INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...269

                                     INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…269

                                        Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi, Patel and Nehru are seen at Delhi walking on  Jama Maszid road in old Delhi. They are as usual in attire. )

Patel . Bapu. We are  seeing this place after many months.  Yet  there is no change here. Same old shops and dustbins around we find here.

Gandhi. What we can expect. Can we expect a miracle in India.  We Indians are very much used to be stale and lethargic.

Patel.  Sadly  the is no development here.Same old Meena Bazar near the Maszid and old parts markets are here. The whole area is filthy. Probably it looks as if  we walked into Shahjehans era.

Gandhi. True. Very true.

Nehru. You guys keep  saying yes and yes to each other. Nothing more that you can do.

Patel. Bhai, You also join us and say yes to what we say.

Nehru. No thanks. I have my own views, likes and dislikes.

Gnadhi. What are your likes Jawaharlal?

Patel. Bapu, I shall tell you. He wants to become PM again of this country.

Gandhi. Why? He was already been once.

Patel. True.  He continued to be PM till he lost his life being in office. He should have resigned after 1962 war with China. He goofed up everything.

Gandhi. I think every one wants to be like that. Do you think a govt servant wants to retire? Given a chance he will stay in office till life remains in him.

Patel. But govt has prescribed age limit for govt servants.

Gandhi. It is only for the politicians that there is no age limit. They can hang on till they are kicked out in elections. Some can not walk on legs sadly . But they want power. Constitution has been very nice to the politicians. It has not prescribed age limit for politicians.

Patel. Why it will  do? The guys who wrote it were  all mere politicians. They copied from  foreign western constitutions except this clause. Will they cut their own feet?

Gandhi. Haa..haaa..haa.. Well said Patel. You hit the nail on head quiet deep.

Patel. But the guys  who can not win elections are sent to Rajya Sabha or as governors. Some are made party presidents. I know a guy in AP  named Mr Srinivas who was made the party president of Congress. This man lost all elections. Only recently, he was made an MLC.

Gandhi. These are like the   old age homes. Some use  it for backdoor entry.

Patel. Mr Rosiah  of AP  used it and became CM too. Now he is a governor too.

Gandhi. I know that. He is also involved in some case in AP land case in heart of city.

Patel. How about Indian PM Dr Man Mohan Singh?

Gandhi. He is another classic example. Hee..hee..hee. He can never win any elections. He has no base. But he is the PM.

Patel. So things are like this.

Nehru. Be clear. Which way it is?

Patel. Like this ( He shows his thumb downwards)

Gandhi. Hee..Hee..Hee. Patel, You are witty too.( Laughs loudly)

( The trio are now near Red fort and they see Indian tricolor flying on the top of fort)

Gandhi. Have you seen the Indian flag? It is  proudly flying in wind and fluttering. I am very happy to see it.

Patel. Why not Bapu? You struggled so hard to get freedom to this nation.

Gandhi. True.  Struggled a lot.

Nehru. I also struggled.

Patel. Did Bapu say that he only struggled?

Gandhi. I never said that. I shall never say that. I would never say that. I can’t say that. I should not say that. I must not say that. I hate to say that.

Nehru. Bapu, I think you are hurt.

Gandhi. Not at all my friend. I am above all these things. I have tasted many such things in life. What else can be worst than getting shot by an Indian called Godse for all the sacrifices I made.

Patel. Bapu. Godse initially bowed to you before drawing his pistol and shooting at you.

Nehru. He also stated that he bowed to Gandhi for all the sacrifices he made for the country.

Patel. But he said in court  that he would not forgive Bapu for vivisecting the country and Bapu  had no right to do that.

Gandhi. Why you dig old graves? I forgot them long ago.

Nehru. I am sure Bapu is highly upset. But I shall not say sorry.

Gandhi. That is upto you. Relax. By the by why PM flies the flag on independence day and President on Republic day?

Patel. If you ask me, I shall say that both keep itching to fly flags on both the occasions. But each has to be satisfied. More over President is the supreme commander of Defense forces. So he must take salute from them on the parade. So he takes the salute after hoisting the flag. What is now left is  Independence day. It is given to the PM. He is happy  with that.

Gandhi. You appear to be correct. You have logic too.

Patel. Bapu, Do  you know  India will be getting a new President soon.

Gnadhi. What is so big about it. It is a routine thing. So many have come and gone in the past.

Patel. As usual there   is a tug of war between the ruling alliance and opposition.

Gandhi. These politicians are not interested in finding a correct person for the job. They play lot of politics. They want their party man. I know that Ruling congress wants the old guy Pranab to be the new President. Poor guy could not become the PM although he was dreaming for it since decades.

Patel. He is not from the dynasty. How he can become? He is not seen as a very safe bet as PM.

Gandhi. Dr Man mohan singh has been the safe  bet. He also said in past that he would vacate whenever Rahul wanted it.

Patel. Entire nation wants Dr Kalam back in the post, but congress does not want it. Dr Kalam also is not keen for a contest. He knows that it is a dirty game of politics. Aim is not choose the fittest person.  Opposition does not want the congress candidate. Ruling party does not want opposition candidate. Dr Kalam is a very wise man. He is above all these shitty games.

Gandhi. It does not make any difference whether Pranab becomes or Kalam becomes or Sangma becomes.  After all it is not an executive post. It is  most ceremonial post. All goes on well.

Patel. Then why can’t we make Dilip Kumar as the President?

Gandhi. Yes, why not? It will be a good suggestion too. He is the only guy left now after Raj Kappor and Dev Anand. Minorities will  be very happy. He does not belong to any political party.If Dr Kalam can not become it must be Dilip Kumar. When Presidenr Reagan could be US president, why not Dilip Kumar as Indian President.He has great histrionic talent.Three cheers to him.

Patel and Nehru. Three cheers to Dilip Kumar sahib

Gandhi. Let us go to some press office and give our suggestion.

Patel. Let us go.

                                (The trio walks away soon)

                                           CURTAIN FALLS