Lata Maange "woh" kar

The voice that brought tears to Nehru's eyes now speaks the language of irrationality. Is it just senile dementia or is it celebrity tantrums at its best. The lady who crooned "Ae mere watan ke logon, zaraa aankh mein bharlo paani. Jo shaheed hue hain unki, zaraa yaad karo qurbaani", has no intention of making a "qurbaani" (just trying to see her perspective - though I wouldn't call it sacrifice!).

The civic body responsible for infrastructure concludes that it is important to have a flyover in an area where traffic problems are as certain as your visit to the shit-pot every morning. It could have been anywhere in this vehicle-infested-suffering-from-uncontrolled-traffic city. Now it so happens that the area earmarked for the flyover happens to run past the home of the lady whose voice is synonymous with music, melody, soul. And she responds with a cacophony expected by none ( I guess). Demands of not going ahead with the proposal of constructing the flyover or facing the consequences - she would leave the city. Childish? Immature? or is it just the desire to play bully? Maybe she didn't get to do it as she grew up (I'd like to think otherwise though, maybe a certain younger sister would concur). I think she's pushing 75 and I thought people get wiser with age. This situation was a no-brainer and for an almost 75 year old to react in such a manner was almost ridiculous. Add to that her financial ability to buy a house almost anywhere in the world and you ask, why o why?

I normally don't talk about how fast someone would kick the bucket, but I think I'll make an exception. Why would you want to create such a ruckus with one foot in the grave?! You know you aren't going to be around maybe 5, or 10, or 15 years from now. Shouldn't you be considerate enough to think of how much the traffic problem could escalate in that much time if these remedial measures aren't taken now. People will remember you for the good you do, not for the obstacles you create. Celebrities could actually use their status for the larger good of society. I honestly don't know if she has ever done anything for the benefit of society. It's alright if she hasn't too. Seriously. But at least try not to get in the way of people trying to do their job. And what's with the threat? Leave the city? It's not like she's going to take all the oxygen in the air with her. It actually would be sad if the Government takes a step back to give in to such an irrational demand, albeit from such a well known personality.

I'm actually unsure whether the Government would rather bend backwards to placate one stubborn individual or do something thats critical for smooth traffic in a crowded area of the city. Actually I have this inner voice (that's been speaking a lot these days :) ; ref: previous post) that tells me that it's the individuals tantrums that shall get attention. After all, when it comes to such issues its only the strings that can be pulled that matter. And old as she may be, there are a lot of strings that this woman can pull. Besides, there are a number of sycophantic idiots who wouldn't mind carrying people and vehicles across the stretch in front of her home so that the noise and honking does not disturb her, who are in places of power. And these people will definitely ensure this dust that she has manged to rake up does not settle without a favourable result. For her, that is.

I wish her peace. In hell. Where the foundations of the flyover that shall be built (there will come a time, when it will get built) shall reverbate with the abuses that people who are travelling on the flyover hurl at each other. And each of those abuses shall be magnfied tenfold with a name suffixed to it - Lata Mangeshkar.