"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it." -Andre Gide French critic, essayist, & novelist (1869 - 1951) "There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth." -Agnes Repplier US essayist (1855 - 1950) Truth has several hues. And, not surprisingly, it is far easier to just highlight one tone than to illuminate the entire pallete. Truth is easier to believe when it is simplified, Objectified and distilled. But sadly, that is precisely when it loses it's soul. "Satyamev Jayate" started with a lot of expectations. Rightfully so. Especially when an actor like Amir Khan , was producing and anchoring it. It dealt with despicable social issues which plagued India. It also, in true filmi manner , tried to find a quick fix solution to these problems. Nothing wrong with that. Except when these suggestions are presumptuous , impractical or plain simple wrong. Let me illustrate what I am saying: Amir Khan , in the episode (which later invoked a lot of wrath of medical professionals, ) simplistically suggests that India should shift to "generic drugs" as they are much cheaper than its branded counterparts. This suggestion I believe is fundamentally flawed, and can be made only by an individual who does not understand the business of drug manufacturing and selling. ( I don't expect him to, I just expect him not to make sweeping suggestions without understanding business at hand. ) True, both generic and branded drugs have the same constituents. But pharmacological practices in their manufacturing can vary widely: for example, temperature control, or humidity control, the machines used for making tablets, hygiene and sterility control...and I am merely scratching the surface here. It is indeed possible for a "generic" company in India to cut corners and compromise the production standards to mass produce a far cheaper variant of a drug than it's branded counterpart, the question is : will it retain the same efficacy. The comparison is akin to a less well known actor essaying a role on screen at a much lesser price than demanded by our dear anchor, but the question is: is quality a victim in this equation? Amir also spoke about medical "malpractice"- an allegation easy to make, but very difficult to substantiate . Blaming the doctor is the most common instinct of a bereaved family- and allegations of financial motivations are as easy to make- especially in this age of hi-tech medical technology, where expensive cost and maintainence of machines and infrastructure make the cost of treatment out of reach for most middle class families. I would like to state here, that today, most of the cost of medical treatment is the cost of technology and infrastructure , doctors most often than not get a miniscule part of the entire hospital package. This does not preclude a few doctors from charging exorbitant fees, but these remain an exception rather than a rule. Under these circumstances, the cases which Amir Khan discussed on his national platform were rather unfortunate choices. A liver and pancreas transplant gone wrong - an unfortunate , but a completely probable outcome of a complex operation in a moribund patient- Amir Khan went hook, ship and sinker with the family in a ruse to suggest that the unfortunate incident was secondary to "greed" of medical professionals- an allegation which was too reckless to make on national television - Amir, a glorified matinee idol and a self proclaimed social activist was way out of his bounds when he made this pronouncement . He is neither qualified nor assigned the task of sitting in judgement over people in highly technical fields. He was merely doing what he does best: Playing to the galleries. Now don't get me wrong- I am not completely against Amir- In fact, the concept of the show is unique and praiseworthy- A la "Oprah meets Anna Hazare"- it is the execution which should be made more accountable. Amir is telling anybody who would listen that the show is ''well researched" by a "research"team! Really? Does Amir know what research means? Coming from a non academic background , I wouldn't expect him to- But someone ought to tell him that a few well paid professionals who come back with a tear-jerking video feeds are not researchers- at best they are handy media professionals and marketeers! As an audience we have to stop idolising movie stars and stop taking them on their face value! Being a star does not qualify him to have an expert opinion on a highly technical issue( no- not even after his ''research team'' has briefed him). Of course, being a movie star definitely would get him more eyeballs than the most learned "guru" on the subject- but then I am remembering a famous line from a Spiderman franchise - something about great power and great responsibility...create awareness by all means...but don't sit in judgement ! And so I return to the concept of "whole" truth- something quite different from mere "truth" - truth with all it's facets laid bare- not just the dramatic or convenient ones...a truth is not only something that has been explicitly stated- It can also be something which has been deliberately omitted- for a truth , when it is half told, can actually be worse than a lie. I would again end with an example: everyone has to agree to the truth in the statement that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was a murderer....the question is : is it the whole truth? Sent from my iPad

"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it." -Andre Gide French critic, essayist, & novelist (1869 - 1951)    "There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth." -Agnes Repplier US essayist (1855 - 1950)     Truth has several hues. And, not surprisingly, it is far easier to just highlight one tone than to illuminate the entire pallete. Truth is easier to believe when it is simplified, Objectified and distilled. But sadly, that is precisely when it loses it's soul. "Satyamev Jayate" started with a lot of expectations. Rightfully so. Especially when an actor like Amir Khan , was producing and anchoring it. It dealt with despicable social issues which plagued India. It also, in true filmi manner , tried to find a quick fix solution to these problems. Nothing wrong with that. Except when these suggestions are presumptuous , impractical or plain simple wrong. Let me illustrate what I am saying: Amir Khan , in the episode (which later invoked a lot of wrath of medical professionals, ) simplistically suggests that India should shift to "generic drugs" as they are much cheaper than its branded counterparts. This suggestion I believe is fundamentally flawed, and can be made only by an individual  who does not understand the business of drug manufacturing and selling. ( I don't expect him to, I just expect him not to make sweeping suggestions without understanding business at hand. ) True, both generic and branded drugs have the same constituents. But pharmacological practices in their manufacturing can vary widely: for example, temperature control, or humidity control, the machines used for      making tablets, hygiene and sterility control...and I am merely scratching the surface here. It is indeed possible  for a "generic" company in India to cut corners and compromise the production standards to mass produce a far cheaper variant of a drug than it's branded counterpart, the question is : will it retain the same efficacy. The comparison is akin to a less well known actor essaying a role on screen at a much lesser price than demanded by our dear anchor, but the question is: is quality a victim in this equation? Amir also spoke about medical "malpractice"- an allegation easy to make, but very difficult to substantiate . Blaming the doctor is the most common instinct of a bereaved family- and allegations of financial motivations are as easy to make- especially in this age of hi-tech medical technology, where expensive cost and maintainence of machines and infrastructure make the cost of treatment out of reach for most  middle class families. I would like to state here, that today, most of the cost of medical treatment is the cost of technology and infrastructure , doctors most often than not get a miniscule part of the entire hospital package. This does not preclude a few doctors from charging exorbitant fees, but these remain an exception rather than a rule. Under these circumstances, the cases which Amir Khan discussed on his national platform were rather unfortunate choices. A liver and pancreas transplant gone wrong - an unfortunate , but a completely probable outcome of a complex operation in a moribund patient- Amir Khan went hook, ship and sinker with the family in a ruse to suggest that the unfortunate incident was secondary to "greed" of medical professionals- an allegation which was too reckless to make on national television - Amir, a glorified matinee idol and a self proclaimed social activist was way out of his bounds when he made this pronouncement . He is neither qualified nor assigned the task of sitting in judgement over people in highly technical fields. He was merely doing what he does best: Playing to the galleries.  Now don't get me wrong- I am not completely against Amir- In fact, the concept of the show is unique and praiseworthy- A la "Oprah meets Anna Hazare"- it is the execution which should be made more accountable. Amir is telling anybody who would listen that the show is ''well researched" by a "research"team! Really? Does Amir know what research means? Coming from a non academic background , I wouldn't expect him to- But someone ought to tell him that a few well paid professionals who come back with a tear-jerking video feeds are not researchers- at best they are handy media professionals and marketeers! As an audience we have to stop idolising movie stars and stop taking them on their face value! Being a star does not qualify him to have an expert opinion on a highly technical issue( no- not even after his ''research team'' has briefed him). Of course, being a movie star definitely would get him more eyeballs than the most learned "guru" on the subject- but then I am remembering a famous line from a Spiderman franchise - something about great power and great responsibility...create awareness by all means...but don't sit in judgement ! And so I return to the concept of "whole" truth- something quite different from mere "truth" - truth with all it's facets laid bare- not just the dramatic or convenient ones...a truth is not only something that has been explicitly stated- It can also be something which has been deliberately omitted- for a truth , when it is half told, can actually be worse than a lie. I would again end with an example: everyone has to agree to the truth in the statement that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was a murderer....the question is : is it the whole truth? Sent from my iPad

"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it." -Andre Gide French critic, essayist, & novelist (1869 - 1951)    "There are few nudities so objectionable as the naked truth." -Agnes Repplier US essayist (1855 - 1950)     Truth has several hues. And, not surprisingly, it is far easier to just highlight one tone than to illuminate the entire pallete. Truth is easier to believe when it is simplified, Objectified and distilled. But sadly, that is precisely when it loses it's soul. "Satyamev Jayate" started with a lot of expectations. Rightfully so. Especially when an actor like Amir Khan , was producing and anchoring it. It dealt with despicable social issues which plagued India. It also, in true filmi manner , tried to find a quick fix solution to these problems. Nothing wrong with that. Except when these suggestions are presumptuous , impractical or plain simple wrong. Let me illustrate what I am saying: Amir Khan , in the episode (which later invoked a lot of wrath of medical professionals, ) simplistically suggests that India should shift to "generic drugs" as they are much cheaper than its branded counterparts. This suggestion I believe is fundamentally flawed, and can be made only by an individual  who does not understand the business of drug manufacturing and selling. ( I don't expect him to, I just expect him not to make sweeping suggestions without understanding business at hand. ) True, both generic and branded drugs have the same constituents. But pharmacological practices in their manufacturing can vary widely: for example, temperature control, or humidity control, the machines used for      making tablets, hygiene and sterility control...and I am merely scratching the surface here. It is indeed possible  for a "generic" company in India to cut corners and compromise the production standards to mass produce a far cheaper variant of a drug than it's branded counterpart, the question is : will it retain the same efficacy. The comparison is akin to a less well known actor essaying a role on screen at a much lesser price than demanded by our dear anchor, but the question is: is quality a victim in this equation? Amir also spoke about medical "malpractice"- an allegation easy to make, but very difficult to substantiate . Blaming the doctor is the most common instinct of a bereaved family- and allegations of financial motivations are as easy to make- especially in this age of hi-tech medical technology, where expensive cost and maintainence of machines and infrastructure make the cost of treatment out of reach for most  middle class families. I would like to state here, that today, most of the cost of medical treatment is the cost of technology and infrastructure , doctors most often than not get a miniscule part of the entire hospital package. This does not preclude a few doctors from charging exorbitant fees, but these remain an exception rather than a rule. Under these circumstances, the cases which Amir Khan discussed on his national platform were rather unfortunate choices. A liver and pancreas transplant gone wrong - an unfortunate , but a completely probable outcome of a complex operation in a moribund patient- Amir Khan went hook, ship and sinker with the family in a ruse to suggest that the unfortunate incident was secondary to "greed" of medical professionals- an allegation which was too reckless to make on national television - Amir, a glorified matinee idol and a self proclaimed social activist was way out of his bounds when he made this pronouncement . He is neither qualified nor assigned the task of sitting in judgement over people in highly technical fields. He was merely doing what he does best: Playing to the galleries.  Now don't get me wrong- I am not completely against Amir- In fact, the concept of the show is unique and praiseworthy- A la "Oprah meets Anna Hazare"- it is the execution which should be made more accountable. Amir is telling anybody who would listen that the show is ''well researched" by a "research"team! Really? Does Amir know what research means? Coming from a non academic background , I wouldn't expect him to- But someone ought to tell him that a few well paid professionals who come back with a tear-jerking video feeds are not researchers- at best they are handy media professionals and marketeers! As an audience we have to stop idolising movie stars and stop taking them on their face value! Being a star does not qualify him to have an expert opinion on a highly technical issue( no- not even after his ''research team'' has briefed him). Of course, being a movie star definitely would get him more eyeballs than the most learned "guru" on the subject- but then I am remembering a famous line from a Spiderman franchise - something about great power and great responsibility...create awareness by all means...but don't sit in judgement ! And so I return to the concept of "whole" truth- something quite different from mere "truth" - truth with all it's facets laid bare- not just the dramatic or convenient ones...a truth is not only something that has been explicitly stated- It can also be something which has been deliberately omitted- for a truth , when it is half told, can actually be worse than a lie. I would again end with an example: everyone has to agree to the truth in the statement that Shaheed Bhagat Singh was a murderer....the question is : is it the whole truth?