Sunday, January 25th, 2009
True Dummy – a fable of existence, India release6:30PM, Crossword, Select City Mall, Delhi
—————————————
The stage was set. More than one fifty people, twenty video cameras all facing the four empty chairs. Curious bystanders. “Shaab shootin chal raha he,” the guard replied when asked. A sudden hustle. Enwrapped by guards entered the elegant Soha Ali Khan from one side and from the other the elderly with a child-like innocence Dr. Karthikeyan. A young man with slightly bowed head followed Soha. The first time author appeared surprisingly calm. Vidhu Manchada, the MC sprang the first surprise – ‘the author has insisted that he will introduce the guests.’ All eyes on the author. Some whispered, he is playing with fire.
Those who like watching can see it here.
For the rest:
“Ladies and gentleman. This moment is special. Special for a reason. As I speak, 11977 kms away something special is happening. Yesterday it was the last day of Mr. Bush in Office. And as I speak now, Barrack Obama is giving his inauguration speech. The entire world is looking at him with hopeful eyes. It is his first day in office and…(pause). So is mine.”
Suddenly the hush stopped.”Now,” the man who loves to play with fire continued, “It is an organization with 1.4 million citizens across the word.” Organisation? He was suppose to introduce the guests?”An organisation that works for universal brotherhood. Awaz is what I am talking about. And one key advisor of this organisation is with us. Ladies and gentleman, a big round of applause to Soha Ali Khan.”"Many of you may not know that she is an Oxford alum. An LSE masters. Someone who could be the only one here who has worked for Ford foundation. The jersey number 41263 of Mumbai marathon against terrorism. Ladies and gentleman, Soha Ali Khan!”
This is Soha for me.
Not many knew what True Dummy stands for and what the mad author has in mind. “The time has come, the needs to rise. And a nation is what it writes. True Dummy is for the youth, by the youth and of the youth.”
Soha very sweetly read the ‘horse and the donkey fable’ from the book. Click here to see. People were amazed with her down to earth, no airs attitude. She is here and her work will speak in future what she stands for.Then came the ‘Obama’ moment. Dr. Karthikeyan pointed to the people that the ‘yes, we can!’ mantra is already there in True Dummy. Is it? I wondered what he meant.He read the poem from the page 226-227 and insisted on the last line:
Go to the world beyond the kite
Touch the stars, big and bright.
The ‘string’ is only when you feel
It is the fear that makes you kneel
This poem was written roughly about an year ago and I am glad for that.
Again the time came for me to speak about the book. I thanked my parents, Pooja, Navya Sara, Neeraj, the guests. And the gang of friends.
What I would have done without them? Right from the airport, till the selection on what to wear, they were all there. The gang of Pancheel park, GKII, Rajauri. Ajay, Saify, Jasneet, Ramona, Prashant, Suraj, Swati, Kamal, Shishir, Kabir, Kamal and the rest. Not to mention the sweet Geetika Ganju, who left her star status behind and came in her personal capacity in the true ‘True Dummy’ spirit.
The event ended and it seemed hell broke loose. Multiple one-to-one interviews. Journalists waiting to talk to the first time author! I felt so guilty to make them wait. But never for once I felt I was in a stranger’s company. They were not journalists to me, they appeared friends. So keen to know about my work. So supportive of the fact that meaningful literature is the need of the hour. Why we forget. Aren’t they also part of the youngistan? It finally ended with a lighter interaction with the MTV.
A question that remained with me. “Are you then the Indian Obama?” I just smiled.
I will not be able to end this without mentioning the now famous ‘NDTV interview’ . I had just landed in India , a day before the launch and in two hours was suppose to reach the NDTV van , beaming live from the INR Market. You have called me from looking like a ‘pro’ to a ‘diplomat’ to someone who comes on TV daily. Was I not nervous? Next time I will meet Rashi and Nidhi (the two hosts) I will ask. What I can assure you that it wouldn’t have been the same without the lovely team of NDTV that made me feel special - Gangasinghji, Vikram, Amit, Rashi, Nidhi.
Finally the day ended at Lukia’s place. She had organised an American dinner. She had made the cake in the shape of the American flag. Barack Obama finished his speech. The cake was cut. We were all there – Spanish, greek, Americans, Indians watching as he addressed two million.
The reporter’s question hovered my mind again. And it kept as I left Delhi for Chennai for the next stopover.
What will happen?
This book has a destiny. Soha had said.
I sighed and closed my eyes. Oh Pooja! So much missing you! The plane took off.
Ashish Jaiswal
———————————————-
The coverage that followed Delhi release:
Tags: a fable of exitence, ashish jaiswal, book, book release, crossword, Dr. Karthikeyan, Dr. Pachauri, Oxford, select city mall, True Dummy
Posted in True Dummy | 137 Comments »
