INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...XXIV

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…..XXIV



Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao ( Retired)


( General Washington is seen playing Golf at a Golf course at Dallas, Texas and John F Kennedy and Harry Truman are giving him company. It is cool morning with little sun shine and slight breeze is blowing A Golf cart is close by. Bu Washington prefers Horse that is also close by)

Washington. Look John. The weather is nice indeed today

Kennedy. That is true sir

Truman. You are correct sir. Every thing is so silent outside. It reminds me of Hiroshima after the nuclear attack by us. I was told there was dead silence there for years.

Washington. What a comparison Mr Truman! I feel sad for all that happened on that day

Truman. But that was required to bring war to an end.

Kennedy. But I learnt that Japanese still wanted to continue war to the end and were not willing to bow down

Truman. True. They thought that their king would be harmed by allies after surrender

Washington. They surrendered only when emperor’s honor and safety were guaranteed. What patriotism indeed!

Truman. True

Kennedy. Look What is happening to us in this country. Our Past president George Bush was insulted by an Iraqi journalist at a press briefing in Iraq while he was on an official visit. He threw shoes at him. Back at home his opponents celebrated the event and the video clips were flashed recently that too repeatedly particularly in India too which have been supporting much in recent times. I know there are many anti Bush elements . They forgot and had no concern for American honor. Insult to Bush was insult to USA and its citizens. Can’t this simple truth be realized?

Washington. How sad and what a fall in values in our country! Sir, In India they hanged effigy of Bush when Saddam Hussein was hanged. What a fallacy!

Truman. Sir, Now a days what is happening is street politics. The great American values have probably diminishing. Our democratic values are also becoming like any other third rate democracy in the world where in the name of democracy dynastic rules flourish. There is no end to family rules. No Names.

Washington. True.

John. Sir, Look some one is coming to meet us.

( MK Gandhi arrives in another Golf cart, but he is dressed in his usual dress with stick. The cart stops in front of Washington and his friends.)

Gandhi. Hello Gentle men. Nice to see you all here. I feel envy. No such thing happens in India.

Washington. Why Mr Gandhi?

Gandhi. In India there are many parties and it is unlike USA where only two parties are there. There is no cohesion in India. Except those who were from Nehru family there is no bond among them. The cut each others throats with swords. How can they have get together.

Washington. Hee….heee…heee. True

John. Mr Gandhi. We are surprised, how your country is working? We are surprised to note the great economic progress made by you in recent times. How was that possible?

Gandhi. That is a miracle. That is why people believe in God. When a country like India can progress with so many castes, creeds, factions, leaders, political parties, corruption, scams, swindling, filth around, un happiness, lawlessness, faction fights, crimes like rapes, thefts, chain snatchings, murders, acid throwing on girls,… what else and what not, There must be god who takes care of the nation. Otherwise it is impossible. Look India has remained intact for the last 60 years while many nations have broken up

John.. True. I appreciate.. Hooo…hooo..hooo.. Haaa. Haa

Washington. Mr Gandhi. What happened to your Bombay problem? Has Pakistan listened to you?

Gandhi. No sir. Now they say they are passing a law to punish the guys who while staying on their soil commit crimes on others soil.

John. So what? Does it help you?

Gandhi . God knows

Washington. I heard Pakistan is trying some guys for terrorism

Gandhi. True . But there is none among them who are involved in Bombay attacks.

John. Haa…. Haa.. They have fooled Indians greatly

Washington. I told Mr Gandhi when he came to us last time that you have wasted time and lost the initiative. Now it is too late to take any action. Now you have to lump it down the throat. Sings..

You Indian guys can not act in time
But are experts in eating beetle leaf with nuts and lime
The whole episode better lump down your throat
You can never cross the deep terrorist moat


John. Haaa….haaa… Sir! well said

Gandhi. Sir What we should do now? Our Mukherjee still says options are still open

John. What options. Can you guys attack Pak camps of terrorists? They must have already moved to Waziristan. You just can not do any thing. Be hapy what you have and done. Next time they attack do some thing if you can. Do not shout again that you shall not make war with Pakistan. What are you trying to show off. No one will give you Nobel Prize. That is very much sure.

Indian guys are crazy of peace prize
Although destiny cut their leaders to size
Yet they run with teachings of Mohandas
And his teachings have already done great loss

Gandhi. Sir Mr Kennedy. I am not that bad

John. I am not saying you are bad or words to that effect. I only say that your guys are not practical. Just look. Will any government hand over its citizens? Why did you demand Pakistan that way? Do you think they will listen to you? They are least bothered. Whose idea it was?

Gandhi. It was collective idea out of desperation and inability to be strong

John. Exactly Mr Gandhi. Now you have come to my point. The fact is that you guys have no convictions. You guys are vacillating and indecisive. You expect that America would fight your war. Why should we fight your war that too with our ally? Did you fight our war with Taliban in the past after 9/11. We only do some hotch potch and some white wash here and there.. It is OK Mr Obama said he would not object if India took any drastic actions. It meant some military actions. But you developed cold feet. Now you can not do any thing. Your external minister said that India would retaliate strongly if something happens next time. That means you guys expect similar things to happen again. Look Pakistan was our ally while you were followers of USSR. You were never friendly to us. You were scared of communists.

Washington. I mean camp followers

John. True. Just remember Chinese war of 1962. How it ended?

Gandhi. I know. Those are past things. Any how I was dead at that time. I had no influence. Nehru was taking care of things

John. Yes. But look at your country. There are millions and millions of guys with you who hate America. They hanged effigy of Bush in Hyderabad. They took processions. Editorials in your news papers were anti American to the core. Even to day not a single line is written in favor of America or our leaders. But you guys want our dollars. Your students want H1 Visas. Study in our universities and never want to leave USA. We do not know what you guys really want? Your Communists are with drawn swords against us.

Gandhi. What can I say? I am speechless.

I am poor Gandhi devoid of power
I already fell down from top of tower
No one cares for my word now
You must tell me to improve when how

Washington. OK Dear Mr Gandhi. Please do not be desperate. Tell your guys to be practical. Let them not live in a fools paradise. You guys can never discipline Pakistan with kind words

Gandhi. That means violence is the answer

Washington. I did not say that you must be violent. You must protect yourself. There is a lot of difference between being violent and using force against injustice and terror

Gandhi. Oh!

John. Sir ! Very well said.

Washington. Dear Mr Gandhi. You guys had no policy after the Bombay attack. Of course you claim that irrespective political ideology every leader condemned Pak action. What is the use? Your Government did not retaliate immediately and wasted time begging Pak to hand over guys. Pakistanis are very smart. They know that you are damne scared of their nukes and that is why every time they keep uttering that they have no reservations on using them in war if their existence is threatened. Ian any war with Pakistan for them it is life or death. Your country is very large and they is thus inferior. You guys are shit scared about their nuclear attack. There is no doubt that after their attack they will not be there. That is why they say, “We shall sink, but we will take you also with us?”. Did you understand now the logic?

Gandhi. Sir understood. I am of no use if I do not understand even now.

Washington. Well and very good. Tell your guys to be strong, assertive and bold. Many sacrifices have to be made for the sake of country. Look at us. Our country men made so many sacrifices all these years. We are not war mongers. We know how to defend our freedom and ourselves. Others can not show teeth to us. We shall break their teeth. You guys have apparently no courage to act even if it means war and some deaths. It is better to die once instead of apparent daily deaths. Pkaistan knows that you have no courage to fight them. As John said you are scared of their nukes. How long you would be scared. They will again attack you, this time may be more devastating. You woyuld be singinf Ramdhun and Hanuman Chalisa to get courage. I am sorry, Mr Gandhi . Your entire handling was an apology after Bombay attack. Your own country men see you guys as in efficient, spiritless and gutless and no more trust that your leaders would be able to defend the nation. Your Chiefs however would keep assuring that they would do the things required if the civilian leadership what them to do. That is good.

Gandhi. Enough.. Enough Mr Washington.. I can take no more… True our guys have failed to deliver.

Washington. Better do some thing concrete. Please do not feel bad that I was straight forward. I have to tell the truth

Truman. Gandhi. Ask your people to be bold and defend your nations. Or else others would consider you as cowards. Firmness is different from sluggishness and inaction. The leaders who do not protect the nation have no place in the world history. They would be discarded and their names would be written in black letters. Be bold and save your country. Do not run after advises. God will take care of you guys if you take correct actions. Begging around is no action. As per the actions being done by you guys, I should have begged Japanese to be quiet and hand over the war criminals to us for trial. I took a strong action. I agree many died. That will happen. I have no regrets. I had to stop war finally. Other guy was mad.

Gandhi. Thanks Sir. .. Thanks Mr Kennedy for all the advice

( Gandhi departs with his stick while Washington and Kennedy see him off )




Dr K Prabhakar Rao