IN TO THE PAST WITH PAIN...186

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…186

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

( Gandhi, Nehru and patel are near the international airport at Hyderabad . There is a crowd at the airport and many are seen wailing. They get perplexed and also are curious)

Gandhi. Patel. What happened. Why so many guys are crying here and waiting here.

Patel. I also do not know. Let me find out.

Nehru. Unfortunately some one might have died somewhere and the body must be awaited.

( Patel goes to a person and enquires. His name Ramdas)

Patel. Bhai Sahib. What happened here?

Ramdas. Sir . Don’t you know? Many pilgrims from this state died in a stampede near Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala where they went to pay respects to lord Ayyappa.

Patel. Ohfo. How sad it is.

Ramdas. I think 30 persons died in the tragedy. All these people are their relatives and friends. I am also waiting to see the body of my close friend who passed away in the tragedy

Gandhi. Shocking incident indeed. Kindly accept my condolences..

Patel. I think the aircraft has arrived from Kerala and the bodies would be brought out soon. Some formalities have to be done. As usual some police checks will be there at the airport. They have to send the dead bodies through security scanner.

Gandhi. Will it be so.?

Patel. It will be so.

( In the mean time all dead bodies are brought out is boxes and are kept undera verandah and the relatives are asked to identify them and complete formalities so that they could be handed over.. Persons waiting wail loudly and some curse the Kerala government and Temple administration of Kerala for not providing proper facilities when lakhs of pilgrims visit the site. They throw choicest abuses at them. The waiting police personnel and officers try to pacify them. Some state govt ministers are also seen supervising the arrangements. Police guys are busy saluting them and trying to get their attention.)

Gandhi. It is a very sad situation. I can not see it. Let us go from here.

Patel. Is it greater than the situation when trains of dead bodies arrived from Pakistan after partition?

Gandhi. That was different and this is different.

Patel. At that time there were no one to receive dead bodies. Any how it is a past issue. Every issue is sad in this sub continent. But I was told this was purely negligence on part of the Kerala Government. Official declaration is that 120 people died in stampede.

( The trio walk away from air port and sit on a roadside culvert. Cars are seen passing fast)

Nehru. Iam not still clear why so many guys go there. I was told that every year this practice prevails.

Patel. At Sabarimala in Kerala state there is a temple of Swami Ayyappa and it is ona great hill amidst thick mountains and forests. It is difficult to go there.

Gandhi. Iam not familiar with this God. I never heard about him.

Patel. He is widely worshipped in South India. He is believed to be the offspring of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu in female form Mohini. As an young lad he performed many great acts and he became very popular figure. Every year Lakhs of people observe strict moral discipline for more than a month, perform Pooja and then go to the Sabarimala temple. They put on the prescribed black dress with special facial markings and all these days lead pious life wit strict diet and conduct and even do not wear foot wear. It is a great penance with reverence.

Gandhi. That is very good. It is a great self discipline. It is good for body and mind too.

Patel. True Bapu.

Gandhi. Is there any specialty in these rituals?

Patel. When the visit Sabarimala the wait for Makara sankranthi and on this day a great source of bright light is seen among distant mountains and is called Makara jyothi and there is a great rush to watch it. Lakhs of pilgrims converge at Sabarimala to watch the light.

Gandhi. I see. This rush must have caused the tragedy.

Patel. I think it is true. The stampede occurred when a jeep and auto collided with graet force and thee was panic and it was utter darkness. Lakhs of people ran over the guys who fell down and 120 guys lost lives. There were no rescue operations immediately as there was great confusing and the police force was very much limited.

Gandhi. How can Kerala government be careless towards people when every year Lakhs of people visit the temple on same day.

Patel. That is Kerala government. Earlier too there were stampedes and accidents and study teams suggested widening of some mountain roads and regulation of traffic and vehicles. It looks none bothered. Why they should do? It is loot mar going on like at every place. Our Temple towns are centers of loot mar. Government is more worried in making fast buck that improving things at these places.

Gandhi. I was told Tirupathi is slightly better.

Patel. Less said is better. Every place has its peculiar problems. Swindlers are there everywhere.

Gandhi. What is this light source called Makara Jyothi? Is it scientifically established by astronomers.

Patel. Bapu. Things are not good. There are many reports that the light source that is called Jyothi is man created.

Gandhi. How do you say that? Plesae do not hurt sentiments of south Indians.

Patel. That means I can hurt that of north Indians.

Gandhi, Come on Patel. Plesae no jokes please

Patel, Sorry Bapu.

Gandhi. Relax. That is fine.

Patel. It has been established in 1990 by some some rationalists who secretly visited distant mountains and burst open the secret. They found that some persons looking like govt officials burnt large amounts of camphor on the particular day of Makara Sankranthi in large vessels that were raised and the burning flames were seen as Jyothi by the pilgrims at Sabarimala with great reverence. This was photographed by the rationalists.

Gandhi. Ohfo. What a fraud indeed on people!

Patel. This is known to Kerala government and Temple officials too. They have not publicized it.

Gandhi. How bad it is !

Patel. Unfortunately the gullible masses from mostly states of AP, Karnataka, Tamilnadu are taken over by sentiments and visit the shrine and see the Jyothi every year. No one is against the faith and worshipping the Lord Ayyappa. But this fraud of Jyothi is surely bad. These reports have come in news papers too and I read them. Kerala Government is a party to this drama and they are after the revenue and are hood winking people.

Gandhi. Kerala govt must be sued in Supreme court of India. If required I shall argue the case. I am a barrister from England and practiced law in South Africa.

Patel. Great Bapu!

Patel. I think some one is already filing a case accordingly.

Gandhi. the court shall bring out all truths and failures of Kerala govt in hoodwinking the truths about the Jyothi and for not providing facilities to the pilgrims.

Patel. Let us pray that it will succeed. Any how we are sorry that such sad incident has taken place.

Gandhi. I am much upset at the things that are happening in this nation.

Patel. Bapu. Plesae take things lightly. Now the truths will be out and hope people will come out of this Tamasha of Kerala Govt.

Gandhi. Let us hope. Patel. It is getting late. Shall we move.

Nehru. Sure Bapu. I am feeling sleepy too. Let us go.

( The trio slowly walk away singing Ramdhun)

CURTAIN FALLS