GANDHIJI, MONT BLANC and EXPENSIVE PENS
On the 140th Anniversary of "Bapu", it is sad indeed that such a controversy had to come up. We have all read about Gandhiji and his frugal habits, so, marketing a pen, which costs $25000, in the name of Gandhiji and launching it under the name "Limited Edition 241", (241 mile Dandi March)! What is more amazing is that this was endorsed by his great grandson as well, who actually launched the product. One counter-point is given in the link below:
http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_cricketer-dilip-doshi-in-pursuit-of-luxury_1293570
While the philanthropic initiative deserves to be praised, it still cannot justify marketing a product in his name, and all the sacrifices which he made. The Father of Our Nation deserves better, on his birthday.
Greetings to all on the 140th Birth Anniversary of Bapu. To those who haven't watched, do watch "Lage Raho Munnabhai".....a must watch!
On the 140th Anniversary of "Bapu", it is sad indeed that such a controversy had to come up. We have all read about Gandhiji and his frugal habits, so, marketing a pen, which costs $25000, in the name of Gandhiji and launching it under the name "Limited Edition 241", (241 mile Dandi March)! What is more amazing is that this was endorsed by his great grandson as well, who actually launched the product. One counter-point is given in the link below:
http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_cricketer-dilip-doshi-in-pursuit-of-luxury_1293570
While the philanthropic initiative deserves to be praised, it still cannot justify marketing a product in his name, and all the sacrifices which he made. The Father of Our Nation deserves better, on his birthday.
Greetings to all on the 140th Birth Anniversary of Bapu. To those who haven't watched, do watch "Lage Raho Munnabhai".....a must watch!
5 comments:
You are right in feeling bad. But this is a natural result of the degeneration of the society and our tendency to symbolize anything and everything.
Well, while you might be partly right, I dont totally agree with the fact that it is something we should feel 'sad' about. Mont Blanc has a history of making pens for more than a century. And i think they will not need Mahatma Gandhi to market their pen in 2009. This will not boost their sales much. On the other hand, Mont Blanc, throughout its history, has honoured distinguished people by having their picture/inscriptions on their pens. This I feel is something similar. They essentially make pens. So whomever they wish to honour, can be done only through their pens.
How about changing the title of this article to "Iyer's Ire" :)
I guess we are in the season where people are trying real hard to show that they are following the Gandhian ideal of "austerity". Those who have taken issue with Mont Blanc, have eschewed another Gandhian value, something which is even more important than austerity - Tolerance.
When the "holy calves" having the surname as that of the Mahatma can cost us crores in the name of transport, accommodation and security when they travel to meet the "common man",who are the Powers-that-wannabe trying to convince with this brouhaha over a $25000 pen.
On their part, Mont Blanc could salvage some image by announcing some portion of the profit from these pens would to donated to promote Gandhian institutions. Wat say, Marketing God Iyer?
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