From GANDHI to MODI

From GANDHI to MODI

As for n^th time I saluted the waving tricolor celebrating India’s 67^th Independence Day, hopes and ambitions of a better future and a developed society emerged in my heart. The rendering of ‘Jan Gan Man’ brought alive the feeling of honesty, pride and self respect in me. It brought a feel that conveyed ‘I shall be the most honest citizen from now. I shall serve my countrymen with more courtesy and generosity. I shall help those who need me and I shall not become a part of the corrupt mob.’ Such was the magic of the fluttering flag that brought a sudden realization to my five decade old mind.

          Office Story:

          As I stepped my right foot apart standing at ease, the thump on the ground firmed my resolution even more. I was haughty over my decision and in the course of the day shared it with six more co-workers. Fortunately, they liked it and five of them joined in. I am alike the millions of mango-men working in a government organization serving people and returning home to reunite with my family. I too have hopes, ambitions, children, spouse and parents to look for. My day starts sitting on a five year old chair, going through files and documents equally balanced with men, women and agitated youths shouting on top of their voices to get rid of my desk at the first place. I however do not mind their impatience; coz sometimes the more desperate ones place a hundred rupee note in between their files, sometimes it is a green note too. But now I have resolved to be honest.

          Home Story:

          I have a daughter, 19 and a son, 22. My son just completed his graduation on loans and is not placed. My daughter wants to pursue MBBS, but my manager threatens me with a bank notice. My wife desires to throw a kitty party on our coming 25^th anniversary and my mother needs a hip replacement. Every night as I park my twelve year old scooter on the verandah, they all hope of a lavish dish to come out from my satchel. Only I know that there are potatoes and onions. Oh! I am reminded by this, for the last one week I haven’t even bought onions. God! They’ve reached SEVENTY RUPEES A KILO! There were however a few subsidy stalls put up by Manmohan Singh Ji’s men, but it just ended before my turn. It for me combusted half a liter of petrol.

          Nation’s Story:

In the Gandhian era 66 years ago there were communal riots, clashes against the British rulers. But today we have our own politicians fighting over small and big things. Leave apart the vote bank issues, this Independence Day in Mussoorie an MLA and a local political leader brought fists together over an issue to unfold the national flag in front of the town’s gathering. Amidst the course of their fight a two year old girl pulled the string. This probably can be an influence flowing inward from the centre. On one hand what the nation believes is that Madame Gandhi’s government is responsible for inflation, corruption, decreased growth rate, cross border terrorism and what not. On the other hand they are assured that only Modi can set things right. But perhaps we are all just being triggered upon our emotions.

Office again:

Three days have passed since my resolution, though I feel proud upon my judgment but also I feel my necessities poking me constantly. A young man flipped a crisp note between his file and patted the file on my table. I looked up to him and sternly asked him to go to the back of the queue. Instead he went to the adjacent counter and repeated his action. My co-worker who had taken the oath with me was seated on that desk. I knew he too would decline; but he accepted. I looked at him in disbelief and he was quick to say, “Lena padta hai re, apne ko bhi toh gujara karne ka hai.” The words battered in my skull and I tried to evaluate if what he said was meaningful.

I went back home and my wife asked me if I had bought onions today. I told her that the rates had increased to seventy-five a kilo. In bed at night I told her how my co-workers had started walking back on the same old track. To this she replied, “They are wiser than you and know that they have a family to support. Being a Gandhi or Modi always dosen’t help Singh sahab.” With these words she switched off the lights.