Lakshmi Sahgal aka Captain Lakshmi breathed her last today at the age of 97. She was the Commander of Rani Of Jhansi regiment in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj). She was also the minister for Women’s Affairs in the Azad Hind Government. India has lost a great soul who served the nation selflessly even when in her 90s!
But what is more aggrieving is that hardly anyone seems to know about the sad incident! You can’t blame the people alone for it when our media (especially, the news channels) is hardly giving any footage to the incident. It is disturbing to see them covering all those silly television shows and cheap gossips about film stars while there is almost ignorance on the death of someone who fought for the country and was a part of an important chapter in Indian history.
Last week, there was almost 24/7 footage on the death of India’s first superstar Rajesh Khanna. This continued for the next few days. There is no doubt Khanna was one of the greatest actors of India. Surely his death deserved such importance but that doesn’t mean they give a cold shoulder to someone who fought for our independence! I wouldn’t like to single out Khanna’s death as such has been the case with all celebrity deaths.
This brings us to an all important question – Have film stars and other celebrities become more important to the media than the ones who did all kinds of sacrifices for our country? Judging by the very low key coverage of the death of Captain Lakshmi and other such great souls, the answer is in the affirmative!
May Captain Lakshmi Rest In Peace.
To know about her life story and contribution to India, click here –http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi_Sahgal
Read her candid, detailed interview here – http://thecolloquium.net/colloquium/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=165%3Are-visiting-history-with-capt-lakshmi&catid=89%3Ainterviews&Itemid=302
Captain Lakshmi with Subhash Chandra Bose. (Picture courtesy – bharat-swabhiman.com)
Ironic indeed and sad too. But cant entirely blame it on the Media. Today we have other sources of Information Access. How many would go and read on Capt Lakshmi , unless an article like yours comes forth?
Lack of coverage by media – is one of the flaws, but it is also little importance associated to prominent personalities like Capt Lakshmi in academics.
Our History time and again speaks abt Gandhi, Nehru, Bose- rarely do we come across this name. Creating awareness is our primary responsibility – Media can only assist this cause.
Sorry, if i have contradicted too many thoughts of yours.
Appreciate your simple – straight from the heart writing.
Thanks for your detailed view Viyoma.
Please don’t be sorry. Feel free to contradict me anytime.
Yes, you are right. We is our responsibility to create awareness. It is just that I feel media should have definitely given a lot more coverage to the passing away of Captain Lakshmi. I also think media has the power to create awareness. If they can make zeroes into heroes by telecasting senseless stories about them, they can surely give much more footage to the real heroes.
I heartily thank you for the appreciation.
Regards,
Keyur 🙂
India has numerous such unsung heroes / heroines. Lets make it a point to share such stuff whenever we get to know, and make people aware of them.
Very true Pady. We will do as much as we can.
Vande Mataram!
Unfortunately media moves from one breaking story to another. They never think of painstakingly cultivating an issue and raising awareness about it. They are not harbingers of change. They are just cheap money making machines riding the wave.
True Sabyasachi.. Sad but true.