Fourteen-Eleven --- 14-11

Fourteen-Eleven --- 14-11.

Sounds hauntingly familiar? To 9-11?

That’s the creepy feeling I got while watching the very touching ad on “Save Our Tiger” initiative being sponsored by Aircel. The condition of the cub looked so traumatic that I had tears in my eyes. Coincidently, the first time I saw this ad I was having dinner; I felt guilty of being fortunate to have food in front of me while that poor little cub could even die hungry waiting for his mother who may not even return!

1411 is the number of Tigers left in our country, according to the latest Tiger census! Yes, only 1411 Tigers are surviving in a nation that claims to have Tiger as its national animal!

If we do not act fast for preserving the remaining Tiger population, the fading roar of all those millions massacred will keep haunting us, forever, like 9-11 does!

But who is responsible for this pathetic state of affairs?

Of course, the Indian government; the scores of ministries and departments and NGOs responsible for Tiger conservation in India. And there are plenty: Project Tiger, Tiger Protection Force, WWF India, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Wildlife Protection Society of India, Save the Tiger Fund, etc. etc. to name a few. Interestingly, India is a signatory to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora) and also a member of eight nations SAWTI (South Asia Wildlife Trade Initiatives). Still, the only aspect that got comprehensively neglected by all accountable was the proper and honest utilization of huge funds for the cause!

Tiger being one of the most beautiful and magnificent creations of God – though also awe-inspiring! - has always been a prized catch and fascinating for humans! Even today, Tiger is polled to be the most popular of all animals in the world! However, the fast dwindling number of this most charismatic megafauna forced the world to declare it as an endangered species and enforce a ban on its killing in 1973. But, that hasn’t worked as we see from Tigers remaining number today: 3500 worldwide and in India, 1411 only!

The massive decline in Tiger population has been because of a complex set of factors: from rampant poaching to escalating deforestation to increasing loss of natural habitat to minimizing wildlife resources to organized international criminal networks in illegal parts-trading to tiger trafficking to retaliatory killings by humans. Shockingly, in India, the Tiger Reserves, National Parks and Sanctuaries are the least safe of the places for a Tiger to survive!

Sloganeering and candle light vigils and protest marches will not work in India, anymore, as they haven’t so far. Nevertheless, I greatly admire the initiative undertaken by Aircel to re-focus on Tiger protection. The concerned authorities need to be made and held accountable for honest utilization of funds and deliver on the promises and objectives. There has to be sincere and serious efforts in Tiger preservation. Otherwise, the day is not far - in fact very near - when India will lose its 1411 surviving Tigers and the name Panthera tigris will remain only in books as an extinct species. The only ray of hope visible to me apparently is that, may be, a day will come when – in reality – someone will set up a “Tiger-rasic Park” to resurrect Tigers on our Planet Earth as God’s one of the most wonderful creations for the humans to see, and admire, again!

Let us do something concrete to increase 1411 to a safe number to start with, before 14-11 becomes a haunting number! Coincidently, 2010 is the “Year of Tiger” as per Chinese astrology. Let’s make 2010 the “Year of Tiger” for India as well!

Let us Save Our Tigers!

(For more info visit www.saveourtigers.com)

I am a celebrity!

I am a celebrity! ... (My assumed position before you think I have gone insane!)

I am celebrated by all! ... (The etymological origin of the word “celebrity”.)

I am larger than life! ... (Every celebrity’s notion!)

I am famous! ... (There are many who are 'only' famous but not a celebrity!)

I am who controls the world! ... (The behavior says it all!)

I am who controls people! ... (Ask all those taken-for-granted fans!)

I am who controls the media! ... (That’s what every celebrity likes to think!)

I am, therefore, my world: I, Me, Myself! …

Aahh … Ok, I am back to my senses :)

Let’s try to understand this entire “business” of being a celebrity.

As a celebrity’s “life” gets “celebrated” by “ordinary” people - fans - he/she enjoys every moment of it – of being a “public” figure! A celebrity strategically “positions” oneself in public consciousness by “projecting” a particular “image”, and reaps immense benefits by getting to endorse various “related” products, therefore, cashing every ounce from the celebrity-hood!

In effect, however, gradually a celebrity becomes a “commodity” in the process – a position a bit difficult to sustain, by many. Because, with celebrity-hood comes responsibilities: responsibility to retain the “image” and maintain the “connect” between the endorsed products and consumers. After all, a huge sum of money rides on a celebrity every time!

Being a celebrity is not a bed of roses always; with it comes many thorns as well. A celebrity cannot be seen “flirting” with one’s “public image” by indulging into “conflicting” activities. Otherwise, he/she is set to lose almost everything earned over a period of time: the fame could turn into shame, and endorsements could dry up overnight.

The bigger loss, however, a celebrity suffers under such a “losing” circumstance is in one’s fan-base. When a celebrity falls from the pedestal, fans feel the major jolt: a fan feels emotionally cheated; his/her respect and love (selfless, of course) for his/her “favorite” shattered beyond redemption! The corporate sector fears this situation a lot: as fans find difficulty in “connecting” with that celebrity anymore and also the brands being endorsed by him/her.

As Media gets into a hyper mode, there are “stories” everywhere! The whole world seems to be talking only about the “latest scandal”! And a “larger than life” personality suddenly finds trouble in escaping from the “life” altogether! …

The same thing we saw happening to Tiger Woods. He was always much more than being “only” an amazing golfer with unmatched golfing skills. He enjoyed and earned billions of dollars because of his “projected image” of being a complete man: a hugely successful golfer and a dedicated family person, all rolled into one. People loved and respected him, selflessly, because of that. I seriously feel he could have been careful with his own life. After all, there was a lot at stake. I am sure he should have known about it all: that being a “public figure” means not having rigid “boundaries” drawn around one’s “private” space: people will have an access – though limited – to that space, always.

The raging media debate that to what extent the world should be allowed to get “involved” in a celebrity’s life has no meaning in Tiger Woods case. The fallout of the scandal is not his personal and professional loss alone; his adoring fans loss cannot be overlooked. Moreover, how can one expect the companies to continue to cast him as their “model” when the “role model” in him has got lost? Blaming public, or media, for “transgressions”(!) into his “private” life with “voyeuristic” attitude will not serve the purpose. The Tiger Woods is lost forever: the “renewed” version, if at all it comes back – will never be able to enjoy the same “pedestal position” as the erstwhile invincible and God-like Woods! … I feel sorry for him, and also for myself as his admirer. His loss is my loss, his every fan’s loss, the world’s loss, everybody’s loss. … May God guide him, from now on.

In conclusion: if a celebrity enjoys being “celebrated” by “ordinary” people, then one should be ready for being pulled down from the pedestal to being a pedestrian because of the self-created mess with wayward ways.

(I wanted to express my views on this subject post watching Barkha Dutt debate the topic on We The People.)