Health minister Ambumani Ramadoss is not happy about the slackness in implementation of visual warnings on tobacco products. This is one minister who has become fairly popular among the Indian youth which is rather wary of the netas. The reasons being highly controversial ofcourse, but one has to admit that the neta and his cause have got a lot of media attention in the recent past.

Targeting big movie stars and their films did not go down well with those who believe that the artist and his creativity should be left alone. But, if a Rakhi Sawant can gain popularity by means of controversy why can’t someone use this weakness of Indian media for a cause they believe in? Here I would like to state that neither am I agreeing or disagreeing to the ministers views or tactics on the issue; nor am I comparing him to Rakhi. This remains a very objective look at the way someone has worked for what he believes in. One really has to commend though the minister’s dedication to what he believes. Not many have stood so firmly against harsh media criticism.

The minister, by attacking popular personalities drew a lot of criticism (and some praise) but all of this brought the issue of smoking and tobacco use to the debate tables. I firmly believe that India is an intelligent society that can decide what is best for it. Any society that can’t is neither intelligent nor civilized. It however becomes imperative sometimes to bring things into people’s minds. Debates, intelligent ones, where both sides are willing to lend each other a patient ear are certainly a positive step.

With Indian media’s unconditional love for controversy, and this is generally true for media all over the world, it was a very smart thing for the minister to do what he did.

Peta has long been doing it. Naked celebrities are no less controversial than celebrities being asked not to smoke on screen. Controversies are attractive. I’d rather my newspaper talk about some that make me think rather than wordrobe malfunctions and Richard Gere kissing Shilpa Shetty.