19/11/2025
RK DEBATE!! Why do I not appreciate Raj Kapoor movies? JYOTINDRA: I do not like Raj Kapoor movies. KIRTI: You? Not liking Raj Kapoor? WHY?
JYOTINDRA: Before I explain, let me clarify — I am not against Raj Kapoor the actor. He was brilliant. I am against the stories written for him. Everything in those stories is wrong. In almost every film, he is shown as a failure, a coward, or a helpless man. Not a single film shows him as a successful, empowered person.
KIRTI: Meaning the influence was negative?
JYOTINDRA: Yes. Look at the pattern. His characters were always poor, unskilled, confused, and foolish. Even the film titles tell the story: Mera Naam Joker, Anari, Shri 420.
These films came at a time when India had just come out of 200 years of British rule. Our education system had been destroyed. Poor people were uneducated and hopeless. Raj Kapoor’s films resonated not because they inspired people — but because they matched their pain.
KIRTI: So, cinema became a mirror of helplessness.
JYOTINDRA: Exactly. Take Awara in 1951. The hero sings he is damaged, wandering, aimless. Shri 420 in 1955 again shows a struggling, poor man who is cheated by society.
During the same time in the Western world, children were reading Superman comics — stories of adventure, courage, victory. Education there was building boldness. Here, we were feeding our youth stories of failure.
Then came Mera Naam Joker in 1970 — again a tale of loss, disappointment, broken confidence. For decades, people were subconsciously trained to see themselves as weak. Nothing inspirational. Nothing heroic. That shapes attitudes.
KIRTI: You imply that bad influence can affect entire generations?
JYOTINDRA: Yes. Influencers are powerful. A wrong message becomes culture. If the hero you worship constantly loses, you internalize defeat. If the hero is always an Idiot (Anari), you imitate that helplessness.
Raj Kapoor was worshipped like a God. So, people thought maybe being poor, passive, and silent is noble. It took India 70 years to slowly shift from this loser-mindset to a bold, confident generation.
Again, I am not against the actor. He is a legend. But the script and the messaging were harmful.
KIRTI: And you say the education system today still reflects that imbalance.
JYOTINDRA: Exactly. Our system produces efficient professionals but not emotionally strong human beings. IQ is taught, earning skills are taught, but emotional balance is ignored.
A person may become an engineer or a manager — yet unable to handle anger, failure, temptation, greed, arrogance, or stress.
KIRTI: Emotional development is as important as physical and intellectual development.
JYOTINDRA: Parents believe their job ends after sending children to school. But values, simplicity, ethics, awareness — these need guidance.
Today children get so much comfort that they can’t face reality. Basic patience is missing. Small difficulties disturb them.
Education is focused on memorizing, not on intuition, not on Pragya. With intelligence comes ego. Without meditation, EQ remains weak.
KIRTI: So where do we begin to correct this?
JYOTINDRA: Start with breathing. Teach children to practice deep breathing daily, slowly reducing to three or four long breaths per minute. Within three months, anger reduces, clarity improves.
Train intuition. Reduce over-comfort. Teach responsibility — simple things like not blocking a gate while parking.
In short, teach the science of living, not just the science of earning.
KIRTI: That’s a strong message. Before we close, tell us about your Women’s Day plan.
JYOTINDRA: This year is special. There is a program to honour my daughter, Dr. Amrapali Zaveri. The Amrapali Zaveri Awards for Data Science will be given in the Netherlands.
KIRTI: Dr. Amrapali Zaveri’s work continues to inspire data scientists across the world. This tribute is meaningful and well deserved.
JYOTINDRA: Thank you. Yes, India is proud of her, and especially the data science community. Her work reminds us that human values must guide technology — the same message we began with.
Podcast with Kirti, the great Anchor! Jyotindra Zaveri WhatsApp +91 9552946949.
Scientific Meditation related 20+links https://bit.ly/4lQOBQd
