A few thoughts about all this celebrity business

We got back from Salem last evening after the TED X event where I had been invited a speaker. The drive from Salem to Bangalore was awesome.Beautiful roads indeed.

 I hadn't been well for almost four whole days--bad body pain, sore throat, exhaustion and mild fever. I somehow managed to pop in medication and delivered my talk.

I was told by many that I spoke really well and that my talk was inspiring. I spoke from the heart. I shall share the link to the video of the talk as soon as it is uploaded. Meanwhile you can view the pictures here, if you want to see :)

This is what Saffin Mathew  (Organiser and licensee of the Ted X event) said about me

Preeti Shenoy - A lady whom I admire a lot. Well after reading her 2nd book (I still haven't read her 1st), I was not a big fan of her's. Not that the book was bad, just that it had a dark side to it that I am not very fond of. But i liked the writing style. Then came her 3rd book. I pre-ordered the book after thinking twice. But once I started reading it, I couldn't keep it down. Man! What a book. The life of the lead character in the book was well portrayed. Since then I am all praise for this author. She has 220v smile. Then when I got the chance to meet her and hear her speak at TEDxSonaCollege, my admiration just grew. But in all the excitement, I forgot to get the book autographed by her.What energy and what talent she has. She is truly blessed. I guess the support from her lovely family plays a big role. May God bless this family.
Ma'am you truly are an amazing person. A big salute to you!!!


One thing which I have been wanting to speak out about for long, (but kept putting off) is this whole set of expectations that people have from other people they term 'celebrities' and 'successful people in their chosen fields'.

After my talk at Ted X, during the break, I was surrounded by people who wanted my autograph.

I was somehow surprised, touched and humbled.
In that single gesture by a group of people, I had been elevated to the status of a ' real celebrity'. It set me thinking as to how people treat celebrities differently.



For instance, many think it is okay to make any kind of demand. A few days back, someone said to me on Twitter-- "Don't you care about the country? Why can't you write about serious issues like Chetan Bhagat?" I honestly wanted to reply to that someone and say "Look, I have worked with slum children for two whole years teaching them English and math. I used to leave home at SEVEN A.M in the morning, travel a distance of fifteen kilometres just to be with them. The results we got  with these kids I worked with were amazing. Many of them invited me home and I will never forget the love they showered on me and the change I was able to bring to their lives."
But I did not reply to this person, simply because she was rude, she knew nothing about me and I don't think she cared either. I also wanted to ask her what SHE had done for the country! But I chose to let it go.

In another incident, I was recognized by a reader/fan,  when I was having a cup of coffee with  a friend (who happens to be a guy). Next thing I know, there is a post on my FB wall, saying that he spotted me at Bangalore Central. He even mentioned a few snippets of the conversation I was having!  I now know how hard it must be  for 'celebrities' to even have a cup of coffee with a 'good friend'. ;-)

I ,of course, do feel happy when I am recognised when i walk into Crossword or Landmark.

But there are the pitfalls too.

There are these people who bombard me with pieces of their writing. They want me to read and review their books or something they have written. I get at least a fifty requests in  a week, to read stuff people have written. I truly do not have the time to oblige. I do manage to reply to almost all mails personally. But to expect me to offer my opinion on writing, is expecting a lot! Firstly I would have to devote a lot of time to 'critiquing'. I will have to study it and offer constructive advice. I do not have that kind of time really. Secondly it is just plain rude to flood someone's inbox with a whole lot of things you wrote, demanding that they read it!

Then there was this person who sent me a long mail some months back, praising me to the skies saying how much he admired my writing and me as a person. He then said that he is saddened that I have not even responded to his friend request on FB. To be honest I get about forty requests a day. I do accept almost all, as and when I get time to get around to them. I apologized and said that I get many requests and his must have got buried. I added him as a 'friend'.
He later sent me a request for a book review which I refused.
This person must have irked me at some point or flooded my timeline (I truly do not remember even!) and I must have 'unfriended' him. (He claims I blocked him and the fact is, I don't even remember this guy!)

A few days back, this person wrote all kinds of nasty things about me on my FB wall, calling me vain, proud and boastful about my looks (am smiling now), accusing me of wanting only praise and saying I am harsh and egotistic and so full of myself. I replied saying that I know what I am and so do the people who truly know me.
Next thing I know, he has pulled out the private messages exchanged between him and me (where he has praised me to the skies and I have said a polite thank you) and posted them publicly in three places on my FB wall!  Then he has said that success has gone to my head and not everyone is humble and kind like ______________. (he has named another author).

At this point I could only do one thing. I deleted all of the above nonsense. (Of course he is entitled to his opinion. But please not my FB page!) and blocked him promptly. He came back three more times with three different ids just to post some more nasty stuff on my wall!

I do follow a simple policy when it comes to my Blog as well as my FB page. I do not like negativity, mud-slinging or accusing. My blog is a happy place! So is my FB page!

And happy it shall stay.
 
What astounds me is that the very same people who praise the 'celebrities'  and elevate them and place them on a pedestal are so quick to push them down and squish them under their feet too when they do not behave as per what they expect.

How much they judge, condemn and form opinions without ever meeting or interacting.

Says a lot about all the adulation and  the whole business  of 'celebritydom', doesn't it? :)

Addendum: After reading one comment I am hastening to add, I truly do not mind signing books at all! I do think it is a honour that you respect and like me so much and I will happily sign books (or autographs for you!) I don't mind being approached for a chat too. What I do not appreciate is mud-slinging if I am unable to respond!
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