INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...172 ..Part I

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…172

PART I

Dr K Prabhakar Rao


(Gandhi is seen at the gate of White House in Washington and he is stopped by a sentry. His name is Joe Clayton)

Sentry. Who are you sir. Why are you here. What do you want?

Gandhi. I am Mohandas Karam chand Gandhi. I came from India. I want to see the President.

Sentry. Sir. Are you joking? How can you see the President just like that. Do you have appointment to see him.

Gandhi. I do not need any appointment. I am a father of a nation.

Sentry. May I know sir? Which nation you have fathered?

Gandhi. It is India. We also call Bharat. I am the father of this nation

Sentry. I can not believe it. If so why are you in this shabby attire?

Gandhi. Do you call this shabby dress? Will it be OK if I put onan European suit and hat.

Sentry. Yeah. That is fine. You are not putting atlesat shoes. Look at your footwear. What do you call them.?

Gandhi. These are called slippers and in India we call them chappals.

Sentry. What did you say? Chapels?

Gandhi. Not chapels, say chappals.

Sentry. I can not allow you inside you. You have no appointment and you have no pass. Rules are very strict in USA.

Gandhi. I know how strict you are. We know that some uninvited couple attended a dinner party hosted by Barack Obama at white house recently and you guys were clueless. Hee..heee

Sentry. That is rare incident. It does not mean that we allow you inside. Why do you carry this stick?

( In the mean time a security officer approaches them. His name is Harry Anderson)

Harry. Joe ,Whats the matter. Gonna chatting long. Who is he dressed in a strange way?

Joe. Sir. He says he is MK Gandhi. He wants to see the president.

Harry( Laughs) haa..haa…haa

Gandhi. What makes you laugh sir? Are you not trained to be polite with guests.

Harry. Come on guy. Are you a guest? Who invited you here? Was it Mr President Barack Obama?

Gandhi. No one invited. I came myself. I want to see Obama.

Harry. Is he so cheap that every Tom , Dick and Harry going on the road can peep in to White House? Is it fun?

Gandhi. I am sorry. I never thought that you guys would treat a father of nation of another nation like this.

( In the mean time some onlookers gather there who appear to be Indians staying in USA. They are Naresh ( Nash), Sita Ram( Sitram) and Ashok Rao ( Ash))

Ash. Look friends. Gandhi is here at the gate. Why is he here?

Nash. Hello Gandhiji. How come here. What the problem. You look awe some..wow

Sitram. Hoi, Gandhi, Any problem here with these guys. Gonna settle the matter..wow.. You look great. wow..

Joe. You guys. Why you have collected here. Go from here. Keep running.

Gandhi. Look. You guys appear to be Indians. Thanks for recognizing me. This sentry is not allowing me to see President Obama.

Ash. Look Mr sentry. He is father of India. Kindly take him in.

Joe. Are you guys mad.

( Suddenly Ash, Nash and Sitram squat at the gate and shout slogans.. down with imperialism.. Down with sentries.. Down with Harry… Down with Joe. Looking at all
This many onlookers on the road also join them and the crowd swells. Harry on cell phone informs security head quarters of White House and they in turn inform Obama. Barack Obama is relaxing in the lawns of white house along with a guest Washington. Washington is in military uniform wearing a sword and long boots. He receives a call from Security head quarters)


Obama.( Speaks in to phone) Obama here, What is the matter? Has North Korea invaded South Korea? Is our warship in yellow sea attacked? Was it another pearl harbor? Has Iran launched atomic attack on US main land. What is the matter? Say quick. I am gonna mad.

Security chief. This is Michael the chief. Nothing of that sort sir. Sorry to disturb you.

Washington. What is the matter Obama?

Obama. Nothing is clear. Looks something serious.

Security Chief. Sir A guy strange looking one wants to see you all of a sudden and he was not allowed in. There were many arguments with the sentry and security officer. Suddenly many Indians joined him and are doing sitting down strike. Other passers too joined them. There are many black and white Americans among them They are shouting slogans too . Such things never happened in USA.

Washington. Is that man dressed in a peculiar way and holding a long stick?

Security chief. Yes sir. He is having some loin cloth with a white drape

He is bald too. At times he utters Hare Ram.. Hare Ram

Security chief. Yes sir. Any thing more?

Washington. He must be having a watch at his waist hanging.

Security Chief. Very true.. You great sir

Washington. ( Jumps from his seat) Yeah.. He must be MK Gandhi. Claims to be father of India.

Obama. Sir. You are great sir really. . Without seeing him you recognized him. Awesome. wow.. Great..

Washington. Thanks dear.

Obama. I also know him. But why he suddenly appeared? We do not have the practice of allowing visitors without appointment.

Washington. But this is a special guy. He is no doubt a father of nation like me. We must respect him. After all, he is from India. There discipline is slack. In India guests walk into houses without even a phone call and appointment. It is a strange land with strage methods and values.

Obama. After all, it a separate culture and civilization. They have their own way of life
( Speaking into phone) Hello. Please wait for my call. Control situation. Do not use force..

Washington. But this type of slogan shouting and sitting down bringing pressure is strange to this land. With people coming and settling from India, the local methods are getting disturbed. This is something that needs your attention.

Obama. I am worried about it.

Washington. Gandhi is famous for these types of actions. During his independence struggle against England he has used non obedience, hunger strike, general strikes, demonstrations to coerce the government. He in the last stage coerced the government to pay Rs 55 crores to Pakistan after getting independence and even when Pakistan attacked India and tried to grab Kashmir.

Obama. True. I read in some book that Godse killed him and this was the last straw.

Washington. Gandhi uses this method of strike and fast too often and this trick invades our country we are done.

Obama. True. First I must know who are these Indians who joined at sat down for strike and resorted to slogan shouting. Are we allowing them into our country for such activities? Most of the guys must be working or studying in some universities. Theyy hang on dropping semesters to stay here. Many have not got green cards.

Washington. Better find out who are the guys and deport them forth with irrespective of their job or study.

Obama. How about Gandhi? What we should do with him?

Washington. We shall go slow with Gandhi.. Call him in.. We shall talk to him.

Obama. True. We should do that. ( Speaks over phone) Hello, President here. You must immediately take video of what is happening at the gate

Security chief. That has been done already, We have even photographed them as a safety measure. We recorded their shoutings too.

Obama. Go and explain to them that Gandhi is being allowed in to see President

Security chief. Thanks sir. I shall do That.

CURTAIN FALLS