Get rid of your cellphone: Bachchan

GURGAON, INDIA: In this time, it may not sound like a good idea, but that was what Bollywood legend Amithabh Bachchan had to tell while talking about the word 'green', at function here today, in connection with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, which will be organized at the Venetian, Macau (China) on June 13.

After planting a sapling as part of the green initiative of IIFA, when the Bollywood superstar and brand ambassador of IIFA was asked whether the event could have been made 'greener', he said, “To go green you should get rid of the mobile phone that you are using!”

However, immediately he clarified that there are many issues in environmental field that need to be addressed and all precautions needs to be taken.

“You have to realize that there is dichotomy in our lives. We have to make progress and for progress we need to have technology but at the same time we have to be careful about environmental flaws that technology creates,” said the senior Bachchan.

With this example of mobile phone, Bachchan stressed upon the need of progress and need for technology even though they need not always be green. He cited example of the United States to give weight to his statement.

“The maximum number of environmental deficiency comes from one of the most progressive country of the world, USA. But that does not stop them from initiating the cause, talking about it and making us aware. We are aware that we need to introduce certain elements in our progress, development and technology that are environment friendly. If we do away with technology entirely, we will not be able to make progress and progress is important,” said Bachchan.

Incidentally,Idea Cellular, of which junior Bachchan, Abhishek, is the brand ambassador, is the sponsor of the IIFA Award.

In contrast to the statement made by Amithabh Bachchan, Pradeep Shrivastava, chief marketing officer, Idea Cellular said, “Mobile phones and green are not contrary things. Product like mobile reaches out any message, including the green message, to millions of people. What is wrong in that? It is the way you look at it.”

He also said that in the last financial year Idea had 45 million mobile phone subscribers and registered turnover of Rs 11,000 crore approximately.

Supporting the stand of Shrivastava, Sabbas Joseph, director, IIFA and host of the event said, “When you travel by cars or flights, that also would add to the pollution. You should use the technology that will help in reducing pollution. You cannot eliminate it.” He added that IIFA is conscious for making effort to save earth.