INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN..142

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…..142
Dr k Prabhakar Rao


( A public meeting is going on at a roadside. There are many cars parked at the place. Everywhere colored flags are seen flying. They are also sporting colored caps and scarves around the necks.. The leader is atop a high table and is seen talking over a mike all are listening carefully)

Leader. Look brothers. This is your leader speaking. Most of you are students. I know you are having many difficulties. You are all keenly waiting for your scholarships, fees. The government is trying to ditch you. Your admissions are also in trouble.

(Gandhi, Nehru and Patel are also seen in the crowd. They are trying to push forward. They are confronted by some people. They are Yadaiah, Naresh and Sitaram)

Yadiah. Hello. Why are you pushing us? Is there any Tamasha going on there?

Naresh. What interest you have? You are so old.

Sitaram. They are dressed like Gandhi, Nehru and patel. A good place for making some money. There should be a limit to begging in this country.

Patel.( Angrily) Look. Please be respectful to elders. Are the colleges teaching to insult elders, you guys look like students? Are we beggars. Better behave.

Naresh. We are students only. But you guys are not students. This meeting is mostly for students and their parents also. Why you guys want to go to front? What is there for you?

Gandhi. Only that thing which is there is also for us. What is there for you is also there for us.

Naresh Ohfo what a language? (Pulls his hair in disgust) OK. Go ahead and sit in the front. Get screwed well.

( The trio go to front close to leader)

Leader. Look Oh students Do not be carried away by govt words. The are withdrawing existing benefits

Naresh. They say attendance for students is compulsory to the tune of 75 %

Leader. True. How can any one have that much attendance? Students have to enjoy also. They have problems at home.

Gandhi. Then why students should take admissions if they do not go to colleges?

Patel. Is it for some picnic?

Nehru. Patel. Let him speak

Leader. Most of the students of reserved category although get tuition fee from govt have many problems and they can not afford bus fees of colleges, they depend on state govt buses. They are not sufficient. More over all these colleges are at far off places. By the time they go there they are very late. At many colleges late comers are turned away.

Gandhi. What else they can do?

Nehru. What can be the answer?

Leader. I demand that for all those candidates who are being paid the tuition fee, govt must pay bus fees at the rate of Rs12000/ 00 for one year. Whenever the rates are increased, it should be revised.


( All clap loudly and shout leader Zindabad)

Patel. If so many guys opt for college buses, from where they get so many buses.?

Leader. Simple. all old buses should be sold by the govt to them and give permission to run them.

( All clap loudly)

Gandhi Hello sir. Then why have attendance at all. Remove the condition. Any one taking admission in the college must be sent to examinations. To study or not to study is his headache.

Patel. As it is most of the colleges are giving fake attendance to students. Very few really meet 75 %requirements. If the rules are implemented only 20 to thirty percent students can go for examinations. Others will be detained.

Leader. This is a vicious circle.If we link attendance to fees, then most of the students can not get fees as they do not attend. For many it is a past time. It is a serious social problem. Even the guys who use motor bykes do not maintain proper attendance., Viewing all these problems no attendance should be made compulsory. It should be free for all.

Patel In that case even teaching should not be made compulsory. If ateacher wants to teach he will teach.

Leader. It can be so.

Patel . How about giving degrees free after 4 years ?

Leader. This can be considered too. If a guy does not pass in stipulated time he should be given degree after two more years waiting.

Patel. As it is a university gives degree even if a guy fails in two subjects after 4 years. Slowly the number of subjects will increase. Some day it will be all subjects.

Gandhi. heee…heeee..haaa…haaa

Patel. Haaa…haaa…hiiii..hi

Naresh. Why are you laughing? These are very good suggestions.

Nehru. Very good infact.

Naresh.. (Looking at leader) Sir, You must also fight for different question papers based on reservations. University can not have common paper for all types of students. Syllabus also should be different. Many are unable to pass the difficult papers Do some thing good for us. YSR did good for u by granting fees to all. Plesae do some thing about question papers. Please see that pass marks are much reduced from 40 to 10 or 5.

Leader. I ma find it difficult

Naresh. Sir in EAMCET examination even failed candidates are are admitted in Engineering colleges. This also can be done.

Leader. I think I shall do it if you all vote for me in next elections

Naresh. Yeahh..Yeah… very good.. long live leader

Leader. I shall also do.

Gandhi. ( Suddeny shrieksloudly ) aaa….aaaa.. Kill me .. kill me.. Kill me

( Gandhi picks upa stone and hammers hi own head strongly. Lot of blood gushes out. He screams and fals down . He gets convulsions All gather around him)

Yadiah. This joker has no business to be here.

Naresh. True. He spoiled the meeting. Drag this character away.


( All guys try to pick up Gandhi and they are unable to do. Gandhi is very heavy. All are surprised.)

Yadiah. Strange. This is a just skeleton. We are unable to move him an inch. What can be there?

Patel. Hee…heee.. You nuts. You will not understand. He is father of nation. He weighs more than whole India

Naresh. Shut up . What nonsense you are talking. Is he father of nation. Silly it is. Now what to do with this guy

Leader. Better leave him here Police will take care of him. Let us go from here before things get complex.

(The leader is escorted by his stooges and goes away in a car while his supporters shout slogans.. Long live…leader.. long live our leader)

( Gandhi is still lying on ground and slowly people are melting away. Some are still there)

Naresh. These jokers have spoiled everything. Otherwise the leader would have spoken for more time.

Yadiah. True. They should be taught a lesson

( They go to Gandhi lying and suffering)

Yadiah. You old guy. How is it now. You guys have no work. You are grown so old and sick. It is better stay at home.

Patel You guys can not forces us to stay away.

Gandhi ( feebly) What wrong we have done? Are we not Indians? Oh Baba. Please listen. You guys must study well. Plesae do not waste time with these leaders. They lead you no where. You will be finally harmed.

Naresh. We know better what we have to do. Cha Hatt ( go)

Patel. Bapu. You should not give advise to undeserving.

Nehru. True.Bapu. How are you now

Naresh. You guys . Pack off from here before we pack off you to hel

Patel. Are you so strong.?

Gandhi. Pate. Plesea leave them. They are ignorant and young. They do not know what they do.

Patel. Bapu. You started speaking Gospel.

Gandhi.. My teachings are close too gospel. I copied from Jesus teachings.

Patel. That every one knows it.

Gandhi. I am feeling slightly better. Let us go.

( the trio vanish suddenly while the people look aghast)