Amitabh's altered 'state' of power

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br />Power enlightens, absolute power ''lightens'' absolutely.<br /></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="47.6%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:=""><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;/photopop/msid-153654,type-0.cms&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/thumb.cms?msid=153654&height=100&width=100" hspace="12" /></a></span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">And when an actor of the stature of Amitabh Bachchan decides to use his star power to ''power'' an entire state, the state cannot go anywhere but ''UP'' - pun intended.<br /><br />Because the reference is to UP (Uttar Pradesh), and it seems to be headed ''up'', given the massive thrust and support it''s getting from the Allahabad-born Bachchan.<br /><br />Little did the vast legions of UP (sadly many from the uneducated millions) know that this young scion born to renowned poet Harvanshrai, would one day be the model icon of the Indian worldwide.And that, it would be that star status which would lend more power to his home state.<br /><br />Today that dream seems to be coming true for the hitherto beleaguered northern state where illiteracy shares space with some of the finest poetic and political minds and where farmers and prime ministers come from the same stock. Truly the organic pool of leadership and the arts; but yet far from being the commerce capital.<br /><br />But all that''s now about to change.<br /><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />Amitabh, with the tremendous goodwill and faith he enjoys among his friends in the business industry, has managed to garner a staggering Rs 10,000-crore investment in power projects in his birth state. Whew!<br /><br />Apparently, the Reliance power support, vis-a-vis the Ambani might and the support from the Sahara group of Subroto Roy - all with the goodwill and guidance of friend and well wisher, Amar Singh, has culminated in the mega investment in the state, which can only give it a surge in the direction of progress.<br /><br />And it took the guiding hand of one man to steer a mainly penury-stricken pradesh from darkness towards light, literally!<br /><br />That''s what one calls initiative and total, selfless commitment. But then that''s Amitabh Bachchan for you.<br /><br />If only our other leaders and icons took to supporting one state each.<br /><br />It would take only twenty-six (that''s how many states we have) role models to push for progress and power for our entire nation.<br /><br />I remember when Vinod Khanna became tourism minister last year, he shared his brilliant dream of turning Hoshiarpur into Paris. It was a dream he dared to dream, but it''s not one that cannot be turned into reality. Even Shatrughan Sinha''s (when he was Health Minister) dream of a disease-free nation is not one far from reality, if followed rightly.<br /><br />Maybe today a Shatru can become the best friend that Bihar ever had. Since he would understand its problems and needs. And he could speak to a few friends in high places and mobilise that state into action towards progress.<br /><br />Likewise Vinod, the Deols, the Johars, the Chopras, the Kapoors and the lot of the many Punjabi stars can galvanise support for Punjab. <br /><br />Aishwarya Rai, Shilpa Shetty and Sunil Shetty for Karnataka; Rani, Bipasha, Sushmita and Co. for West Bengal, Sridevi, Kamal Hassan, Hema, Rajnikanth and gang for Tamil Nadu; Ameesha Patel, Paresh Rawal, etc. for Gujarat, Madhuri, Urmila, Sonali, Nana for Maharashtra; Naseer from Ajmer, Tabu for Hyderabad, Preity, Anupam for Himachal and so on. <br /><br />And with the Khans, SRK, Aamir, Saif and Salman for the metros, and various others behind other states, would it be long before every state has a model guru, guiding the hands of the state in the direction of prosperity.<br /><br />Sounds like a pipe dream? Well, if Terminator and Austria-born Arnold can become California governor, why can''t our stars become ambassadors of a rising nation?<br /><br />Here''s to more ''power'' to all of them. And may it lead to altered ''states''!</div> </div>