Mumbai:
I had an eventful evening on Friday, as this was the most real, inspiring and heart-touching evening I have ever had in my nine years of entrepreneurship and attending numerous media events, parties and award shows.
In the poll season where political parties are looking at candidates who are winnable and can be considered Real Heros and embraced by people and communities in their constituencies, these Real Heros that I met on Friday represent hope. The moot point is: will political parties embrace them and give them tickets for them to make a lot more positive change?
Do political parties realise that these real heroes are perhaps the most winnable candidates they are looking for. They are widely acceptable, iconic and probably better candidates than the several tainted candidates with a questionable past who get tickets purely because of their caste and religion and not the work that they've done (like this former cricketer who got into the Congress and may well be
given a Lok Sabha ticket).
Will political parties and political leaders recognise and embrace these real heros who have been carrying on great work for years sans any selfish intent. They have not craved for publicity or financial reward or recognition of any kind. They are single-minded in their pursuit of making a difference to the people they serve. They are change agents of the real India. And they have no agenda!
I am proud to call myself an Indian after having been exposed to what they are doing. They are icons who have substance and grit. I would be happy to say that I want to be like them when I grow up. Everyone including me wants to be like them.
These silent warriors and change agents have missionary zeal, single-minded devotion, passion, hard work, focus and an utmost faith in god and the goodness of human beings. They understand and uphold their promise to their fellow human beings and have taken on responsibility willingly and happily that god thurst on them. They are honest, driven and devoid of the trappings of achievement.
They have achieved beyond their means and their noble intent is the driver and catalyst, which propels them.
As someone who got an Oscar once said "Fame is temporary, recognition is temporary and the only thing that says with me is my work and that is what matters to me."
Or as actor Kevin Costner said: "Real heroes are men who fall and fail and are flawed, but win out in the end because they've stayed true to their ideals and beliefs and commitments."
These Real Heroes are living their life with the above credo.
Each one more determined than ever to go back and scale up what they are doing with recognition and financial help they got.
The presence of these noble achievers lent credibility to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative and a very noble journalistic initiative of news channel CNN-IBN.
While initiatives to find leaders who can serve and govern are laudable, this programme has thrown up leaders who can serve, who are serving and have a track record.
I find it outlandish that we like bailing out failures (as even President Barack Obama has done in the United States). Instead, by recognising, funding and encouraging these real heroes, we could promote success and good deeds. That is a way India can lead the change in the world. These amazing human beings have shown that real change has to be oneself and you don't need self-help books or any
incentive to do good deeds. The have shown to all Indians that goodness is divine and will lead this country out of divisive nature of most initiatives in India.
Jai ho! I know the A R Rahman war cry has been much abused ever since he won the twin Oscars, but to me it resonates a belief and a sentiment that we can do it. Come what may. It is our duty to encourage the unknown Indians who, through their good and selfless deeds, are sowing the seeds of god's blessings.
Anurag Batra is a first generation entrepreneur and is chairman and editor-in-chief of the exchange4media group. Email abatra@exchange4media.com
