THE HUMAN , THE RAJAT SHARMA

Kuch hi dino key andar;

Rajat Sharma;

will become;

PADMA BHUSHAN Rajat Sharma;



He is the one who gave me a break into Television;

He is the one who took personalised efforts to send me to Mumbai;

He is the one who taught me the importance of clothes in the Screen Worlds;

He is the one who sent me on my first reporting assignment to Aligarh;

He is the one who told me about Mumbai;

He is the one who tried to transfer his old MTNL Mumbai phones to me;

He is the one who spoke to Subhash Ghai…For Me;

He is the one whom I always called first whenever I landed in Delhi;

He is the one who personally  showed  me his Amar Ujala Newspaper cuttings to encourage me on Hindi;

He is not only a National Personality;Owner of a News Organisation;

He is beyond that;

Remembering my journey with him;

I want to tell the world about the unknown Rajat Sharma;

The Real Rajat Sharma!!!!

 

Scene 1  &  The Rajat Effect

October ,1994;

During the early morning hours,Rajat Sharma at his house in Delhi receives a call on his Landline phone;

An unknown boy speaks to him in Hindi for Ten Minutes;

Explaining what he wants to do,clarifying his abilities and dreams;

Rajat Sharma was a celebrity even then;News and Current Affairs Director of Zee TV in Delhi;

He did not interrupt the boy,Just listened,Gave him his office number and asked him to call him after few days after he finishes the shoot; (He was shooting for Aap Ki Adalat during those days)

This boy had searched the Directory of Delhi MTNL and found 28 Rajat Sharma listed in it;

He tried to call all of them,and finally got the one whom he wanted to get on phone;

Rajat Sharma did not know about these efforts,about the boy

He just invested his 10 Minutes on phone for a stranger;

And a professional was born;

Myself!!

 

Rajat Effect of Scene 1

 

How many of us remain open or accessible to new talent!!!How many of us even take phone calls of not usable people!!! (Sad but the reality)

How many of us don’t even dump old relationships in the graveyards of our successes!!!

Rajat Sharma was and is an exception;

Remain Accessible to people;

Mostly Unpracticed Need of the Media and Entertainment industry;

Even Today;

He replies,He answers,He remains available!!!

He is much bigger than so many successful people around,

But;

He is also much bigger a person!!!!

 

Scene 2 & The Rajat Effect

 I was told to wait;

He was checking my Patience; (This I later realised)

After a long wait of 8 Hours at the reception of  Zee TV office at J 27,South Extention 1 in New Delhi;

Rajat Sharma appeared in a bright yellow shirt;

Haa Batao;

And I spoke at length;

Aap Ki Adalat is a great programme but I don’t like Helpline as It helps only a few people,It does not serve the larger purpose,But I want to work for Aap Ki Adalat;

Khalid;Would it not be better to work on that which you feel is not good enough,You can make it better.

I was neither sent to Aap ki Adalat not to Helpline;

He sent me to Umesh Upadhyay to work for his show “Insight”

 

Rajat Effect of Scene 2

 

He knew how to give a clean slate to a newcomer to perform without any bag and baggage;

He gave me a sentence also : I cant give you a job but an oppurtunity to proove yourself in 15 days!!

How many of us know the Science of igniting the hidden energies of newcomers!!!

Rajat Sharma allways knew it;

Later;

Most of the Biggest names of News Television today were appointed  as newcomers by Rajat Sharma in Zee TV;

Some people can forget,I can never forget;

Rajat Sharma has got an instinct to choose and appoint people;

He does not go by CV,He goes by his instinct.(He himself told me once)

How many of us can take chances with people like this!!!

Rajat Sharma takes chances with people;

And it gives us professionals!!!

Hundreds of people should be thankful to him.

 

Scene 3 & The Rajat Effect

 

I worked for him in Aap ki Adalat also; (He was noticing my notes made on Newspaper Cuttings)

Finally;

13^th March,1995 :Zee News was launched at 10 PM on Zee TV!!!

He will come at 10 AM for the Editorial meeting,He will come at 8.30 PM again for the Mastering of the News Bulletin.(Those were the different days for News)

Sometimes,He will visit the Newsroom during the daytime also;

One lazy afternoon;

The PTI Ticker gave us a news :Riots in Aligarh!!!

Aligarh me Danga ho gaya ji , Said Umesh Upadhyay.

Kisi ko bhej do,Kisko Bhejey,

He looked around,He looked at me,Isko bhej do

After sometime;

A News Researcher was travelling to Aligarh with an Ex Wedding Photographer-Cameraman to cover the Aligarh riots;

I became a News Reporter in few hours.My fellow Cameraman became a News Cameraman in few hours.

 

Rajat Effect of Scene 3

 

I have always realised that he walks slowly but he thinks very fast;

He notices minute things without letting others realise this;

He creates opinions after observations;

And he throws people in a situation;

Where they have to perform;

They have to become what they deserve to become;

How many of us learn this HR attitude of working in our daily practices!!!

Rajat Sharma does it;

He believes in First Time Efforts;

Because he himself made it that way;

Got into Television without any background in Television!!!

WOW!!!!

And the man has created a News Empire today!!!

 

Scene 4

He called me to his small room.

Have you got your salary? / Yes Sir / Go and buy new good clothes today. / He said;I also used to wear Khadi once upon a time but we need to change ourselves to suit our surroundings.

The Rajat Effect:Get involved with your people up to that extent where you advice them on their clothes.How many of us get so involved with the life of our Co Workers!!! Its not a Science,Its an art!!!

 

Scene 5

See these News Clipping. / I looked at a file full of old Newspaper cuttings in Hindi / These were Rajat Sharma’s writings for Amar Ujala in Hindi / I looked at him / He said;I too used to to write in Hindi but English is equally important / Learn Fast / And I learnt!!!!!

The Rajat Effect:Train your people with personalised efforts.How many of us have taught our people like this!!!!Rajat Sharma becomes a friend!!!He could be the best friend if we remain best to him!!

 

Scene 6

When the whole world did not know his plans beyond Zee TV;

One Fine Morning,In his small room;

I am leaving Zee TV very soon.You go to Mumbai before I leave as someone else might not transfer you to Mumbai once I leave!!

WHY!!!!

The Rajat Effect : Keep your Commitments.He had promised me to send to Mumbai which I always wanted and he wanted to fulfill his promise before he leaves.

How many of us remember our promises,And that too made to a young new employee!!!

Rajat Sharma was true to his words.Its a rare quality in him.

 

Scene 7

Rajat Sharma came to me in Newsroom and sat just behind me;

Almost Whispered in my ears;

Khalid Mohammad;I have spoken to Subhash Ghai,You go to Mumbai and work with him.

 Later He draws a map of Mumbai on paper,Explains about Mumbai;

He speaks to someone in Mumbai,If his old Landline numbers of Mumbai are still activated,They can be given to this young boy!!!

Rajat;Why don’t you send him to Nitin Keni,asked Ritu Dhawan!!!

And he did all that he could do;

 The Rajat Effect: Corporate life exists beyond Corporate responsibilities also.Help People and he always moved beyond the Corporate dimentions to help new people.

 

I came to Mumbai.

Later I resigned to join Rajat Sharma’s IMPL.

I shared the Defence Colony days of him when there was no India TV;

And he got busy in creating his News Empire;

I got busy in creating my life in Mumbai;

Zee TV,IMPL,Hinduja Group,Journalism,Corporate,Daily Soaps,Scriptwriting,Ekta Kapoors and RonnieScrewwalas,GEC,HeadingCompanies,Indonasia,Dubai,Pakistan,Consultant,Digital,Producership,Enterpreneurship

This all belongs to that phone call that I made to Rajat Sharma in October 1994;

Choosing those 28 names and calling all of them;

In search of Real Rajat Sharma of News;

I found out the real one;

But many people still have not found out the real one;

They talk about Rajat Sharma-the Newsmaker of India,They talk about India TV,They write good or bad things about him on Facebook and Twitter,They follow or Unfollow him;

But there is allways something which not many know;

We need to travel with the person on a journey ;

I was fortunate enough that I travelled with him for sometime;

I could understand him through my understanding of him;

 

I shall post this piece online;

I am surely going to tell him about this post;

Sharing with  him;

That I wrote not on the Chairman of India TV;

I wrote on “him”

I know,Sometimes It will be difficult for him to keep alive this “him” in the political atmosphere of Delhi;

But;

Please keep this alive;

 

This "him" is more important;

 

This "him" in you inspires a Khalid to remember every thing of you even after 20 long years;

 

I am sure,This "him" of him will stay alive for years to come;

And;

There will be so many Khalids  in coming years to write on;

THE HUMAN,THE RAJAT SHARMA!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE UDAY SHANKAR EFFECT !!!

Uday Shankar;

The Star of Star India , The  Star of Indian Television;

 

After 5 Years;

Uday  is going to change the entire face of Hindi Cinema;

Yes,You have read this correctly;

Hindi Cinema!!!

 

Uday  is going to change the entire face of Indian Politics;

Yes,You have read this also correctly;

Indian Politics!!!

 

Has he ever told us anything like this!!

Never;

Its hypothetical;

Its imaginary;

Nor,We say, that he will do this;

But yes,We say,He can do this;

Anything like this;

Or

Anything else;

Which looks hypothetical today;

Which looks imaginary today;

Any imaginary hypothesis can convert into a real effect!!!

“The Uday Shankar Effect”

 

When we discuss Uday Shankar;

We should allways be ready with the possibilities of the impossibilities;

Such is his life,and its role for the surroundings whereever  it works at that moment;

Out of our 20 years  in Television, 19 years have been spent on watching the journey of this  effect :The Uday Shankar Effect!!!

Today;

For the first time;

Its time to analyse it;

Its time to share it;

But its very difficult;

So many of his inspiring and great lines were said in a personalised space , Is it time to share that!!

So many of his inspiring acts and activities are yet to be told to the world , Is it time to share that!!

So many inspiring  traits of his professional personality are to be taught, Is it time to share that!!

It’s a Book;

We leave it for the near future;

Now;

Better  that we share,what he has created through the effect;

No;

We will not write about his TV shows , Sports Ventures,Business Plans or anything like that;

You read that at so many places;

Let this piece of writing be a  personalised mirror of his journey seen through our eyes;

Yes,We witnessed the journey;

The  Journey  which must be a source of inspiration for the young professionals!!!!

The  Journey which can be studied as an effect  - his effect;

So Dear Young Professionals!!!! 

Lets begin the journey to understand the Uday Shankar Effect!!

 

EFFECT 1 / DARE TO BRING DIFFERENCE !!!



If we have got a nice opening as a Journalist at a big  institution like Times of India;

If we are getting a high profile exposure to the biggest political developments of the nation;

How many of us  would want to do something new at this early stage!!!

Not many of us!!!

Uday Shankar  did that;

Helped to  start a Science and Environment Magazine :Down to Earth

Science and Environment is not , and was not , a favourite issue for any journalist then!!!

He believed that Its needed for the society!!!

Difference has to be provided and tested!!!

 

Years later:

Closing “Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” ,The same man started :Kiran  Bedi’s Aapki Kachehri” on the same slot on Star Plus!!!!

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude to experiment with the different , years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 2 / ACCEPT THE NEW!!!

 

 

Year 1995;

J 27 , South Extention , New Delhi , Zee TV Office;

We met Uday Shankar for the first time at the reception of this  office; (Its converted into a house now!!!! L )

He had arrived in Television;

A totally new medium for him at that time;

Many people from the Print Background joined Television and went back;

Uday Shankar stayed on;

Delivered different programming content and then came the  News Bulletin  on Zee TV;The Zee News @ 10 pm everyday  on Zee TV!!!

He was still there;

Having very different ideas about News Programming and News Bulletins;

Having very different ideas about encouraging the youngsters;

I remember:

One Morning,In the Newsroom; As  I  entered the Newsroom;

Shazi Zaman asked : What could be the biggest News of today from West Asia?

I replied : Assasination of Yasser Arafat;

Uday jumped into it and said, “ Full Marks”

The Prime Minister of Israel Itsak Rabin was assasinated that morning and not Yasser Arafat;

He supported the wrong answer,As it was closest to the right answer,without any clue from anywhere!!

He supported the spirit of the wrong answer;

He was supporting a newcomer;

In the mid of;

Accepting a totally new medium for himself;

 

Years later:

Many Newspersons are appointed by him to deliver Fiction Content at Star India , Many youngsters are encouraged for delivering ideas and things at Star India;

He is not a different person only  today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude to accept the new mediums and to encourage new people   , years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 3 / EXPLORE THE UNEXPLORED!!!



Early 90s;

Home TV Office,South Delhi;

Uday Shankar was working on a project which was totally new for Indian viewers!!!

A Sports show in English coming from the US,To be dubbed in Hindi for the Indian Viewers;

Showing Sports which were not well known to Indian viewers then;

He called me;

Convert it in such a Hindi narrative that viewers watch it as their own show,Let them accept a new game!!!

26 Episodes!!!! (Sorry,I have forgotten the name of the show!!! L )

 

Years later :

Star India has launched one of the biggest Television initiative  for encouraging and creating Sports Activities in the country .Various Sports Channels ,Pro Kabaddi , ISL and we are sure..Dozens of newer things yet to come!!!!!

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude to explore the unexplored, years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 4 / RAISE  VOICE , RAISE YOUR CONVICTION !!!



The launch of Aaj Tak!!!!

SP Singh had created a bulletin on Doordarshan , There was no channel;

So many people to work on the new channel that was to be named as “AAJ TAK”;

So many discussions,So many voices,So much of time and energy wasting  into that;

Uday Shankar watched all this!!!

He did something daring but very positive;

Through this daring but very positive something,He raised  a totally different and distinct voice!!!

 And when things were not moving,His voice was heard;

Why!!!

Because he raised his voice !!!!He raised his conviction !!!

And he became the one who  launched India’s Number 1 News Channel :The AAJ TAK

The Red Colour , The Cartoons , The Animations , The Music , The Dynamics of the Presentation

It all was new for New Delhi;

Breaking the  traditional way of thinking;

He created a non tradsitional way of thinking.

 

Years Later:

Uday Shankar saw the traditionalism of  Fiction Television Content ,

He broke it;

Speaking in a new voice ,

He said - and then said the Star India :Rishta Wahi Soch Nayi!!!!

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude to raise the voice, years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 5 / DON’T GIVE UP!!!



Aaj Tak Office
New Delhi

Uday Shankar was saying , “ You know,I strongly feel that the stories of News have got more potential than the stories of fiction,But here in our newsrooms,People don’t know how to tell those stories to the News audience!!!”

Star News Office

Mumbai

Sitting in his Mahaluxmi office,Uday Shankar was saying, “You know,We could not do this in Delhi,Do it now.”

 We created a News Show taking elements from the science of story telling in the fiction world;

Going one step ahead;

He said, “Can you take up a half an hour News Slot and produce it!!! I want to see how It will shape up with the approach of entertainment world!!”

The idea was to import the following things into News: Relatibility,Connect,Engagement.

He was still following the same thought!!!!

 

Months  Later :

He is in the mid of the science of story telling at Star India;

He is still following the same thought;

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude of not giving up , years ago!!!

Don’t Give Up!!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

EFFECT 6 / REALISE THE TRUTH!!!



Gandhi  was jailed in Agha Khan Palace in Pune;

Dr Sushila Nayar used to write his acts,activities and sayings in the daily diary;

One day she forgot to note it down;

Gandhi promptly said; “Don’t forget to write,These diaries will get published one day in the future and the whole world will read them.”

He was knowing it;

This KNOWING does not come to everyone;

 

Uday Shankar was sitting in the same Mahaluxmi office,But in a different room,With a different responsibility;

He had become the head of Star India;

What he said at that moment,I could never forget;

He said, “ Suddenly I have got enormous power in this new role.I can bring in a great change using this power,But I can damage also if I go wrong!!!”

WOW!!!!!

He was knowing that!!!

This KNOWING does not come to everyone;

 

 NOWADAYS :

Uday Shankar is surrounded by hundreds of things;

Uday Shankar is being followed by thousands of people;

He still knows;

“It is , What it is!!!!”

He is not a different person only today;

He was , even then;

He cultivated his attitude of realising the truth , years ago!!!

A lesson for all Young Professionals !!!

 

Thank you Uday Shankar;

For becoming an inspiration for all young professionals!!!

You have done so much for the Indian Television;

Indian Television is still greedy;

We want more from you;

Please create a “Star Idea Lab”;

For innovating and working on your newer ideas;

An institutionalised form of your search for the new , for the more;

It will be a gift to the industry;

 

We are sure;

That the Television Industry will wait for the gift!!!!!

 

Afterall;

Such is the impact of;

The Uday Shankar Effect!!!!!!!