Educating
the girl child is most important: Priyanka Chopra
Shefali Sagar, Merinews
24 May 2007, Thursday
Apart from setting the screen
ablaze, Priyanka is well-informed, well-read and socially aware of her
surroundings and makes no bones in drawing attention to issues such as
education, female infanticide and foeticide that inspire her.
If you thought you’d seen
all of Priyanka on screen, think again - she is much more than a mere pretty
face. In this interview Priyanka reveals her political thoughts and social
leanings as flamboyantly as her on-screen acting.
What are the social issues
you feel strongly about?
I feel strongly about many
things but the most important are educating the girl child and female infanticide
and foeticide. I think it is extremely important to educate the girl child
in our country. It is time that people realised that a girl can, is and
will be stronger than boys. It is very important that a girl is educated
and is self dependent. Only then will she be able to raise a better family
and in turn a better society.
I have seen in affluent urban
families female foeticide take place and it is absolutely shocking that
in today’s day and age people still prefer a boy over a girl. This is absolutely
wrong and we should collectively as a society do something about it and
fast.
I am also pro research…
I think sources of alternate
energy and its use should be worked upon as soon as possible. We take all
that we have for granted because it is in abundance without realising that
if we do not stop exploiting our environment there will be nothing left
for our future generations.
I also feel strongly about
Thalsemia. Much is being done about cancer and AIDS which is fine and needed
as well but I don’t see much happening for thalesemic children in this
part of the world. I would certainly like to take up this cause and do
something for them.
Are you attached to any of
these social causes and how?
Yes, I am and since things
are just about starting to take shape I prefer not to talk about it at
this point in time.
Do you keep track of current
issues?
Ye, I do. I watch news,
read newspapers and keep myself abreast with what’s happening around the
world.
Favourite world leader and
why?
Oh, you’ve put me in a fix
by asking about a world leader…mmmm
Ok, an Indian leader?
I really admire our President,
Dr Kalam. He is an educated leader with an outlook that is much beyond
petty politics. I admire the work that he does in the field of education
as that is the crux of the society that needs to be addressed in India.
He realises the potential today’s children have and has a vision for tomorrow’s
India. He is a very sober, intelligent, noncontroversial and a dedicated
‘First Citizen of India’ and I have a lot of respect for him.
What are your views on the
current political and social scenario in India?
Oh politics in India is
colourful, it is very interesting. It is very easy for us as citizens to
sit and pass judgments on what is going wrong in the society but I think
we need to look at ourselves first. Do we pay our taxes? What do we as
citizens do to make our society better? Where taxes are concerned, the
film fraternity in India is the highest tax paying community.
Another question one should
ask is-- do you go and vote? If you don’t then you are instrumental in
sending the wrong candidate to the assembly to represent you. It is a choice
you make.
Also, do we take education
seriously? If each family is determined to educate its children, the system
would change on its own. It is all very cyclical but education is the very
basis of everything. We would have good politicians / leaders if we have
an educated society, then politics would be more positive than colourful!
What is a change that you
aspire to see in India?
Outlook of a normal Indian,
that is how we can make a difference. Our country has immense potential.
Half of the professionals in America are Indians, if you remove them from
there US would crumble. We should use the potential we have for the good
of our country. We should take a stand and not take things lying down.
Where politics and leadership are concerned we need younger educated politicians
to bring about a revolution in this country.
Do you think cinema can bring
about a social change?
Of course, films are a very
important medium to convey a social message and can bring about a change.
Having said that, I also think that social liberty and space to create
should be given to filmmakers. This is a democracy and we are free to say
what we want to. It is not necessary that every film should carry a message,
the people need to realize that this is a film and not real. I have been
extremely lucky to be associated with some good cinema myself.
Your message to your fans….
I have said a lot about
the causes that I feel strongly about. If they can take up even one of
them, it would bring great happiness and satisfaction to me.
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