INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN.....136

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN.136
Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi, Nehru and Patel are seen walking on a streets some wherein Delhi in the old and congested areas of old city. At a road crossing they see a statue enclosed in a cloth wrapped around and tied with thick strings. Every thing including the pedestal is enclosed. The trio appears curious.)

Patel. Bapu. Have you seen this statue it is so huge It is almost 10 stories high. What it could be?

Gandhi. Iam also surprised. What it could be? It can not be my statue. whole thing look slike a pyramid with a figure at the top.

Patel. Bapu. Indians have stopped erecting statues of you, Nehru and me long ago. They are not even maintaining the existing ones. Do you know there is a statue of you in Secunderabad in MG Road . It was earlier called James street. The statue remains neglected eve on the independence day while Chief Minister takes salute 200 yard away at parade ground and in his speech exhorts people to follow Gandhi. These are hypocrites of Ist order. They want Gandhi’s name to catch votes. ( Sings and does jig)

Look there are many jokers who rule us
Who recite Gandhi’s sermons day and night
Back at office I am sure to the hilt
These guys swindle the state as their birth right

Gandhi. True Patel. Well sung. How well you sai the truth!

(In the mean time, a large van arrives with some municipal workers accompanied by police constables. The constables are fully armed with rifles, steel helmets and bullet proof jackets. They are looking like armored knights of yore. A curious crowd also collects in the mean time)

Gandhi. Patel. look, some guys have come. I am sure they will open out the cloth around the statue. I am sure some unveiling ceremony will be there now.

Patel. Looks so Bapu. I am sure you are right.

Gandhi. I am always right.

( In the mean time a convoy of cars arrives and it halts near the statue. From the first VIP car gets down a person clad in Sherwani and Rumi Topi and he is sporting a beard. He is the chief guest for the function. The police men greet him by bowing. Some local leaders who are in the crowd also pay greetings to him. The inspector of police Chamcha Singh goes and salutes him)

Chamcha singh. Sahib It is time you unveil the statue.

Chief Guest. Sure. Sure.. I am always available for these activities. There is no other work for me. I am specialized in inaugurations. Heee..Heeee

Chamcha singh. Haaa.haaa…Haa

Chief Guest .Let us go and do our job

( He goes to the statue The Municipal workers in the meantime prepare for unveiling the statue. The Chief Guest slowly pulls a string handed out by the leader of the municipal party and the cloth unwraps and falls down completely unveiling the statue. All the people clap loudly while the chief guest acknowledges the appreciation by waving hand. Gandhi, Nehru and Patel are wonder struck at seeing the statue.)

Gandhi What type of statue is this? Is it a modern art? People have gone crazy

Patel. Bapu. This is not modern art. The entire base of statue in the form of a great pyramid is made up of human skulls. On top of it, there is a man sitting on a throne.

Nehru. What does that represent? Does this mean victory over evil?

Gandhi. Patel. Does it depict what Jawaharlal has said?

Patel. I am sorry Bapu. This is a clear depiction of Mughal emperor Baber sitting on a mound of Skulls after the battle of Khanwa. He defeated Ran Sangram Singh in that battle. He assumed the title Ghazi meaning Protector of faith after this act.

Gandhi. Why such statue should be erected? I do not know who sanctioned this?

Nehru. Bapu, Probably the secular ( ?) government of India has sanctioned erecting Baber’s statue at some place in Delhi, he being the founder of Mughal empire. After all they have to satisfy minorities.

Gandhi. But this is something crazy. It depicts him a most cruel and fundamentalist person. I know that he was a man of letters and wrote his biography too.

Patel. He was known as brave and enterprising. But the guys want to see him as Ghazi.

Gandhi. I do not approve this statue. This can cause tensions in society.

Patel. I am happy that the statue of Mohd Ghaznavi or Ghori has not been erected at some place.

Gandhi. That would be bad.

Patel. Bapu. This is something not acceptable and we must protest. This statue must go.

Nehru. What you can do?

Gandhi. We shall undergo fast unto death.

Patel. There will be scores of guys who like to see us die. Our skulls also will be added under this statue.

Gandhi Ohfo. No. Please do not say that.

( Gandhi goes to the Chief Guest an speaks to him_

Gandhi. Look gentle man. Is it appropriate to erect this evil statue in public place?

Chief Guest. What is wrong in this?

Gandhi. It is depicting Baber sitting on skull throne .

Chief guest. Sorry. It is not like that . This shows victory over evil

Patel. Look Sahib. This is clearly Baber shown sitting on skull throne. What are you trying to convey in society. Is this to be displayed in a secular country?

Chief Guest. Look friend. A sculpture can give different meaning to different people.It is as simple as that. Plesae do not make a fuss about it.

Patel. Sorry. You are trying to glorify Baber who was killer and destroyer of temples in India. We want this statue to be removed.

Chief guest. How can you do that? The police will prevent such attempts. This statue has been approved by the administration as well.

Patel. We do not any thing. This one is very offensive.

Chiefguest.Lump it. You can do whatever you like. I am going ( looks at Police) Inspector plesae take care of this statue and these men also. I am going.

( Chief Guest drives away in his convoy while Gandhi, Patel shout slogans against him. Inspector approaches Gandhi.)

Chamcha singh. Look old man. Enough of this drama. Please go away. This statue will remain. Plesae go away before we do some thing.

Gandhi.Look Inspector. Can’t you see this statue as that of Baber sitting on heap of skulls.

Chamcha singh. I do not know any thing. I have to maintain public order. If you create problems I have to arrest you guys.

Patel. Are you arresting us. What for? .Is it for being patriotic? Yeah I remember the song;
Oh sachhe phansi chaddewitche
Aur jhoota mauj udaave..
Kya my jhoota boliya. Koina… aa.. aaahu aanhu ( From Jagterahoby Mohd Rafi)

Chamcha singh. Shut up. Now run away from here. By the by why are you dressed like Gandhi and Patel

Patel. What do you mean? We are they and they are we.

Chamcha singh. ( screams)eee..eee.. stop this. I am getting mad. What is this we are they and they are we.

Gandhi. Plesae know we are Gandhi and Patel in real. Also know that you can not do any thing to us. Your weapons can not kill us.

Chamcha singh. I shall show. I shal crush you with my truck.

Patel. Plesae go ahead

( Inspector sits in the truck and orders the driver to drive fast and ride over the trio. The trio gathers in front of the statue laughing. The truck races fast and tries to climb over the trio who in the last minute move away from the statue to a place of safety. Helpless the truck dashes against the statue and the statue crumbles down in spilt of second. Every one is shocked. The river and Inspector are crushed in the collision and their spirits vanish into sky. The trio jubilantly raise slogans)

Patel Jai. Bharat Mataaki Jai.. Jo hamse takraye ga Wo mittime miljayehga

Gandhi. Bolo Swatantra Bharat ki jai.

Nehru. Bapu .Let us go away from here before another police party arrives.

Patel Jawahar. You are always a scared guy.

Gandhi. Patel. Pesea do not trouble him. Let us go.

( The trio walks away singing Ramdhun)

CURTAIN FALLS