INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...166

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…166

Dr K Prabhakar Rao


(Gandhi, Nehru and patel are walking in Dhool pet area of Hyderabad that is famous for making statues. Now they are specializing in making cement statues of people whose statues are to be erected)

Gandhi. Patel. I heard that this area is famous for making statues. Last time visited this place being called Dhool pet

Patel. Yes Bapu. But there was trouble. This area is also famous for illicit liquor brewing.

Gandhi. I see. I remember some trouble.

Patel. When we came here there was trouble. Police and excise force raided this area and destroyed illicit liquor making gadgets. There was lathi charge and the police guys tried to misbehave with us. However we gave them good lesson. After that we went away.

Gandhi. Yeah. Now I recollect. Hope our visit will be successful to day.

Nehru. Hope Bapu. I do not see any problem today.

( The trio slowly walk on the bad road. There are many ill constructed temporary shops under thatched roofs. They stop at one shop and gaze at the statues standing there. There are nearly 50 statues of same type and all are standing in one line.)

Gandhi. Oh.. Patel. Look at these statues. Whom does this statue represent. Is there any leader like this. At least I do not remember any one like him.

Nehru. Bapu. I also do not know him.

Gandhi. Let us ask the maker of these statues who is sitting there puffing Hookah.

Patel. Oh mere Bhai.( Oh Brother) good morning to you. Can you tell us who is this statue.

Shop keeper. My name is Ram narain. I hail from Rajasthan. This statue is of Narakasura. The great demon king who was killed by Krishna and Satya bhama.

Gandhi. Oh Narakasura. Why the hell his statue is required to be made? What is so great about him. Who needs so many statues

Ram narain. Sir. I got an order for 1000 statues. So far I made only 500. I displayed 50 here. Rest are in godown.

Gandhi. Strange indeed. Why govt wants these statues?

Patel. I do not know. Some one must have gone crazy.

Gandhi. But this statue is really great. See how devilish he is. He is with a crown and has big moustache, very big eye brows and thick lips. Look He has two canine teeth that are protruding from his mouth. There are two horns on his head.

Patel. He has very large stomach and tall hands. He is jet black like Indian ink. Look at his eyes. How big they are and red too. See How big his mace is?

Nehru. Mr Ram Narayan. You must be having some idea why these were made on order.

Ramnarayan. Sir I heard from some guys that these will be installed at various important places in twin cities of Hyderabad and secunderabad and later on in district head quarters. If required every village will have one.

Gandhi. Then what happens to my statues?

Patel. Bapu. Who wants your statues now. They have already been removed at many places.

Ramnarayan. Sir if you go along this road you will find other shops where other statues are sold.

Patel. So Narakasura is not alone.

Nehru. Hee..heee

(The trio goes to next shop)

Gandhi. Look here. There are plenty of other devil statues. See the name plates displayed. They are Bakasura, Mahishasura, Tarakasura, vritrasura, Ravnasura, Jambumali, Sumbhasura, Nisumbhasura, Mairavana, Maricha, Subahu

Patel. Here are Tataki, Hidimba, Soorphanaka, Lankhini, Raktabeejasura , Dhenukasura, Dundhubi, Mayavi, Kalanemi, Gajasura, Hiranyakshya, Hiranyakasipa, Bali, Somaka, Trisirasura, Kumbhasura, Nikumbhasura, Kalayavana, .. oh fo. There is no end. I think this is the biggest shop.

Gandhi. Yes. Every devil is different from other

( They see some guys sitting at the shop. They are Krishna, Raja and Suresh)

Suresh. Plesae do not call them Devils

Gandhi. What should we call them? Are they gods?

Suresh. They are not gods. But they are not devils. They are Dalit kings of yore.

Patel . How do you know?

Suresh. It is just like that.

Krishna. Please know that they were great Dalit kings and they were killed by Aryans. These Aryans have written in various epics that they were demons.

Gandhi. Appears to be a new theory.

Krishna. No . it is not like that. What we say is true. In future you can not celebrate Diwali as Narakachaturdasi. It has to be Naraka Vardhathi.. We shall celebrate Bakasura jayanthi, Mahishasura Jayanthhi etc. Who can stop us?

Gandhi. Go ahead if you can. Any how in Tamil nadu DMK celebrates Ram Dahana on Dasserah festival. Yet throughout India Ramas victory is celebrated.

Patel. This is democracy. You have freedom of thought and expression.

Krishna. Yes . we do have. We shall use it. Jaiho Narkasura. Jai ho Bakasura.. Jai Jai Hidimbasura.

Gandhi. Very good . It is great news. It looks that guys do not have proper work

Krishna. Now the govt has seen some truth in our arguments and they want to install the Dalit king statues made here all over states. Soon there will be TV serials too glorifying these Dalit kings. Some movies also will be produced. We are searching for heroes to take up the roles. Now SV ranga Rao is no more. Satyanaraya has become very old. Ranganath has feeble voice although has big body. We are trying to rope in junior NTR. Very soon the statues of political leaders will be removed and sent to debris rooms. On tank bund we shall place many statues opposite to present ones. All main roads will be named after Dalit kings.

Gandhi. That is really good.

Suresh, Now the govt has good chance to capture our votes in next elections. Next CM has to be Narakasura and home minister will be Bakasura. Minister for welfare has to be Tataki and for protocol will be Poothana. Minister for major projects will be Tarakasura. Minister for health will be Kalanemi,

Gandhi ( Claps) very good. Very good

Patel. Probably present guys in various states are no less. So be happy.

Krishna. But they are not dressed like them

Patel . They will soon do it

Suresh. Soon we will have few universities named after them.

Gandhi. why not? But why few? Have all in their name. Change the present names. Have Marichah rural University. Hiranyakshya Technological University. Mahishasura university of English, Nisumbha university of Telugu, Poothana woms university.

Krishna. Thanks sir for good suggestions.

(All clap loudly)

Gandhi.Well done boys. I now agree that my Harijans have come up now.

Krishna. Bapu. Plesae do not use that word. Use Dalit. That is better.

Gandhi. Yeah.. OK Guys Relax. We shall meet again. Bye

(The trio Vanishes while all shout jai ho Bakasura.. Jaiho Narkasura)

CURTAIN FALLS