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Oprah Winfrey has lessons for India

Time Magazine has named the world's most celebrated TV anchor, Oprah Winfrey, as "one of the 100 most Influential People of the 20th Century".
Oprah is the first Black woman billionaire in the US. Her fortune, running over $1 billion, is roughly the same as the total assets of Infosys Technologies.

While Narayana Murthy and Nandan Nilekani may not be able to persuade a municipal councillor to add a few street lights around the National Law School in Bangalore, she could persuade President Bill Clinton to endorse her "National Child Protection Campaign," which became law in 1993, requiring the Federal Government to establish a database on child abusers. The Act is popularly known as the 'Oprah Bill'. Oprah spends 10 per cent of her earnings on philanthropy.

Internationally celebrated for 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' Oprah owns a host of corporations. In 1986, she launched HARPO Productions Inc., a powerful film and TV production company. Harpo Studios Inc. is a great brand in itself.

Oprah entered the print business with her 'O' magazine. She diversified and gained a stake in 'Oxygen', a women's cable network. Her 'The Oprah Book Club' can make authors kings or queens overnight. There is a college business course on her "innovative business skills".

Watched since September 1986, 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' became No 1 in less than a year. In 1987, she won three prestigious TV awards for 'Outstanding Host,' 'Outstanding Talk/Service Program,' and 'Outstanding Direction'. In 1988, she received the 'Broadcaster of the Year Award'. Awards have become a routine for her now.

Before her famous TV show, she had already captured national attention in 1985 with her portrayal of Sofia in Steven Spielberg's 'Color Purple', based on Alice Walker's novel. She earned nominations for the Oscar and Golden Globe awards for best supporting actress. Her performance in Native Son, a film based on Richard Wright's classic novel got much attention.

According to Enfonews, "Oprah is admired and almost worshipped by tens of millions of upscale women of diverse race color and creeds".

While turning into a billionaire is no big deal in the US, a national icon certainly is. Considering Oprah's race, gender, family background, and her rise as an icon, a billionaire, she is no less than a goddess.

Oprah was born in Mississippi on January 29, 1954 in a farm-house, which did not have running water or electricity. Her parents were not married at her birth. Her mother soon shifted to the DC area. Oprah was first raised by her grandmother and then by her father.

According to the Academy of Achievement: "After suffering abuse and molestation, she ran away and was sent to a juvenile detention home at 13, only to be denied admission because all the beds were filled. As a last resort, she was sent Nashville to live under her father's strict discipline. Vernon Winfrey saw to it that his daughter met a midnight curfew, and he required her to read a book and write a book report each week."

Caring Vernon ensured that she acquired a good education. She studied in an "all black college", and acquired a 'Speech Communication and Performing Arts' degree. At 17, she was hired as a news reader by the WVOL radio.

But the real breakthrough was when WTVF-TV took her as a reporter/anchor in 1973. Since then, she never looked back. But how did that WTVF-TV breakthrough occur? On February 21, 1991, Oprah's interviewer asked the question: "...it occurs to me that at that time, women in television were just beginning to have a force. And you were dealing with both sexism and racism when you came up. How has that affected your career?"

Oprah's reply was: "I would have to say that I, for the most part, have not been, as far as I know, affected. As a matter of fact, it was because of the riots of the seventies, I think, that they were looking for minorities, trying to fulfil all their quotas and programs. So I was hired as a token...." That 'tokenism' of the seventies, created conditions for Oprah to emerge as a Goddess of success! Doesn't it have relevance for us, especially when we clumsily talk about quotas but not opportunities as available to Blacks in US?

The seventies was the beginning of Diversity, when the dominant White society realised that for the American society's good, it is necessary to end the exclusion of the Blacks and the ethnic minorities.

Today, Diversity is a well-crafted social doctrine of inclusion and thousands of Blacks are exploring their abilities in the media and the entertainment industry. By 2050, we may see a entirely new America, with perfect Race relations. Should not the Indian media and entertainment industry follow that lead, to re-craft India's social ordering?

Will it not be in India's interest that the Dalit and non-Dalit divide withered away for ever?

Source: Oprah Winfrey has lessons for India - Sify.com

The main difference between India and US is, in US they accept that there are some underpreviliged sections and its the responsibility of previleged (not just governament) to make sure that they get uplifted and they support the cause with sincerity. Where as in India, the acceptance level is not there, the underprevileged ppl. are treated with contempt and lot of political manevouring happens to capitalize on that, on top of that there is a widespread belief that its the responsibility of the governament to do the job, which is not sufficient.

The real change happens in India when the society as a whole embraces the reality that its good for the society and country to provide opportunity to various sections of society and let them flourish.

What you say?