Usually, I do not watch TV, especially the nauseating Bollywood stuff that dominates Indian TV channels. There is little to appeal except titillation of the most base instincts and inclinations. Nevertheless, my wife drew my attention to a particular TV program called Fame Gurukul that is being touted as India's foremost reality musical show. Apparently, several youngsters were selected from all over the country and judged by a distinguished panel comprising of Javed Akhtar, Krishna Kumar Menon alias KK and Shankar Mahadevan. The contestants, after selection were housed at a Gurukul and trained by Ila Arun and her two companions. The training seems to include not only singing lessons but also performance and dancing. The program displays what is going on at the Gurukul, how the young boys and girls are preparing and vividly present their anxieties, clashes and funny moments at the institute. Every week, one contestant is voted out in a ritual that involves selection by the judges, the faculty and popular votes by the people. The program after several twists and turns reaches a crescendo where three finalists are left and two are to be selected as the winning pair. The show itself is hardly to be recommended for serious viewing. The duo conducting the proceedings are terrible and the choice of songs, dances and question answers are ridiculous to say the least. The importance of this program is for one of its finalist. Qazi Taufir, a young presentable and loquacious boy from Jammu & Kashmir. He has not learnt to sing under any traditional Guru; indeed he is completely self taught. He has a poor voice and really does not know singing. But he is charismatic. With his long curly hair and a quick wit he has danced his place into the hearts of the people. Every week he has been voted out by the judges [barring one]. The faculty too, only as a gesture voted for him once. However, despite being overlooked by the judges and the faculty, Qazi has constantly received the highest votes from the people to remain a contestant. He has received the most number of votes, 11 times; and in the last round the total came to an astonishing 44 lakh from all over the country. Despite taunts by the judges [all in fun] by the DJs, by his colleagues, Qazi has maintained his popularity amongst the people and is most probably going to be one of the winners. The total number of votes that he has received are perhaps the largest ever received by any Muslim in the country. While Qazi is winning accolades from the people for his performance, Sania Mirza is virtually the queen in the hearts of all Indians. Her superlative performance at the stage of world tennis, her aggressiveness, her clothes, her fighting spirits have all made this young girl a darling of the masses. She is mobbed where ever she goes, she is likely to be the first sports-person to have as many sponsorships as Tendulkar and hopefully she will be one of the richest young Indian in a short period of time. Her grit, her determination and the ring in the nose are inspiring the young people today as perhaps never before. Of course, after Irfan Pathan showed that it is in the galis of India that stars are born, he has become another prominent sports-person. His success in Pakistan and now at many venues has brought accolades from cricketers around the world. His continuing performance at the international stage is likely to make him one of all time greats of Indian cricket. Shahrukh Khan of course is the king. His fan-following from the desert of Thar to the jungles of Mizoram, from the shores of Maruitius to the pulsating halls of England, Canada and the US is phenomenal. The only person to rule after the long spell of Amitabh Bachan, Shahrukh is a glittering star of India. To this list, let me also add our eminent President APJ Abdul Kalam, Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan, Wipro founder Premji, musician AR Rehman and of course many other large numbers of equally successful Muslim Indians. Despite being a minority, Muslims in the country have reached all the scaleable heights that a citizen can aspire- from sports, entertainment, journalism, science, technology, public service, business to spiritual greatness. Despite all the efforts of RSS, Bal Thackeray and their likes, individual Muslims have climbed the steps by their sheer talent, hard work and determination. This brings me to my two points. First, talent and individual effort cannot be blocked by anyone in any system. It may not reach dizzy heights all the time but it cannot be shut down. Secondly, wherever there is level playing field and competition that determines the winner, the chances of Muslims or for that matter, any other community in India are the best. The reason for Qazi, Sania, Irfan and Shahrukh to succeed is that their contributions are evaluated only on the basis of their performance. It does not matter if they are Muslims, from J&K or a gali in Gujrat. Wherever the system permits judgment on the basis of merit, people will overcome their prejudices accenuated or promoted in the name of religion, caste or region. Given a fair selection, a level playing field and opportunity to compete with others, the outcome is clear- Qazi will win. More significantly, the people will choose Qazi simply because of his talent. People are dialing their cell phones and voting for Qazi not because they wish to appease a Muslim and not because they think minorities should be represented on TV. The people are making an unbiased choice based upon performance. Perhaps there is a lesson for Mr Ram Vilas Paswan here. Rather than demanding a Muslim CM for Bihar, it may be better for him to ensure that the political system is open to every participant and that the elections are based upon choosing the most meritorious representative. If everyone can participate on an equal basis and the selection is based on merit and merit alone- Bihar or for that matter any other State will have a Muslim CM. Indians are fair in their selection and do not discriminate on the basis of caste, religion, ethnicity or region. It is only their representatives who goad them and force them into such a selection. If Indian politics is run on what it should be- a choice for good leaders, policies and development of the society, then good meritorious deserving people will be chosen. Whether they are Muslims, Christians or Sikhs, will then be irrelevant. They will be shinning leaders working for the betterment of the country. The people of Bihar and India need to keep this in mind when choosing their representatives. Comment... comments... The articlre Dr. Arvind Verma is based on fact, and it has come out from depth of truth. In fact these are the byproduct of democracy, I remember, Iqwal who wrote Jamhuriat ----- In democray we count people do not weigh. Tha stae of Bihar in India has been suffering from the disease of casteism, Relegion and nepotism, etc. People of Bihar need smooth road, crime free atmosphere were one can breath in and out freely, where tieless striving Biharis can stretch their hands in fearless atmosphere towards perfection. no electricity, no road, no development, they are far far from modern scientific development and living standard too. Human being do not have cloth to cover body, do not have food to fill the stomach twice a day at least. They migrate to different parts of country work day and night without carin their health and prestige, still become victim of attrocities and tortures by their employer. These politician do not even care or speak for their livelihood, education even primary level, They are more concern of having a Religion based C. M. This hs been the worst precedent parhaps in India. Do not consider merit, do not consider dedication to social service, do not consider period of social or political life spent, just consider religion. This is very true that Irfan Pathan showed that it is in the galis of India that stars are born, he has become another prominent sports-person. Perhaps RVP as mentioned do not beleive the statement that talent and individual effort cannot be blocked by anyone in any system I fully appreciate thoughts posted by Dr. Verma Perhaps there is a lesson for Mr Ram Vilas Paswan here. Rather than demanding a Muslim CM for Bihar, it may be better for him to ensure that the political system is open to every participant and that the elections are based upon choosing the most meritorious representative. If everyone can participate on an equal basis and the selection is based on merit and merit alone- Bihar or for that matter any other State will have a Muslim CM. Indians are fair in their selection and do not discriminate on the basis of caste, religion, ethnicity or region. It is only their representatives who goad them and force them into such a selection. If Indian politics is run on what it should be- a choice for good leaders, policies and development of the society, then good meritorious deserving people will be chosen. Dr. Ram Kumar Institute of Marine Biology National Taiwan Ocean University Taiwan e-mail: ramkumar@mail.ntou.edu.tw ------------------------------------------------------- I liked everything in your article, except the reference to RVP. I must confess that while reading the first paragraph I was confused about your motives. By the time I had finished reading your fourth paragraph; your point was well made. I would have preferred to finish the article at fifth paragraph. By including the last paragraph, you have diluted the thunder of your posting. For, RVP is least bothered about Muslims or Bihar. The only thing he really cares about is the chair of CM. Mind you; politics has nothing to do with brilliance, talent or individual effort. It is not run on a fair ground. Genius people do not venture into politics. Politics by itself is a dirty trick. I do not agree that “if Indian politics is run on what it should be - a choice for good leaders, policies and development of the society, then good meritorious deserving people will be chosen”. For politics and singing, politics and tennis, politics and cricket, politics and Bollywood, politics and nuclear science, politics and Sarod, politics and IT, politics and music are not equanimous words. Politics is not a fair play. Politics, thy name is complexity. Pradeep Rai Houston, TX 77005. pradeep@rice.edu   ------------------------------------------------------------------ I totally agree with Dr.Arvind Verma point of observation and comments. I my self belong to Haji pur, Bihar where Mr. Ram Bilas Paswan politically belong and we (Muslim Community)voted every time to him either he pact with PJP or secular parties etc. Reason he nurse his constituency better than other----------------------But this time his demand of a Muslim CM nothing but a game against RJD. The matter is that why every one including high profile personality as Dr Arvind and many more together with Election Commission of India started to hate the word “MUSLIM”??? Muslims are not the citizen of Bihar? Not Indian???? Why we have –Rajput regiments---Sikh Regiment in our military?? Why not Harijan regiment—Muslim Regiment-----?? They are not brave and loyal?????? Why every one talking and focusing on Mr.RamBilas demand more than Muslim of Bihar itself?? In general biharee Muslims are not caring on his demand because that is not the solution of our problems and difficulties. Better infrastructure, education, health services, financial support can produce thousands of Dr.A.P.J.Kalam, Shahruk khan. Qazi.Snia Mirza. Azim Premjee etc M.Helal Alam Jeddah Saudi Arabia