KAGA BHUSHUNDI SPEAKETH
Suman K Sharma
At Ayodhya, BJP’s prime-ministerial candidate Narendra Modi invoked Bhagwan Ram’s name for seeking votes. The same evening, the Election Commission promptly issued a show cause notice to the party’s Faizabad candidate, Lallu Singh, for displaying Lord Ram’s pictures at his public rally. Is Modi’s knowledge of the Peoples’ Representation Act and the Model Code of Conduct so shallow that he went about canvassing in the name of a religious deity? And was Lallu Singh acting true to his name in having all those Ram-bhakti images on the stage?
‘Son, the answer to both your questions is ‘no’, said Kaga Bhushundiji. ‘Neither Modiji is so naive, nor is Lallu Bhaiya so ignorant. They are men of experience and what they did was deliberate.’
‘But, Kagaji, the media-men say they have violated the law of the land.’
‘That’s for your Election Commission to decide. I can only say this: the name brings you glory, the name brings you fame, the name brings you power, the name….’
‘Buss, buss, Kagaji. Save your recitation for another occasion. It is not expected of our leaders to pander to the religious and the like sentiments of the masses. Leaders should lead, not mislead us.’
‘Why then do you allow them to mislead you? The fault lies with you. You act like mindless goats and sheep moving in herds. No wonder your leaders play upon your herd instincts…’
I was getting annoyed with him – the insolent old crow! But he went on nonetheless with his chatter. ‘One leads you in the name of aam admi, the other in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, yet another in the name of the minorities and the Dalits. They lead you up the garden path and then set themselves up on their thrones to rule over you. You wait for them to redeem their pledges and promises till there arises yet another occasion for them to lead you astray for their petty ends.’
‘Kagaji, you are being cynical. Look at what our great leaders have done for us. They brought us freedom from the Goras. They unified hundreds of princely states into one strong Bharat. They waged a war against untouchability and restored to the oppressed classes their dignity. They built up such an economic structure that our poor nation could withstand the financial tsunamis that wreaked havoc even upon richer countries of the world….’
‘Then why does poor Bharat still bleed from a thousand wounds of violence? Why are secessionists’ voices rising in the country? Why do the Dalits in the hinterlands have to suffer humiliation and worse in this seventh decade of the republic? Why is the chasm between the rich and poor ever widening? Why is your economy falling and falling?’
‘Kagaji, you tell me why.’
‘It is because most of your leaders thrive only by naming names. Mohammed Ali Jinnah was one such man who split the country in the name of religion he himself was slack in following. Now there are a thousand and one like him bent upon tearing down the fabric of the society in the name of caste, creed or region. Your leaders go hoarse naming grandiloquent schemes for improving the lot of the poor, but end up improving their own bank balances. Their schemes sound perfect in concept, but in implementation prove little short of thunder claps that bring no rain. And in this election I hear them calling each other names as if to tell the masses that when it comes to name-calling, they can put any street-brawler to shame.’
‘But Kagaji, leaders have to name one thing or the other before the people. How do we know who among them is the right person for us and who is not?’
‘Go by his Kam, son, and not by the Nam he takes. You choose your servant to serve you, your doctor to treat you in your illness, your lawyer to fight your law-suit, don’t you? Why can’t you choose the right person to be your leader?’
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