Ask any young man of my country, what is that one and only thing which he wants from life? If he is like John Lennon, then his answer will be “Happy”; and if not then he would end up saying that, he wants Fame, money and success. In 21st century to find a person who believes in John Lennon’s ideology is very rare. In most of the cases, a young man’s answer will be famous; because he is intelligent enough to realize fame will bring the money and power with it; where as there is no guarantee money or power can offer fame to any person.
In India, majority of the youth get attract towards movie industry, music industry or cricket. When I chose specifically cricket instead of game or sport; you may raise the question, why? It’s simply because each one of us realizes cricket can offer that much fame and money; which no other sports can give to an Indian. When you ask a person who wants to enter the movie industry, what he wants to do in film. In major cases the answer would be either Actor or Actress. Again it’s because not many young people want to work in the background. In India, everyone knows what sells and what not; so all of us want to sell ourselves at the highest rate.
When India reached to the semi final of cricket world cup; a statement made by an infamous model reached to the headline of all news channels. Because, for the first time in India a girl dared to say that, she would pose nude if India would win the world cup. Things like this happen in other countries during soccer world cup. But in India it’s for the first time; as it’s completely against our culture and moral values. I can assure you that, it was not the reason behind India winning the world cup. Because that model used to hide a little part of her body in the videos she appeared before this event took place, although no one cared much about seeing her bare body. So watching her nude would have hardly matters to our players or to majority of the people living in this beautiful country. Still she got what she intended, while giving such a dreadful statement. She got that attention of people very easily by giving such a bold statement; although she never dared to appear nude, once India won the cup.
Controversies are always considered as the easiest path towards fame. Many people choose that path; some choose to appear in public events with such a small dress that their inner wear would be caught in the camera (which indirectly help them to hit the top of that “trending now” list in the name of wardrobe malfunction); some choose to go for nude photo shoot, some chose to spread false rumors, some choose to give unnecessary statement to stay in the news and the list goes on.
But the question arises, what made all of us so hungry for that fame and attention. Let me simplify it for you. The dictionary meaning of fame is, “The condition of being known or talked about by many people, especially on account of notable achievements.”
But I wonder if someone is posing nude for a magazine is it a notable achievement. I hope somewhere we all are wrong with the way we are interpreting fame these days. We are somehow interpreting the word “Fame” in a wrong way or we are trying to achieve fame by doing cheap stuffs. To achieve something it sometimes take a whole life time; so how can someone get it within few minutes, few hours or in few days of his(her) life. Actually it’s our entire fault; we give unnecessary attention to those people who do not deserve it and help them live with the illusion as if they are famous. The day we will start ignoring people like them and stuffs they do; automatically the system will change. If people stop watching them, then the media will stop covering their stories. It’s a fact that media covers only those stories, which interests a large group of people.
There is nothing wrong in striving for fame, or trying to grab attention of others by doing right stuffs, by doing stuffs that will make us proud in one way or other.
I will not afraid to say, I too want to see myself as famous, not only because I want to be recognized by others or appreciated by others for my work. But as I born and brought up in a country, where I have to live with, I have to compete with and to adjust with 1.2 billion other people all though my life. So I hope fame will make my voice Lauder, my presence brighter and will offer me a medium or platform by which my thoughts will transmit very clear. We all need money, and most of the people now have it with them. But I want fame; because, I want to speak to others, by not standing in the crowd, but standing on the stage with the microphone in my hand, so that people will remain silent and listen to my voice when I will try to make them realize our duty as humans, or I will try to convince them, what we are doing is wrong or will ask them for support for a specific cause. We live most of our lives as a common man like million others, shouting on the road for a right cause even though no one bothers listening to us. So if fame gives a person a platform to speak, a louder voice which will be audible to millions of other people; then there is nothing wrong in it. But a person who gets it, need to use it properly. He should never feel afraid to speak the truth or to fight for the right cause. Fame is something people gift him without expecting anything in return; so a person need to realize it’s his duty and responsibility to try and bring change in lives of those people who have changed his life. Fame does not only mean, people running behind a person for autographs and photographs or facing the limelight all the time.
We need to realize fame not only makes us one among millions, but also it brings some responsibility with it. We need to behave and act responsibly while we get a chance to live with that state of fame. Fame is temporary; we need to try to make the most out of it by using the attention in a good way.
Maxi
December 16, 2012
The most important lesson I have learned in life: “It is better to be respected than to be rich and famous.”
Blessings to you, Arindam ~ Maxi
Arindam
December 18, 2012
Yes Maxi, I agree with you to a great extent, But somehow, what I realize is that there are very few people who get respect without being rich or famous from people other than their family members and friends. I think that’s why fame and money show their power.
LuAnn
December 17, 2012
Well thought out post Arindam.
Arindam
December 18, 2012
Thank you, LuAnn.
Carl D'Agostino
December 17, 2012
I had many dreams when I was young. There have been successes, failures, disappointments and accomplishments. Looking back simply being a good decent father is most enriching of all.
Arindam
December 18, 2012
Yes Sir, I will agree with you. At the end of the day what matters the most is what we give to our family and in return what we get from them.
earthriderjudyberman
December 17, 2012
There is fame (famous) or infamy (infamous). The latter is well known, but not in a good way.
I like the direction you are choosing: “a person needs to realize it’s his duty and responsibility to try and bring change in lives of those people who have changed his life.” That is a path that leads to respect and I wish you all the best in achieving your goals.
Sunshine
December 17, 2012
Perhaps a few famous people had good intentions to do good with their fame but I suspect many famous people are rarely free agents with rights to do as they please. Just thinking about the famous Marilyn Monroe. She seemed to have everything…looks, fame, money but was her fame hers alone or a whole industry just using her for their own gain? So maybe the lesson is if you are striving to be famous, try to do it without any strings attached to anyone or any industry so you can use your fame as you please. 🙂
All the best to you, Arindam.
happykidshappymom
December 19, 2012
Hi Arindam, these are good questions you ponder. I’m not sure what the big draw is toward fame, or why so many surrender to its pull every day. I had a taste of it, in a very small way, when I was a news reporter. And since then — I’ve done everything I can to remain anonymous. I even started my blog under a fake name. Everyone has a different definition of what it means to be famous. But among them all is the general feeling of notoriety. I can’t say if that’s good or bad, but I feel the best among us are so often the least celebrated. The quiet heroes.
becwillmylife
December 19, 2012
Thanks for such a thought provoking post, Arindam. It is my humble belief that people are happy only when they are giving their time, talents and gifts to others. I think it pertains to both the famous and infamous. In the states, we have athletes and celebrities who have fame and so many are miserable. The ones who seem to be at peace are the famous who give back to society.
Patti Kuche
December 21, 2012
Wow, Arindam . . . !
Arindam
December 23, 2012
🙂 Thanks Patti.
dearrosie
December 23, 2012
Another thought provoking post. Good one too
I don’t want fame. At the end of each day when I put my head on the pillow I want to feel as though I’ve touched/helped at least one human being…
pattisj
January 4, 2013
Too many are happy with the “15 minutes of fame.” Character is what people will remember.