INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...106

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN….106

Dr K Prabhakar Rao


(Gandhi is lying perplexed in an old fashioned easy chair and a bottle of cough syrup Glycodine is next to him. Nehru pours small amount of syrup in a glass and offers to the old man. Gandhi drinks, coughs vigorously and viciously.)

Nehru. Bapu. Please control yourself. Last night Dr Pattabhi examined you and advised full rest. Please do not speak much. You need complete rest.

Gandhi. What is there for me? My India of dreams is in thick troubles. Last night some gentleman from Bihar came to me. He landed here after his body was found on a railway track in his state. It seems he was harassed by some investigating agency.

Nehru. What did he say?

Gandhi. He was telling about some fodder scam in his state.

Nehru. Oh ! That one I know. It happened in Bihar. What is so strange about it? No governing goes on there. It is a pace where ruffians rule roost. I think if any governing was there, it ended with Jagannath Mishra. Now it is free for all.

The State of Bihar that was once mighty
Produced stalwarts like Rajendra Prasad
It has now confined to a chair rickety
While leaders enjoy chicken and salad

Rapes, murders, dacoities and lootings
Regular routine in the state
Private armies of various social classes
Kill each other and it is their sad fate

Gandhi. Well said. Do you know how grave was the fodder scam? The ministers and officers connived with each other and ate away and swindled crores of rupees meant for these animals. They have shown in the records that ahen was provided Rs 35000 worth food in an year.

( In the mean time some cows and goats and chicken enter the room. They are agitated and shout abusive slogans)

Cows.Hoi.. Hoi… Hame mar diya. Hame loot liya is saalone. Is raakshaso ne. Hamara Paisa khalia is badmasho ne. Hmae katke khalia. Bapuji. Kuch karo. ( we have been betrayed, looted, killed and we have been eaten by these demons.) ( sings)

Leaders and officers are involved in the fodder scam
They are worst than demons eating babies from prams
They have shown us travelling in air conditioned coaches
And they looted money and put them in their poaches

Gandhi. Namaste mother cows and bhai goats and chicken -aunts. I am very sorry to hear your sad plight. In fact, I am shocked. I will see what I can do. ( He gets excited, gets up and holds stick and sings)

Oh goats and mother cow
Kindly bear with me for some time
I shall get justice to you
And ensure that the culprits are shaved and smeared with lime

Nehru. Eee… hee..heeee ( Claps )

(The goats and cows appear to be satisfied and shout slogans. Down with India .. down with Lalu and go away. Some cows appear to be not satisfied and drop dung there and urinate before leaving shouting . down with Gandhi and Nehru. Some chicken get worked up and they fly fluttering on to the heads of Bapu and Nehru and create nuisance and then run away. )

Gandhi Ohfo.chee…cheee…chee. sh.. sh…sh… What a commotion indeed? What a sad state in India. A rustic leader rules Bihar. Look . Even cows have pissed on us. and chicken have dirtied our heads

( Gandhi and Nehru go and wash their bad heads)

Nehru. Bapu. What to do? This is our fate. You know CBI wants to charge sheet the CM and they have to take sanction from the governor. Can they get?

Gandhi. In front of law all are equal. Do you know Lalu does not want to resign on moral grounds.( sings)

Indian leaders have no morals and fear
They try to cling to their seats of power
They loot the public who voted them to power oh dear
With sole aim of reaching top of tower

It is strange that leaders eat rations of animals
They are I am sure are the greatest criminals
All these nuts need a tightening screw
And such men probably few

Nehru. Bapu. How do you think such men are few? I feel such men are maximum. The country is in grip of corruption. Loot Mar is going on in every sector. Indians claim that English men looted our wealth. Now our own leaders are looting our wealth.

Gandhi. Some say , what is wrong now? The wealth remains with in country.

Nehru. This may not be true. Many siphon off into Swiss accounts.

Gandhi. I never had any swiss account.

Nehru. But many have it now.

Gandhi. Eee.eeee..eee.. aa..aaa. What happened to this country? Jawaharlal .I can no more take it. Do you look at the corner next to door? There is a stout wooden bar. Please bring it.

( Nehru goes and gets it . It is heavy )

Nehru. Bapu. What should I do with this?

Gandhi. Have you seen my bald head? It is shining Chak. Chak..Think of mother India and hit on my head with all force

Nehru. Bapu. You said Mother India. Is it Nargis Dutt who acted in the movie Mother India?

Gandhi. Come on . Hoe stupid you are? Why should we pray to her. She was only a film actress and did well in that movie. I mean you must pray to Bharat Mata.

Nehru. Oh Bharat Mata? But Bapu. How can I hit you? I can not do that. It is a crime.

Gandhi. In that case I shall take care of it myself.

( Gandhi takes away the wooden bar from Nehru)

Gandhi. Oh Bharat Mata.. Listen. I can no more take this nonsense going on in my Bharat eee… eee. Kill me.. Kill Me.. I beg you…


( Gandhi gets excited and with wooden bar hammers his own head violently. Nehru runs to Bapu and takes away the bar while Gandhi falls down bleeding. Gandhi cries hysterically and Nehru consoles)

(In the distance famous singer Mukesh is heard singing

Dil jalta hai tho jalne de
Aasu nab ha faryad na kar
Dil jalta hai tho jalne de
Masoom nazar pe teer chala
Aaa…aaaian
Bismil ko bismil aaur bana….) ( Mukesh from Pehli nazar. 1945)


CURTAIN FALLS