Mera Hero No. 1

The thought behind the recently released book titled, ’101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived’ is simple; it basically aims to explain “how characters of myth, legends, television, and the movies have shaped our society, changed our behaviour and set the course of history”.

And what prompted the authors to come up with this idea?

Authors Allan Lazar, Dan Karlan and Jeremy Salter say: “The idea came to us that influential characters didn’t have to exist, that fictional characters were just as important in our lives, even in some cases more so than real people.”

Topping the list in a book is surprisingly The Marlboro Man – a 1950s marketing creation to boost cigarette sales. The book’s three US co-authors say that his biggest influence has been to cause the death of millions from cancer.

Only characters that have managed to “shape society, change our behaviour, and set the course of history” made the list. For example, the ever popular Barbie is ranked 43rd and is blamed for “setting an impossible standard for beauty and style”. Santa Claus is placed at number four position because he “makes us believe we are entitled to goodies just for living in an affluent society, and governs our entire economy for the last quarter of the year”.

Even the dreaded Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde made it to the list and that too at number ten position.

Now if the same philosophy is given a touch of our desi-tadka then the following fictional characters would definitely top my list.

Mr. India tops my list

Mr. India – He is in a way our very first super-hero. In short, knight in shining armor for us, the aam janta.

Umroa Jaan – The ultimate beauty and practically every man’s fantasy and every woman’s inspiration for eternal love.

Karamchand – Again, this dude could be regarded as our very first detective aka. Sherlock Holmes ka desi avatar. Plus he gave ‘Gajar’ a whole new personality.

Salim & Anarkali – A much more compassionate love-story in comparison to Romeo and Juliet.

And lastly from the recent times, I would be apna very own Circuit bhai. I mean who wouldn’t want a friend like him. He perfectly fits the phrase, “A friend in need is a friend in-deed”.

Now its your turn – Tell me who would you pick?