P. Ganguly
Quo Vadis?: An old English movie (silent/talkie) buff remembers to have seen Hollywood’s Quo Vadis at our local English Talkie Show on a 40 paisa ticket. It was our favourite hall as we never went for hand pulled rickshaw brand Hindi fillums or tear jerkers (for Ladies) vernacular ones. We never knew spoken Hindi as a language. It is now a mighty big thing grown on the research of selfless workers. Quo Vadis is Latin(understandable though) – Where? Whither? Its background rested with the Book casting as usual Italian- English actors. Peace was denied to faltering mankind. Probably Adam (and woe to man) asked the Creator so before Paradise was lost. Genesis does not mention.Carbon Copy: Indian Democracy is a later chapter. I am a story teller in my second childhood. At good old Calcutta, a clerk is called a fly killer. John Company’s Robert Clive founded his capital at Calcutta.
Writers’ Building (Secretariat) became the Administrative centre.
There a Baboo was copying a paper. He found a fly pasted so he came to the verandah in search of a fly. His purpose was to get a perfect copy. Our Westminster style parliamentary system contains flies from UK and US though sans their standard. Our Language policy copied USSR.
Babasaheb wrote the Constitution. The studious man even read French Constitution and tried his level best to give India the best. We are not the best.
Goonda Boss: The aim was lofty and our politicians by their actions have scuttled it. The august houses are dominated by elected representatives with money and muscle power. Once in ‘50s Dr. ShyamaPrasad argued with Nehru in the parliament. PM was a democrat but temperamental in nature. On repeated interruptions, Nehru called him a “goonda”. The compliment was repaid as “You’re goonda Sardar” (ex-officio head). Both remarks were expunged. Nowadays neither great debaters are found nor appropriate epithets exchanged. Except a handful seldom one impresses.
Naga context: Two NGOs – National Election Watch and Association for Democratic Rights (ADR) recently made some startling discoveries on the basis of personal returns or declarations before elections from 2004. Together they found out that black money and criminal background are apparently essential to enter the august houses. In Nagaland
Hekani Jakhalu twice studied the Election scenario for crorepati (100 lakhs or under Art 371 for many Nagas peanuts). She did creditably serve a purpose but here the mainstream irregularities are yet not applicable. At the most this old man can call local NGOs (with due apology) as Kids for Fame. The two factors of course touch us but differently. It is like the famous poem Enoch Arden where the poetsays “she heard and not heard” when her can overflowed at the water point because Enoch was missing after a ship wreck. Every local knows every detail about the land so extras are for visitors from the metros who believe in Art for Art’s sake.
ADR Extract: Personal property wise (figure rounded up) average TDP 9, JDS 8, INC 6, SP 5, NCP and JDU 4, BJP 3, TMC 1.5 crore. Left account for lakhs. The communists avoid financial misdoings. Gopi Nath Munde (BJP) spent 8 crore to win an election. Veerendra Singh (INC) told that one had a budget of 100 crore to enter RS (Upper House) but his expenditure was 80 crore. He puts up a poser “If the expenditure is so high, how would the member realize what is poverty?” (In between the lines) realization or no, the investment may be rewarding.
Exercise in absurdity: Anyway that is how the poverty line mentioning absurd figures surfaces. Nearer home at Tezpur Minister Sen Deka too commented “A full meal costs Rs 2.5 only”. According to Assam media people protested near Lokpriyo Bordoloi Institute of Mental Health OPD with an effigy of the minister in a symbolic gesture. How much does Galho cost? God is merciful. No Naga goes without food.
Immunity: Recently SC wanted the centre to act on the alarming proportion of criminals in the houses. It is no use going through statistics involving Cr PC (murder, kidnapping, rape etc.) cases lasting over years. All parties met and unanimously asserted the supremacy of the parliament over every other arm. RTI is not applicable to parties – they decided with Cabinet approval. So their working and funding may or may not be transparent under the law. The stage has been reached where immunity is guaranteed collectively like a diplomatic bag can not be opened although each country (RAW) is apprehensive of “diplomatic” activities. The espionage part is worrying. Remain the parties which can restrain their own members yet today it seems too difficult because more people with money and muscle are winning elections. The story is same at the centre as well as states. After all democracy is the game of numbers. So attain it by hook or by crook.
Lady IAS: United province became Uttar Pradesh. Though the people there are good detractors call it Ulta (reverse) Pradesh. The 80 seater for Delhi is with SP. A lady IAS was suspended reportedly for falling out with sand mafia and/or demolition of a wall on sorkari land. According to her, wall was demolished by the villagers. However she told some villagers that as per rules sorkari land could not be so used. The wall was erected by Muslims. Indian secularism (out of phase with US) is obviously in danger. During colonial rule, Md. Butt, ICS, a Kashmiri Christian convert from Islam was the Administrator of Allahabad (UP) Municipality. A major road expansion was held up due to location of a Mazar (final resting place of a Muslim saint) beside a triangular park. He met some Moulavis and explained. Next morning the revered structure was shifted lock stock and barrel with full honours inside the park and without a murmur anywhere (British India Gazette).
Is it time for our politicians to “cry wolf” (also arm chair crusaders unite)?
Small States: Andhra came out of Madras presidency. A selfless leader fasted unto death. That is Telegu history. TRS brought Telengana and problems. Mathematicians are angling for Seemandhra, Rayalseema, Hyderabad UT and what not although Telegu is common so no SRC involved. 10 if not 50 more states are waitlisted. Bengal suffered one backbreaking partition for fighting for freedom so no overdose is necessary. Gorkhaland (Lepcha King of Sikkim gave to Governor General for holidaying) is demanded. Vidarbha wants to come out. Shobha De jokingly thought aloud about Mumbai state offending MNS (Amchi
Mumbai). Frontier Nagaland is proposed as one is not enough. From NEFA they suffered backwardness, it continued due to Contractors with local names (tax evasion) at Golaghat and payment at Kohima. Present day Corrective steps need time. Von Haimendorff’s and Miranda Ganguly’s Naga is yet unadulterated and not round the clock money hunter.” Water water everywhere not a drop to drink”.
Kamraj Plan: Late ‘50s Kamaraj Nadar was brought to Delhi by Nehru.
The Tamil leader was known for simplicity, integrity and popularity.
He did not know Hindi. His Tamil word “Parakalam” (future/later/ Waitand see) became famous. He was entrusted with the job of rejuvenating government by seeing off oldies so he found out a few. Nehru was considered indispensable. In fact then the question was “After Nehru Who?” The issue was closed on May 27, 1964.
Conclusion: UPA may yet register 2014 Electoral Win on Roti (food) program even if Iron Man spoke of NDA sweep (may be in memory of ’77 – INC 153 only from south). PC may be considered for PM – the unobtrusive Sivakasi MP having respectability. Dr. Singh is pretty old and tired. Rahul is away from the high position. A novice Rajiv responded to an Emergency need. I join the masses from the land’s end Kanya Kumari to Tawang with the highest Buddhist monastery praying for politics devoid of money and muscle power on the red letter day Aug 15. Officially there are only two VVIPs – PM and President – ask the suffering public about reality. Now SC wants to set guidelines on VIP security. Politicians are twice in number than our Security Forces.
With new states it would go up farther. India has deviated from the” promises to keep”. Robert Frost wrote it in America which our first philosopher PM Nehru diarized. What is written in India’s destiny?
