Feb 2010_Preptalk new.cdr - Student Resources Centre

Guestroom‘Idiot’ IdeasLt. Col P. Deogirikar (Retd.)While 2009 left us numb with swine flue and dengue, in the last week of the year we were swept by the Bollywoodsuperhit “3 idiots”. So much so that one would be considered an idiot (in the way we understood it all along not whatis preached in this movie) if he/she has not seen this movie. This movie has appealed to the Indian psyche so much sothat it has become an all-time super-duper hit in a very short time. Management lessons have been drawn from it. Letus now paint this national phenomenon for the ‘consequences’ with our creative brush dipped in humourous colour.We will consider its impact in various fields.Social1. Madhavan and Sharman get the truth from Javed Jeffrey bythreatening to wash off the remains of his father in a flush toilet.Encouraged, a good-for-nothing disgruntled but only son maypressurize his old father to give him all in the father’s will afterthis flick. He could threaten his dad that the last remains of theold man (ashes) when he dies, would be flushed out in toilet andnot in the Ganges. To make it more revolting, he could even addthat it would be done in the dirtiest ones - the public toilets! InIndian psyche even what we get after the death matters and thisyouth may be able to get his way!kabool ho!” with their pants dropped! This activity should begood enough for the staff to check for explosives.Legal1. The descendants of Leonardo Da Vinci (the only manknown to have the ability to write with both handssimultaneously) are seriously consulting whether they can suethe makers of this movie which has used the unparalleled specialfeature of their ancestor by showing Dr. Sahastrabuddhe(Boman Irani) doing so. Or, alternatively, whether they can claimsome profits from this huge hit.2. Nagar Nigams of some cities are planning a system whichwill have all electric poles carry a small electric current flowingthrough them. This could be taken from the pole itself. Thiscurrent would be small enough so as not to damage the humanwho might accidentally touch it. Or even the bigger animals likecows etc. This system would affect only the stray dogs. The dogswould get an electric shock when they peeon these poles. This would make the dogsforget about this dirty habit. And therewould be a major benefit as well. Thesedogs would be castrated automaticallywhen the electric current reaches where itreaches! This would take care of themultiplying number of the stray dogs andwould help a great deal in controlling thepopulation of stray dogs.3. Recently a case was unearthed in USwhere a Nigerian terrorist, Abdulmutallab,was caught with explosives stitched in hisunderwear. After 3 Idiots, airlines areconsidering whether they should make itcompulsory for all passengers to greet thesecurity staff with “Jahanpanah, tohfaI am sorry Mamma, but I will not memorize anymaths tables, please! Amir uncle has clearlysuggested in 3 Idiots that there should be no rotelearning.2. A special show was organized for the Indian cricketers.After this his friends have started teasing by calling him ‘Virus’in dressing room. Now Viru S-ehwag is actively contemplatingwhether he should sue Mr. Hirani for his plight.3. Mr. Hirani used the scenes of ragging by senior studentsand ‘impersonation for a student’ to goodadvantage in both Munnabhai and 3 Idiots.In fact in 3 Idiots the hero not onlycompletes the schooling in different namebut finishes engineering from aprestigious institute and manages to keepa lid on it for at least 10 years! Theeducational authorities feel this has beendone at their cost. They are consideringwhether they should take Hirani to courtor ask for a profit-share.4.Parents are on a legal battle with theschool authorities for allowing ‘necktiehooks’ and ‘velcro shirts’ in schooluniforms. (If you think it is a small matter,ask those harassed mothers fighting tenseeveryday battle with time while dispatching38 PT’s PrepTalk – February 2010