(((This is proof that the guys who write those florid lyrics for Bollywood flicks can be bold, high-minded public intellectuals.)))
"Javed Akhtar was born on January 17, 1945 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh to Jan Nisar Akhtar, a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet, and Safia Akhtar, a teacher and writer. His lineage can be traced back to seven generations of writers. The highly respected Urdu poet Majaz was his maternal uncle and the works of his grandfather, Muzter Khairabadi, are looked upon as a milestone in Urdu poetry. Akhtar has one sibling; his younger brother is renowned psychoanalyst Salman Akhtar."
National Honour for Javed Akhtar
Posted online: Friday, November 10, 2006 at 0000 hours IST
The 21st Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration was conferred on poet/lyricist Javed Akhtar by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi on October 31. Glowing tributes were paid to Akhtar’s efforts in upholding secular values and fight against religious fundamentalism of all hues, by Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
"Prime Minister Sir, Smt Sonia Gandhi, Shri Moti Lal Vohra, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
"I stand humbled by the honour that has been bestowed upon me. The only reason that comes to my mind for this magnanimity is that I am fortunate enough to belong to a country and to a society the constitution of which gives freedom of expression to even an ordinary citizen like me.
"Yes, it's true that I have used this freedom of expression whenever I have perceived any danger to our national integration. I have expressed my point of view, for whatever its worth, but I can't forget that to begin with it is our democratic system that has given me this privilege. In all honesty, the actual credit goes to our democracy: I am only basking in its reflected glory.
"The time has come to shed all our fears and prejudices; to stand up against all kinds of terrorism: bomb terrorism, mob terrorism and at certain places, state terrorism. We should neither be condescending towards the reactionary element of minorities nor intimidated by the fascist who pretends to be the face of the majority.
"Let us tell the fundamentalists and communalists of every stripe, colour or creed that we will not let them vitiate the atmosphere of our country which is standing at the threshold of a new era. We have to take back whatever space they have usurped in our society. We have to clear the way for the common folk of India who want to go forward to attain a much more healthy, harmonious, just and pluralistic social order to celebrate this great country's rich composite culture and the national integration of this fascinating diversity."
Javed Akhtar, Poet, Activist, Lyricist, Scriptwriter
(((And he's a Moslem, to boot.)))
