Podcast: Harivansh Rai’s Lessons to an Angry Young Amitabh Bachchan

(This podcast has been republished from The Quint’s archives to celebrate Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday. It was originally published on 10 October 2017.)Ever wondered how Amitabh Bachchan could play the angry young man so effortlessly? From where did he bring such intensity?The Quint has compiled a series of podcasts from Amitabh Bachchan’s blog about his life before he became the phenomena that he is. These are his stories from school, his reflections about life, which offer us a tiny peep into the parallel universe of Amitabh Bachchan.The second part in the podcast series is about an important life lesson from his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan.Podcast: Big B’s Journey From Sherwood to ‘Shahenshah’Father’s Life LessonAngered, frustrated, strengthened and armed with unreasonable thought, I walked into my father’s study one evening and for the first time in my life, with choked emotion, raised my voice at him and screamed:Why did you give birth to me? Aapne hamme paida kyun kiya?My father, immersed as he always was in his writing, looked up at me with some initial surprise and then settled down to a more understanding posture and remained so for almost eternity.No one spoke. Not him. Not me. Not a sound.Just the measured clicking of the time piece on his desk – and my unmeasured breathing!When nothing came across from parent quarter, I turned and left.It was an uncomfortable night for me.The next morning my father walked into my room, woke me up and handed me a sheet of paper and left. I opened it. It was a poem he had written overnight – titled – ‘Nayi Leek’ – the new generation – the new beginning.Pulled and torn by the strains of life and livingMy son ask me “Why did you give birth to us?And I do not possess an answer to thisThat even my father did not ask me before giving birth to meNor my father asked his father before producing himNor my grandfather did ask his father before bringing himThe trials and tribulations of life and livingWere there before and are there now too, perhaps moreAnd shall be there tomorrow, even greaterWhy don’t you make a new beginning, a new thinking,Ask your sons before giving birth to them!There are no excuses in life and no blame. Every morning is a fresh challenge. Either you learn to pick up the gauntlet and fight or learn to surrender to it. So long as there is life, there is struggle!‘Jab tak jeevan hai, tab tak sanghgursh hai’ said my father, as he lay weak and almost comatose in his bed in Prateeksha.The room is now adorned by his large framed photograph, exactly where he breathed his last. On a stand below it are his entire works, beautifully leather bound and by its side the Ramayan he read every morning. I dress his portrait with a garland of fresh flowers every day and a diya burns perpetually underneath. Few months ago, he was joined on the side by my Mother’s portrait – a divine face, a face she wore the day she married him.Every day and every moment that I pass the room as I climb the staircase to my bedroom or down from it, I stop by the door and look at both of them. And ask for strength. A light burns above them throughout the day. It is the light of his wisdom that I endeavor to carry each day when I step out!8 Amitabh Bachchan Dialogues You Can Use in Real Life

BECOME A MEMBER

Podcast: Harivansh Rai’s Lessons to an Angry Young Amitabh Bachchan

This is what angry young man Amitabh asked his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from podcast

Topics: Amitabh Bachchan Podcast Harivansh Rai Bachchan