of civil society and future generation, if I raise my voice with logic based on truth, fact and experience shouldn’t I be appreciated and applauded?” he urged.
Speaking further on current developments in India, Sinha said, “What is happening is there is talk of development, there is talk of progress, but it is not happening at the pace at which it should happen. We still have a long way to go.” When asked about the issue of treatment of minorities, he explains, “There are some incidents, and they have to be condemned. At the same time, we have to remember that India is a huge country with a vast population. At times there are incidents, but they are blown so out of proportion that it seems the whole country is boiling, which is not true.”
Admirers
One cannot but admire the gumption of the man who unhesitatingly takes on the system despite being a part of it by asking uncomfortable questions through the effective use of his twitter handle. His fans and admirers believe that Sinha speaks out irrespective of the consequences. To what does he owe this candour and forthrightness? “It has been like this from the beginning. It is either you convince me, or I convince you, and this can only happen if conviction is based on truth.” According to him, his ability to shoot straight is rooted in his self-sufficiency and independence.
“Whether in reel life or real life, I am completely self-made,” said the star who belongs to a family of academicians and scientists. Not many know that his father did his education from the United States at a time when foreign education was rare in India. His brothers quite interestingly named Ram, Lakhan and Bharat earned their laurels in the fields of aviation, space and medical science. It was Sinha who chose to be different and followed his calling when he graduated from the elite Film and Television Institute of Pune. “There has been no role of anyone in whatever I have achieved either in films or politics. Since I am self-made and whatever I am because of my determination, passion, dedication I will not compromise on my value system. I am the verdict of the majority of the people of India,” said the politician who won his seat with record margins. “Let me work, speak and go ahead with the people who have made me what I am today.”
There are talks that disgruntled and disappointed with ‘ill-treatment’ meted out to him and some of his other colleagues, Sinha is planning to leave the party and joining others who have shown interest in roping him in. In fact, recently, it is rumoured that Mamta Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal appointed him and Yashwant Sinha Chief Advisor Cultural Affairs Bengal and Chief Advisor Economic Affairs (cabinet rank) respectively. “The news is right,” he affirms. “Mamta Banerjee has suggested, implemented and confirmed this appointment. I have been with the party through thick and thin from the time the partY had two seats at the centre. I did not join the party to leave it and that too for raising my voice for the people. But yes, if they want they can throw me out, but then a long time ago I said that before taking such a step they should remember Newton’s Third Law that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” Born in Bihar, Shatrughan Sinha is not only a political representative of the state, but a symbol of hard work, dedication, aspiration, ambition, talent and phenomenal success for its millions. In fact, the popular perception is that in the not so distant future Sinha may play a more important political role in leading his state which he helped bring to limelight. When asked why he chose to deviate from the well-walked path as a student, as an actor and as a politician, he has the last word, “I have always preached and practised that in this competitive world either prove yourself better than the best or prove yourself different from the rest.”