I will never use 'doctor' before my name: Amitabh
IANS
Monday, August 14, 2006
 Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who has recently been awarded a doctorate by Britain's De Montford University, says he will never use the title before his name.
"I respect the university for this recognition, but 'Dr. Bachchan' is a term that shall remain always with the memory of my father (Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan). He was the true bearer of this title. I would never ever acknowledge the 'use' of this abbreviation before my name," said Amitabh who raised funds for the Mumbai blast victims during his trip abroad.
And now he is waiting for the green signal from authorities to distribute the money.
"We are going to distribute this personally to the victims as soon as we can obtain relevant legal permissions from the government to bring this amount in," Amitabh told IANS.
Excerpts from an interview:
Q: You've just been awarded a doctorate by the De Montford University.
A: It has been an extremely humbling experience. The honour and dignity afforded to me has been incredibly overwhelming. The pageantry and protocol, discipline and décor, procedures and grace - all were quite unbelievable and most un-deserving.
The university is the third largest in Britain and has a great history and tradition. For them to give recognition to an actor of the Indian film industry is a first not just for India but also for Britain.
Q: I believe you were mentioned in British parliament?
A: Yes, the ceremony and occasion apart, what is most breathtaking is that my name will go down the annals of British parliament and therefore in British history. The parliament acknowledged my contribution through a motion passed on the floor of the House of Commons, and to top it all, a confirmation of it by the Leader of the House Jack Straw in the august premises, during the day's proceedings and I sat in the gallery witnessing all this.
What followed thereafter were personal meetings, with almost half the cabinet, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett, now very much in the news on Lebanon, and her great desire to seek autographs from me for the Indian staff working in her office, or else she would have 'a heavy price to pay'.
Q: Wasn't there a fund-raising dinner for Mumbai's blast victims?
A: The next day a dinner was held in my honour in the House of Commons for over 200 people and what was most gratifying for me is that the event, on my insistence, was turned into a fund-raiser for the Mumbai blast victims.
And may I add that the two largest donors were from Pakistan. We raised approximately 26,000 pounds and my dear friend and younger brother Amar Singh-ji, who had accompanied me, matched the entire amount to make it 50,000 pounds.
Q; How will you make sure the money reaches the victims?
A: We are going to distribute this personally to the victims as soon as we obtain relevant legal permissions from the government to bring this amount in. Rt. Hon Keith Vaz, MP, my friend and host will be writing to the concerned authorities for clearances.
Q: So a pleasurable experience?
A: Yes, I must tell you meeting the community in Leicester was another high. The affection and the love of the people never cease to amaze me, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
At the end of it all, I respect the university for this recognition, but 'Dr. Bachchan' is a term that shall remain always with the memory of my father. He was the true bearer of this title. I would never ever acknowledge the 'use' of this abbreviation before my name.
Q: Did you give a speech?
A: Yes I did. It was part of the protocol and a meticulously designed formal procedure.
Q: Were you accompanied by your family?
A: No. Jaya had to be in Mumbai to be with my ailing mother, now hospitalised, and also to be present a day before in parliament for her swearing in. Abhishek was in South Africa shooting for "Dhoom 2". But the family was more than ably represented by Amar Singh-ji (Samajwadi Party MP).
Q: Were you also there for a shooting?
A: I was shooting for "Baabul", left for Mumbai and connected to Delhi the next morning, witnessed the swearing in, came back to Mumbai by evening and at night took the flight back to London to resume shooting the following morning.
Q: British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) held a Bollywood weekend recently. Why weren't you there?
A: BAFTA is the British Academy of Film Theatre and Arts... I presume or something similar. It is not the British Academy For Trivial Amitabh!
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