Category Archives: cinema

SHORT STORY: THE WORRYING KING

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king problem worry

In primitive times there once ruled an intelligent king who constantly worried about something or the other. And every now and then, for various reasons, he used to feel helpless and hapless. He often behaved like those ordinary people who for lack of resources could never face a problem in a lively and bold manner. As a consequence of which he never laughed. Even his ministers never saw him laughing. Nor did they ever smile in the king’s presence.

    One day, the well-wishers of the king discreetly thought of ways and means to change his attitude towards life. So they made a plan. Next time, when the king’s court was held. Like any other time the king called for his closest minister and said, ‘I’m worried about something.’ Upon hearing this. The minister promptly replied, ‘yes your honour. I know that, and I have been thinking about it.’ Upon hearing the minister’s reply the king was astounded, ‘even without my telling you, how do you, know about my worry?’ The king asked.

    The minister replied humbly. ‘Your majesty. I’m not interested in learning about your problem, because I already know the solution to your problem.’ King was surprised at this and he said, ‘even without knowing my problem, how do you know the solution?’  Minister replied in a respectful tone. ‘Your majesty, quite possibly you may not have one but many problems, but to all your problems there is only one solution.’

And upon hearing this. The king got baffled and hesitantly asked, ‘May I know, what is the solution to my problem?’

The minister replied, ‘your majesty, please don’t worry about the solution as, it is absolutely on the dot and perfect for you.’ The king tried to guess what the minister had in mind when he said, ‘well if there is a problem how can I not worry?’

Minister bowed respectfully and asked, ‘your majesty, till date has your worry solved any of your problems? ‘No,’ replied the king. “Well if that is so then why worry?’ Mystery of success doesn’t lie in worries, but removal of worries. And, it is also true that your worries lead you to your grave. The joy of life is in rejoicing and not in worrying. Your majesty, you are so knowledgeable. With your wisdom you lead us. So then, why don’t you set up a more vivacious aura of yourself in front of us?

The king then realised his stupidity and ignorance. He also realised how in a subtle manner his minister and his well-wishers taught him this simple fact of life. He started laughing, and was rather astonished, when everyone else too, started laughing with him.

    This is an ancient story. That tells us, worrying is not the solution to our problem. On the contrary it makes us weak and creates barriers on our way to success. To win over your worry means you have already won fifty percent of the battle.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainities to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Book launched on 10th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon.com and Flipkart

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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#DIGITAL #INDIA-INCLUDE CLASSIC ‘MOVIES’ IN SCHOOL-COLLEGE SYLLABUS

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mm2m3

… like ‘Mother India, Gandhi, Cromwell, to name a few; just like plays and dramas of Shakespeare

    It is said and believed that old books and movies take you back in times. It is also the true mirror of any country or civilization. Yesterday, on the occasion of mother’s day while I was remembering my Mom, and surfing channels. I came across the famous evergreen classic ‘Mother India’ being broadcasted in one of the channels. Although, I had seen the flick several times earlier. I was tempted to see it yet again, as my old time buddy Sajid Khan had worked in it as a child star.

    But this time when I was watching the movie. I was getting a very different feel. A feel as if I was not watching ‘Mother India.’ But watching the ‘Real India’ of 1957. It is the story of a poverty-stricken village woman Radha (Nargis) who in the absence of her husband, struggles to raise her sons and survive from the clutches of a cunning money lender Sukhi Lala amidst troubles. And, despite all the hardships. She creates a goddess like example. An example of an ideal Indian woman, and that too way back in 1957. The movie in many ways, gives you, a vivid picture of what our ancestors may have undergone, during those times and with what intensity.

    This brings me to the moot point that in the archives of Bollywood and other regional movie hubs like Kolkata and Chennai. There lies a huge treasure of cinema like ‘Mother India and Dosti.’ These can become the mirror of ‘Indian times.’ The Government must form a panel that can decide to include these great Indian classics in school and college syllabus, just like any other play or drama of Shakespeare.

    Today, we talk of digital India. Where, people don’t have time to read and where 65% of our burgeoning population is below the age of 35 years. Many surveys have revealed, the attention span especially of youngsters has gone down drastically, and people don’t prefer reading beyond five hundred words in one go. So, in such a paradigm we should select exclusive movies that can showcase India to the younger generation and even the outer world and include them in the school/college syllabus.

    Extending the point further. Historical and classic movies of Hollywood or any other country that can be useful for our migrating young population. Could also be thought of, as an extra curriculum in our professional and business schools. This will give our students that extra thrust of historically knowing a place where they intend to work.

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Share if you like it

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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O MY FAIR LADY!

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  2my fair ladt

    Our formative years were full of fun and coupled to them was a careless, happy –go- lucky lifestyle that went naturally with it. The gay abandon and freedom we enjoyed was all within the family for we enjoyed doing things together. Life was simple and modes of entertainment simpler. No Cineplex, no DVDs, or play stations or speed dating. A good game of cricket followed by a refreshing ice soda, topped by a steaming cup of coffee with a bun, perhaps, was the ultimate luxury. My interest in movies as a source of entertainment was influenced by my uncle who belonged to the era of Douglas Fairbanks, Spencer Tracey, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck and a host of others who gave that aura of sheer mysticism and glamour to Hollywood, which makes it what it is today. Uncle was particular about the movies we saw, especially the English movies. He out rightly discouraged the slam-bang-wham types, excepting, of course, the Westerns starring John Wayne, Gary Cooper and the ilk. Uncle acquainted us with the top genre movies including the noire category made by Hollywood. The list of films ranged from Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music to Scapegoat, Stagecoach and Gunfight at O.K. Coral. However, my all time favourite is The Sound of Music. ‘Do Re Me Fa…’ , ‘I’m sixteen going on seventeen….’, oh, what numbers, simply out of this world-or mind blowing by today’s parlance. For sheer magic of music and visual excellence the movie is miles ahead of its genre.

But for unalloyed intellectual treat My Fair Lady takes the cake. Elders at home took great pains to explain the essential hypocrisy of the British and their unique trait of laughing at themselves. That, perhaps, has moulded my present opinion. Based on Pygmalion by the great English dramatist, GBS, this captivating musical, a Twentieth Century Fox Production, won the best film Oscar(1964). The name Pygmalion refers to the king of Cyprus who fell in love with a statue of his own making. The beautiful statue was bestowed with life and turned into a more beautiful maiden whom Pygmalion married, or so the story goes. Henry Higgins is an English linguistics professor without peer. He is also a misogynistic bachelor-brash, arrogant but totally committed to his work. The Covent Garden scene where he meets scruffy Eliza Dolittle, superbly portrayed by Audrey Hepburn, a common flower girl with a Cockney accent, is uniquely scripted and refreshingly filmed.

Professor Higgins takes on Eliza under his tutelage in order to transform her from a rustic flower girl to a lady who captures the majesty and grandeur of the English language with impeccable articulation. They train together and enter into a cantankerous relationship where Eliza threatens Higgins, “Just you wait Henry Higgins”. Eliza has to work unceremoniously as part of his innovative speech devices much to the anguish of Col Pickering who sympathises with the girl for the ordeals she suffers. Higgins bets with Pickering that he will be able to pass Eliza off as a Duchess in six months time. The big day finally arrives. Pretenders, masqueraders, and polyglots arrive incognito to de-mask Eliza. They tease, torment and taunt Eliza who stands unnerved by their verbal sallies. Eliza steals the show with His Majesty leading the dance with her, much like the Cindrella of the fairy tale. Eliza transcends expectations beyond measure. Higgins finds it difficult to believe in his own handiwork and concedes defeat, saying: “ I have grown accustomed to her face”.

Astonishing sets, captivating costumes and excellent photography together with immortal tunes like’ “Get me to the church in time”, “I could have danced all night” transform the movie into a classic. Down to this day the movie ranks as an all time favourite for our entire family. The supporting cast in the form of Alfred Dolittle (Stanley Holloway) in the role of Eliza’s eccentric yet charismatic father is no less endearing. Alfred delivers some of the finest lines in the film, and remains my favourite character to this day. Our own Bollywood has many a times borrowed thematic contents from Hollywood classics of the early sixties and seventies. Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi and picked up its theme from It Happened One Night, while The Sound Of Music provided the concept for Parichay. Devanand’s Manpasand adapted substantially from My Fair Lady. In doing so the Bollywood  attempt was bold but not a patch on the great movie. However, Devanand as Higgins and Girish Karnad as Col Pickering just manage to keep the movie afloat.

Going back to my favourite, the most exciting part of the movie is where Higgins and Eliza sing the ditty “The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly in the Plain”.  Suddenly Eliza discovers that the tone, timbre and modulation of her voice have acquired the Queen’s accent. The exhilaration and joy of the Professor is a delight to watch. Even Pickering and the house maids join in the fun as the song goes on and on. The scene is one of the high point of the movie. The acerbic wit in the allegory authored by the redoubtable GBS is commendably brought out in the film which for me remains a moving experience.

A.K.Tripathi,                                                                                                                                        Guwahati-Assam

March-2015

First published in Local Area Magazine titled ‘Nava Arunodoi’ in 2009. The article has since been re-edited.

CELEBRITIES, PLEASE DON’T JUST ENDORSE PRODUCTS FOR CASH STACKS ALONE- THINK OF THE CUSTOMER TOO

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    Product endorsement is a form of testimonial from someone, who indicates they like or approve of a product. Generally, product endorsements are solicited from people who are socially prominent. Friedman & Friedman defines a ‘celebrity endorser as an individual who is known by the public for his or her achievements in areas other than that of the product class endorsed.’

    Therefore, in that context, is it right for any celebrity to endorse a company’s product without proper due diligence, about its quality and customer satisfaction levels. In fact, customer satisfaction should be one of the basic criteria to decide, whether the celebrity should go ahead and endorse the product or not.

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    For, when a customer decides to buy a product. He does take into account the profile and aura of the celebrity, who is endorsing it and takes his ‘words’ to be the gospel truth. But why? We may ask. Reason is very simple. Because, the customer one way or the other equates the profile and personality of the celebrity, endorsing the product, with that of himself and the product and service, the company offers.

    Moreover, the customer ratifies the ‘trust’ by buying the product, that the celebrity creates around the product by endorsing it–Primarily in parameters of quality; and a brief description of ‘quality’ would be, ‘what is promised, is delivered.’

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BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN INDUSTRIES WHERE CAUTION IS REQUIRED BY CELEBRITIES

    For example Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the brand ambassador of Amrapali group. A prominent builder of North India, and endorses almost all their housing projects. Film stars such as Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor (nee Neetu Singh) endorse flats and houses of Gaur sons and Shahrukh Khan for Mahagun.

    These celebrities, endorse projects of builders by appearing in full page newspaper and magazine advertisements, apart from bill board and fancy TV advertisements. To build that brand pull by charging a fortune–mostly in crores. But before accepting these endorsements, do they even check to their satisfaction about the myriads of customer complaints against these builders, in terms of projects not being completed on time, quality issues, overcharging, illegal construction, stopping of genuine refunds to customers and the list is but long. And, basis these endorsements, thousands and thousands of customers invest their hard earned and lifetime savings with these builders only to be left hapless most of the times.

SO IS THERE A WAY OUT?

    Just as the company undertakes a thorough due-diligence about the celebrity, in terms of his or her brand positioning against the product he is about to sign. The celebrity too should also undertake a thorough check of the company’s reputation and its customer satisfaction levels. Where, the advertising agency should provide all but relevant details to the product endorser. Maybe, the government can formulate a stringent law against such celebrities, who endorse false claims across industry, product and customer satisfaction levels.

    For, it will only be ethical on the part of these celebrities to make their additional millions, by not callously stamping on a common man’s dream, by endorsing any product, by any company. And, for such companies without any moral and ethics. It is imperative they revisit their mission and vision.

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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                                                                    https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Share if you like it

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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#KISHORE-KUMAR- NOT A RECIPIENT OF ANY “PADMA” AWARD EVEN AFTER 27 YEARS OF HIS DEATH

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Does it require something more than sterling- unquestioned-talent to earn these awards?

    It is already stinking. But before it starts rotting. The present government should correct, one of the biggest follies of the previous governments of not awarding any ‘Padma’ award to legendary, genius and ever green Kishore Kumar. One of the biggest all time singers of India- who died 27 years ago.

    He spent 41 years in the industry as an actor and a singer and that too par excellence. And all rolled into one as a producer, director, lyricist, music director and a scriptwriter. So, it is indeed intriguing to note why government after government failed to include him in the awardee list- not even a Padma Shri … which is so very pathetic.

    Kishore Kumar was a cynosure of every Indian, cutting across religion, mother- tongue, regions and states. And, I’m more than sure. Indians will be most eager to know as to why this son-of-the-soil has been denied the prestigious ‘Padma’ award. Especially, when we compare this iconic film personality with many others who have received ‘Padma’ awards much earlier in their careers. It gives you an eerie feeling loaded with bias.

    By not including him in the awardee list we have not only insulted Kishore Kumar but every Indian who has a song or two of Kishore on his lips. And may curse be upon all those, who with ulterior motives, kept omitting his name from the list of awardees year after year.

    But a ray of hope comes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is now busy correcting many wrongs of India, committed in the past and I am sure he will take up this wrong too.

    Kishore Kumar has sung 2,703 songs in 1188 Hindi films. He has also sung 156 Bengali and 8 Telugu songs. May Kishore Da rest in peace.

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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                                                    https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Share if you like it

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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Article: #SwachhBharatAbhiyan (SBA) – Include existing Public Toilets in SBA

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done well by wielding the broom to clean a road and its surroundings, thereby, burnishing the lost grandeur of ‘dignity of labour.’ He has also formed a formidable team of star citizens, who have given impetus to the campaign launched in around 4041 statutory towns. Where in you find cine stars, sports persons, social activists, industrialists, professionals and even politicians, psyched out. Icons like Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Ambani, Kamal Hassan, Sachin Tendulkar, Shashi Tharoor and many other distinguished personalities have graced the campaign, by lending both, social and glamour weight.

So with all of this, the speed and velocity of the campaign looks set to deliver the goods. However, the priorities within this need to be tweaked, mainly to prioritize the initial tranches. Where, I have some pointed and granular suggestions to make, that oozes right out of my firsthand experience. Create as many Public toilets as possible, in the shortest possible time and also include the existing ones in the campaign. Perhaps, this suggestion of mine may give the whole campaign a better fillip in converting the movement into a mass movement with the least of resistance. Arising, more out of the immediate necessity of the deprived public, in this case the general public; because of the limited, shabby and poor infrastructure that throws the spanner in the development of India.

For it was just, yesterday when I was driving down the crowded market area on Hill Road in Bandra, is when I felt like relieving myself. I stopped the car, got off and started looking for a public urinal. Keeping strictly in mind the Prime Minister’s message of Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, and trying to observe it to my heart’s content.

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I must have spent about half-an-hour in the crowded market area, in which time I must have covered more than a kilometer but I still could not find a public toilet. Is when I saw the logo of a petrol pump to my heart’s delight, as we all know have toilets. ‘Wow- what a relief’ I said to myself. And this got me thinking.

If this is the condition of Mumbai, one of the biggest metropolis of India what about other cities? With a burgeoning population, Mumbai has a deficit of at least 47,000 toilet seats, and the cost of constructing one toilet is INR 150,000, say authorities, so we can imagine the cost involved. This shortage in 2001 was a whooping 125,000 toilet seats when the Brihan Mumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC) had conducted its first survey on the sanitation needs for the country’s commercial population. Going by 2001 figures, the ratio of toilets versus population comes to a whopping 1: 50 or 3,000 people using it daily in Mumbai.

MUST COMPLIMENT THE OIL COMPANIES

After relieving myself, I sincerely blessed the oil companies that thought of customer convenience, by having toilets in all their retail outlets which Indian Railways couldn’t provide in all platforms. Further, I thought this is a big opportunity to include these readily available toilets, as part of the Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan as pay and use toilets to catapult the campaign exponentially.

Today, India has about 45,000 filling stations more than Canada or UK as of March 2012, and most are with the facility of a toilet. If these toilets are made to join the SBA on a pay and use basis we can have a sudden flurry of toilets and that will certainly help the SBA.

For the Government to make public toilets, every 1-2 km, in crowded market areas along the road side may be a gigantic and close to a non doable task, so here is the way forward. Today, the immediate pressing need for the Public at large is a convenient network of clean toilets spaced around close proximity and concomitant is the wielding of broom to keep it clean. While it may be possible to construct new toilets on highways and open roads but may be extremely difficult in the already cramped and crowded market areas and this is where these toilets can come in handy

CAMPAIGNS CAN CHANGE REALITIES

Even though Government of India has transcribed incentives for building public toilets. All is not achieved merely by announcing incentives on paper alone, as it requires mindsets to change–that running a public toilet too, is a respectable venture; something like Sulabh Shauchalaya.

And so, India needs a renewed and intense campaign to promote public toilets as a doable business by respectable Individuals, Unemployed Youth, Business Houses, Societies, Builders, NGOs, SMEs, Hospitality Industry and under Corporate Social Responsibility.

Government should promote people having genuine intent of doing this noble task, and who have spare Land on which Private – Public Toilets could be constructed, or even existing toilets that could be utilized at prime and vantage locations as pay and use toilets.

The building bylaws should be tweaked to incentivise for mass proliferation of such public toilets and also sops in the form of rebate in property tax or any other, are a few boons that should be considered by the Government, if possible.

Running public toilets could be ticked at par with running hospitals as both reduce human suffering. Modi Government could further do well in bringing about this social change. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in fact has orated in one of his speeches abroad that he is currently busy in construction of Public toilets.

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