An Open Letter To Boman Irani
March 6, 2013 11:35:00 AM IST
updated March 6, 2013 11:41:08 AM IST
By Martin D'Souza, Glamsham Editorial
|
|
|
 |
|
|
MARTIN D'SOUZA |
| Dear Boman Irani
I really do not know how to address you. And to be honest, I do not even know what to say to you. I mean, I am speechless.
What do you say of a man who gives so much of himself without even expecting anything in return?
Ok, I get an idea now of how to begin my missive to you.
Firstly, I am extremely sorry for having bothered you the whole of last month in getting you to coordinate your time for the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Shelter Don Bosco. I know what a bother it has been, and I know what it took me to bother you. I was feeling awful, but someone had to do it.
I know you had given your word that you would be there, but greedy as I am, I also wanted you to perform. You said yes. But that did not mean bugging you from my end stopped. It only stopped on the day of the event when you walked in with your guitar for the rehearsals at Shanmukhananda Auditorium.
I heaved a sigh of relief.
Now, I want to know this. How are you able to be so selfless? Ever since Fr Barnabe D'Souza approached you and spoke to you about Shelter Don Bosco and their mission with street kids, you have stuck to the institution even though directors have changed. Your involvement has remained more than a 100 percent. For 10 years you have marched with the street kids, hand-in-hand, never once missing a step. You have seen boys become successful and step out into the world confident and raring to go.
Yes, I guess that is what keeps you motivated; that you are able to help them with your presence.
Every time they call, you are there. The boys even visit your home sometimes for a sing-song session and that is truly remarkable. You are just not there as a face, but you are 'actually' there. And that is something very rare in this time and day when people have no time for themselves and their family.
What you did at Shanmukhananda Auditorium last Saturday will forever be remembered by all who were present. You had the audience holding their sides, rolling in laughter. And as if that was not enough, you gave the kids some sunshine singing with them on stage the song from 3 IDIOTS and then regaling the packed-to-capacity audience with your rendition of Frank Sinatra's 'I Did It My Way'.
The icing on the cake was your mimicking the voices of every artiste to the track 'We Are The World'. Everyone in the audience was on their feet, waving their hands in the air. What a grand finale for the boys and the priests who work so hard for the street kids.
Truly, we are the world, we are the children, and we are the ones who make a brighter day...
Being a celebrity is not about I, Me Aur Mein. It's about them, not about us.
Thank you for demonstrating to us all a lesson in giving!
Sincerely
Martin D'Souza
(This weekly column tries to be as honest as honest can be... )
Also check out : An Open Letter To Bollywood by Martin D'Souza
|
| No Picture Gallery
|
|
|
|
|
|