What were your thoughts when you were holding the Olympic torch?
I must say, actually you go pretty numb on an occasion like this. You are more taken up by the occasion and the crowds of people; it’s incredible. And then you begin to wonder, ‘Hey, why am I doing this?’ and that’s the time you start to realise that it is almost like the representation of your country. And nothing could be a greater honour and pride because not many people get that opportunity.
I don’t know if many people have closely seen the torch. It is made of a mesh which has 8,000 holes; all very meticulously done. The 8,000 holes represent the 8,000 miles that it travelled within Great Britain. And the 8,000 people who carried it have included some unbelievable greats from the sporting fraternity and others who have contributed so much. When all this dawns on you, you feel, ‘Gosh, this is a great honour.’
I must also say that the whole run is a management exercise and it is so meticulously done. They told me one week before the actual event, that at 10 hours, 53 minutes and 29 seconds; the torch will come to you. Exactly at that time it came to me. It is so well-planned and you are amazed at the preciseness because they are coming from all over the place. And you follow the other runners in a group. Each one has a separate torch and there is a process of how to shift the flame from one torch to another torch. There are special people who come with the key and they unlock your torch, put the flame in it; and then move away. Once it is done, the earlier runner is transported back to the base and you carry on. The whole thing is unbelievable. It is awe-inspiring. The Indian community knew that I was participating and yes, there was a large group that was cheering when I moved along, but you also have the other locals cheering. The fact that this is the torch that has come to our country, makes the moment so special.
You have represented the Indian Entertainment industry on many occasions. But this is the first time you represented India on a sporting platform. How different was it? I have always felt that entertainment and sports are two factors that are looked upon somewhat frivolously in the building of a nation. But both these factors are entities that actually bring the nation name and fame. We may not be politically correct in saying so, but films in India have become a parallel culture. Wherever you go, outside the country, you are recognised because of your contribution to cinema in that country. They may not know your political leaders, but you do know the stars and the actors and their films. And the same is the case with sport. When a country does well in a sport, you identify the country with that sport. You may not necessarily identify with so many other things that the country has. I find that ingredient is really important. After World War-II, there is never going to be another war. The world war was conducted to show one country’s supremacy over another country. Wherever wars have been fought, it has always been to gain supremacy. Now because there are no wars, nations fight for supremacy in the sporting arena. That is a fantastic feeling. The only difference that I have found is that when it comes to sport there is a huge feeling of camaraderie, respect also accompanying the fighting spirit.
Amitabh Bachan speaks out after Olympics
