Abhishek Honored With 'Yash Bharati' - The Bachchan Connection

"Mein yeh samman ke layak nahi hoon".

Abhishek Bachchan was quoted saying this while giving his acceptance speech for being honored with the 'Yash Bharati' award by the Uttar Pradesh Government. It's the state's highest cultural honor. The award, instituted in 1994-5 by Mulayam Singh Yadav, is given to outstanding personalities from the State who have excelled in their profession and brought laurels to UP. The award carries a cash component of Rs 5 lakhs, besides a shawl and a citation.

This award ceremony is nothing new to the Bachchan family - grandfather Harivansh Rai Bachchan, father and millennium star Amitabh Bachchan, and mother Jaya Bachchan have been honored earlier.

Though there were nine others who were also awarded at the function, the whole ceremony looked more of a Bachchans and Samajwadi Party's tea-party affair.

Defending his decision of awarding Bachchan Jr., Mulayam Singh Yadav said,

I know a section of the media is busy kicking up a controversy over Abhishek's inclusion in the list of awardees.

They say he is too young. But, I wish to remind such critics that age has nothing to do with accomplishments. Abhishek is a deserving recipient.

He is a role model for the youth.

But it seems his justification has had no effect on the ones who are totally pissed off with the inclusion of Abby Baby for receiving Yash Bharati and consider this as nothing but a political strategy for coming elections.

Mid-Day Reports:

According to Bajrang Singh, president, Lucknow University Students Union, Abhishek does not qualify for the award. He protests, "Mulayam Singh has converted this award into a private affair. This is an insult to the state. The basic criterion of this award is that it should be given to somebody who has contributed to the welfare of the state. Abhishek has done nothing in that regard."

[...]

Bajrang Singh feels the award is being used for personal gains. He complains, "The fourth award to the Bachchan family is too much. Mulayam Singh is giving away these awards only to ensure the Bachchan family's participation in election campaigns for the Samajwadi Party in the future."

BJP's state union president Kesri Nath Tripthi too endorses, "This award is being given for purely political considerations."

I am sure even Abhishek must have been taken by surprise on hearing his name in the list of chosen awardees and must be flashing a corny smile within while receiving the award.

Seriously speaking, Abhishek does not deserve this award or any other sort of State/National award. He is still a newcomer in the Bollywood Industry and is a long way away from making an impression on the Indian audience. Being one of the most eligible bachelors in the country does not qualify him for a nomination, let alone for an honor. And please having Ex-Miss World Ashwariya Rai in the picture doesn't amount to anything.

The UP state award ceremony seems to be nothing short of Bollywood's popular film award ceremonies, where exchanging of money for honor is a common practice.

But then again 'Yeh hai India meri jaan' and it surely pays well to belong to a highly connected, famous family.