Normal Life (2)

Amjad Khan, playing Gabbar Singh in Sholay tells the villagers of Ramgarh that Gabbar Singh is a tyrant. If there is any person, who can save them from the wrath of Gabbar Singh, it is only Gabbar himself. In return, he is entitled to take some grains and other stuff, and it’s absolutely fair. He uses fear in the hearts of people for his personal gain and to justify his existence, probably even to himself.

Without exception, the audience agrees that this is an unfair means to earn. Gabbar is an undisputed villain. If the person, who creates the problem, also creates the solution, it is not fair, but if these tasks are performed by different people, then is it fair business?

Let’s look at our lives. Dark skin was never a problem, till the makers of Fair & Lovely highlighted it. Nutrition and taste of milk was never an issue till the ads of Bournvita, Complan and the like brought it to our notice. It is acceptable that one creates a need and then offers a solution, in fact it is held as a matter of pride, a testimony of intelligence. People who do it are highly paid and respected! There are thousands of genuine ways to serve the customer, but a respected business is not the one, which serves the costumer the best. It is the one, which earns a handsome profit by intelligently fooling the customer. In some sense, which I can’t explain in words, this way of earning one’s livelihood is not normal. It does not adhere to any norm.