Pune: Lamenting the present day condition of the people, veteran actor Nana Patekar has said Indians have become too tolerant to accept the existing problems in the country like rampant farmer suicides.
Patekar, while speaking at a function here to felicitate ex-army men, said it is only the people who have changed, else the sorry state of the country remains the same. “Only the people, governments have changed…and nothing else. Every thing, the sufferings of common man remains the same. We are shameful and (have) become too tolerant of things around us. We are responsible for the present state of country,” he said.
The film and theatre actor has recently appealed to farmers of Maharashtra on not ending their lives. He also floated an organisation, named, ‘Naam Foundation’ to help the distressed farmers.
The function was organised by the Foundation and Shayadri Pratishtan to honour former Army men to mark the 44th anniversary of Vijay Diwas, victory of Indian Armed forces over Pakistan in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. “As an actor I will be sorry if the hall (venue) is not full but as a human being I will be happy if it is so because only those who deserve to sit by the side of the jawans have occupied the seats,” he said.
On the occasion, Patekar called on the retired Army men to come forward and help farmers in the times of crisis. He asked them that they can join ‘Naam Foundation’ and help in social service, especially to farmers.
Patekar said ‘Naam Foundation’ is growing manifold and a think tank will be formed within it. He said ex-army officers can voluntarily join the think tank.
As many as 21 former Army personnel, mostly above age of 60, were honoured with a memento, and shawl. Marathi actor Makrand Anaspure, who is closely associated with Patekar’s cause of farmer welfare, Joint Commissioner of Police Pune Sunil B Ramanand and others were also present on the occasion.
