Everyone lives in someone's memory. But in a larger context, “to live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die” applies only to a select few who transcend boundaries of love and hate. Perhaps noted actor-director Sunil Dutt was one such person, who despite suffering several indignities in life, symbolised the finest virtues of mankind and was warmly accepted in public life on account of his integrity and commitment.
Like countless others who trudged across as refugees after Partition, Sunil Dutt too came from humble origins and his journey into new India, with his mother, was a mammoth struggle to survive in the cauldron of hate and anger that engulfed this vast continent. Though he would have been amply justified in harbouring ill will against a society that killed his father in racial frenzy, Sunil Dutt was always free from hatred or prejudice of any kind. Overcoming personal grief, he evolved into a humanitarian who never allowed personal tragedies to obstruct him from lending help to people less fortunate. Even as a politician, his actions exemplified that politics could be a place for refined souls also.
Like Mohammed Rafi, Sunil Dutt lives in public memory with enormous affection but the pangs of separation are most acutely felt by his immediate family. The siblings — Sanjay, Namrata and Priya — remember their father fondly as their friend, philosopher and mentor. According to his political successor and youngest daughter Priya, he is remembered everyday “as he was a living example of service before self” and “his eyes held promises of a better tomorrow not just for me but for everyone around.” Priya confesses he couldn't fulfil wishes of many but his genuine sympathy and humility won him their admiration. So whether it was the question of restoring peace in Punjab, providing succour to slum dwellers or boosting the morale of Indian soldiers, Dutt was at the forefront. In a society afflicted by distrust, he gave Priya and family “a belief in the secular fabric of India and the goodness of mankind.” Even amidst mob fury in Mumbai when most became insensitive to human suffering, he was a symbol of hope for teeming millions, irrespective of their caste, creed or status.
A family man
Despite his eminence, Dutt was a family man to the core. Priya says he played both mother and father to the siblings after the death of his wife Nargis, “prioritising his life around their needs and desires.” Her elder sister Namrata acknowledges her father's help in “pre-marriage shopping as well as selecting the bridal dress just like our mother would have done.” In fact, “he even designed the mandap” for her pheras!
Namrata discloses Dutt was a disciplinarian who “laid a lot of emphasis on ethics and values but was a softie at heart.” Though he scolded Namrata for giving a mobile to her teenage daughter, he was the one who spent maximum time talking to her! Recounting her departure after marriage to Kumar Gaurav, she confides “Dad had tears in his eyes, even though he knew I was just going next door and would be coming back almost every day!”
Sanju and Namrata recount their father became a recluse after their mother's death, not working for a long time for the children's sake. Despite his wide social circle, Dutt nursed his wounds alone and “so deeply entrenched was the bond with his wife that even next door neighbour and Namrata's famous father-in-law, super star Rajendra Kumar, became a buddy only after Namrata's marriage!” Sanju believes every setback and misfortune only made his dad work with greater determination and his work for cancer patients and the downtrodden was his homage to his mother's memory. Today, the siblings commemorate their dad's memory in much the same way by carrying forward his social work.
Sanju, who is at present shooting in Gujarat, is preparing to be home with his sisters, before his father's death anniversary. While the siblings do carry out the traditional rituals and prayers on the given day, their everyday efforts are guided by his humanitarian ideals and objectives. Priya affirms the family's homage is a continuous endeavour to “uphold the moral values for which dad stood throughout his life”. Beneficiaries of enormous public goodwill as Sunil Dutt's descendants, the children are happy to carry out his legacy even though it entails a giant exertion on time's canvas.
First Person
The author recalls a meeting with Sunil Dutt
While making a telefilm for NDDB in the 1990s, my script had a rural scene depicting a transistor playing Mohammed Rafi's song ‘Ab koi gulshan naa ujde' from Sunil Dutt's classic “Mujhe Jeene Do”. As the song was essential to my story, I tried contacting Dutt Sahab to obtain the rights to use the audio for my film sequence but it was difficult to get across to him as he was embroiled in Sanju's court cases. Convinced that permission would come subsequently, I shot the scene though it took over two months to finally meet him in Delhi. On learning about my long wait for his approval and the delay in editing of the film, Dutt Sahab floored me by saying “You should have taken the song without my permission”. When I stated that would have been illegal and unfair, he hugged me and said “wish there are others as conscientious about social propriety.”
I could see he was genuinely pleased by my concern not to indulge in piracy and gave me the letter of approval in no time. I met him on several occasions thereafter and always found him courteous and humble in his interactions, free from star hang-ups and tantrums.
