Author: Shobha De
Publication: The Times of India
Date: April 15, 2001
Shantilal Mutha isn't on anybody's
A-list - at least, not in our metros. Page Three ignores the man completely,
mainly because Page Three is not aware of his existence. Which may be why
Shantilal Mutha was not present at Bill Clinton's banquets in either Mumbai
or Delhi. Bill Clinton therefore didn't pump his hand aid drawl: "Let's
do a picture together."
And Shantilal Mutha didn't have
to push past Raveena Tandon, or Hrithik Roshan to get into the frame. Bill
Clinton's minders didn't think of including Shantilal Mutha's name on their
Mission Gujarat junket. They preferred movie stars and rent-a-cause socialites.
Which automatically means that Shantilalbhai didn't get to board their
chartered plane. Or have Billy-boy tell him, "I feel your pain", through
an interpreter.
Social service organisations that
meet at swanky five-star venues did not invite Shantilal to address their
members (between soup and the main course). It could be because Shantilalbhai
does not have a readymade road show on Gujarat's tragedy. A road show so
slickly put together, that audiences forget the earthquake and ask the
name of the ad agency that's put it together.
Shantilalbhai hasn't done the NRI
circuit asking richie rich overseas desis for money over glamorous fund-raisers.
Neither has he approached retired movie stars to help pump up the cause.
People may have advised Shantilalbhai to stage a grand fashion show and
give a piddly amount to the earthquake relief Chances are, fashion designers
wouldn't have taken the man's calls - remember, he's just Shantilalbhai
from Gujarat and not a ravishing Water Baby. Or the American ambassador's
wife.
This man hasn't organised an art
auction for Gujarat, for pretty much the same reasons. Manjit Bawa wouldn't
play the dhol for him. Nor would connoisseurs show up in fine clothes to
bid absurd amounts for a favourite Laloo Prasad show. Auction houses haven't
bothered with Shantilalbhai so far - what's the point in conducting an
event minus hi-voltage glamour and publicity?
Shantilalbhai hasn't had to cancel
any cocktail parties (and issue a press release about the cancellation),
mainly because he doesn't throw parties (with or without cocktails) or
attend them. He hasn't had to wipe away his tears at conveniently staged
photo-ops (perfectly pitched, beautifully handled by canny PR agents).
Nor has he convened round table discussions with high-profile do-gooders
to "find long-term solutions" to the crisis in Gujarat. Why bother? When
the people involved have such short-term memories?
Shantilalbhai hasn't announced grandiose
plans stating he has adopted this village or that village. Or taken over
this programme or that programme. Or given so many crores and distributed
so many blankets.
Poor Shantilalbhai. The reason he
hasn't done any of the things listed above, is because he simply hasn't
found the time. He has been far too busy. Busy feeding 25,000 people a
day. Busy putting up 600 schools. Busy making sure there are enough rations,
enough water, enough blankets for the needy. Busy busy, busy. Working night
and day with volunteers from the Akhil Bharatiya Jain Sanghatna. He doesn't
know he's supposed to pose for photographs with out-of job presidents.
Or dance with filmstars. Or participate in auctions. Or stage cultural
extravaganzas. Or flog paintings. Or host fashion shows. Or participate
in talk shows. Or attend charity polo/ golf/ tennis/ cricket matches. Or
organise premieres. Or do anything other than what he does so well - look
after the needy. People call Shantilalbhai a fool for not capitalising
on his good work. They said that even after Latur. He was there then. And
he's here now. Working tirelessly. Because he wants to. Because he has
to. And sorry folks, Shantilal Mutha really and truly does not have the
time of day for Bill Clinton. You can have the ex-prez Raveena Tandon.
