INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...207

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…207

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi, Patel and Nehru are seen at tank bund in Hyderabad. There are many broken statues on the tank bund and the damaged pedestals are shabbily looking at them.)

Gandhi. What is this? Last time when we visited this place this was beautiful. It looks as if some battle has taken place.

Patel. True Bapu. There was an agitation recently by Telanganites. Some miscreants from the agitation broke all these statues.

Gandhi. That is bad. What these statues have done?

Patel. They know it better. Most of the statues belonging to Andhra and Seema region have been defaced and broken.

Gandhi. Iam unhappy with this shameful act.

Patel. Bapu. Your feeling ashamed has no meaning. Who is bothered for you know? You are still living in some false world./ The Indians have already forgotten Gandhi. They know only Rajiv Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and more so Sonia Gandhi.

Gandhi. This is my misfortune that Iam still around.eee..e.e…e…eeee…

Patel. Bapu. Relax. Take things easy

( Bapu looks at a statue and the statue winks at him. Bapu goes to statue.)

Gandhi. Bhai. Why are you winking at me. Who are you? You appear to be a king from your dress.

Statue. True. Iam Abul Hasan Kutubshah, the last ruler of Golconda kingdom. Iam also called Tanasha meaning nice sultan.

Gandhi. That is fine sir. You are spared in the agitation.

Tanasha. Iam from Telangana and more over I am from Hyderabad city and also from minority community. I am safe.

Gandhi. Now I understand. The statues of Maqdoom Mohiuddin, the urdu poet and merry going Mahboob Ali Pasha, the 6 th Nizam of Hyderabbad are also safe from the hands of mad crowd.

Tanasha. If Andhrites hold agitation at Tank bund in, future I am sure my statue will be thrown into this dirty pond.

Patel. I doubt that can happen. No where in Andhra region your statue is erected. You have local influence. So You are safe. So also with others.

Gandhi. You became more popular with your PM Madanna and his brother Akkanna.

Tanasha. True. They were good administrators.

Patel. If they were so popular, why their statues were not erected on this tank bund.

Tanasha. There are some politics in this issue. Akkanna and Madanna brothers are although claimed to be Telugu nobles, there is also an argument that they were in fact Maharashtrian Brahamans. Secondly they were assassinated on the streets of Golconda and their death was very cruel and their bodies were dragged on streets and their heads were cut off and sent to the son of Aurangzeb who in turn sent them to Aurangzeb at Ahmed nagar or Aurangabad. The heads were crushed under the feet of an elephant in front of his troops. Thus they vanished into history unsung and the modern telugus guys do not pay much attention to them except paying some lip sympathy to them. I became famous by Bhadrachalam Ramdass episode.

Gandhi. I heard so. You are lucky to have a statue here.

Tanasha. What is so great about it? The dirty lake is infront of us and whole day and night dirty smell surrounds us. In the night we find whores, prostitues and pimps squat around my statue.

Patel. Some variety is there. Hee..hee..

Gandhi. Patel. Please do not talk to the sultan in this way. We must respect him. He was nice king unlike mad guy Aurangzeb

Patel. Bapu. How come you are critical of Aurangzeb?

Gandhi. Some of his qualities were not good.

Patel. This is strange from you. Any how it is up to you.

( They are suddenly confronted by some police guys)

Constable. Who are you guys? I am Seetha Ram. Why are you staring at this statue? I have been watching you guys for the last fifteen minutes.Are you planning something dirty with the statue?

Gandhi. Can’t we look at him?

Seetha Ram. What is there to look at him so long?

Patel. We were talking to sultan.

Seetha Ram. Are you mad guys? How can you talk to a statue?

Gandhi. You will not believe. The statue spoke to us.

Seetha ram. You guys must be cranks. Better go from here. We are here to safeguard the remaining statues after destruction.

Gandhi. You guys are not required now. The remaining statues are of Telanganites. Who will touch them? You guys looked at the destruction without any action..

Seetha Ram . Andhrites or Seemites might do something to them.

Patel They have better things to do. They are busy building real estates around Hyderabad and making money.

Gandhi. It will be difficult to give Hyderabad to Telangana now.

Patel. True Andhrites and Seemites have great stake in Hyderabad. They poured money in real estate in twin cities. Will they leave it?

Gandhi. Never. That is why Telangana issue is being delayed. Government thinks that if decision is delayed the demand will die automatically.

Patel. I am surprised now. The Telangana issue appears to be dead. No one is talking about it. It is generally believed that Telugu guys are good starters, but bad finishers. This is evident from the Telangan agitation. It took off so well and now it has become a damp squib. Hee..heee.. Haa..haaa . There are no Bandhs and Hartal. All looks quiet. I think the guys have reconciled to their fate.

Gandhi. It is not like that. I alos heard that sufficient money has changed hands at various places. All political parties are divided on the issue. The MsLA and MsP from Telangana belonging to various political parties are divided. No one want to lead and take initiative. They are playing safe. Local Telangana MsLA from Congress party are without voice. They have been cut to size and their throats have been squeezed. MsLA from TDP from Telangana are playing safe. They are cats on wall. They can not resign and show a common front to achieve Telangana . Every one is playing safe and no doubt is selfish. If Telangana is formed TDP has no existence. If they resign and lead they know that they will be on the roads if Telangana is not formed.

Patel. They will be on streets where they should belong in fact.

Gandhi. They have to jump into other parties like TRS. They will be third rate leaders there. They can never become ministers there. Their dreams of getting berths in Telangana will be thrown into dust. The govt has played all dirty tricks. After all this is a murky game. Why they should not play? There is saying that Ravana was all the time worried about Ram. Similarly, Congress party is all the time worried about Jagan. The Jagan issue is thus also there troubling them. He has become a nightmare. They are shit scared of him although they pose brave. He has money and can buy any one at appropriate moment. If Telangana is formed, congress will have no face in Andhra and Seema and they will be thrown out in next elections.

Patel. Any how it is a good past time for Hyderabadis. A good Tamasha for the locals.

Gandhi. Politics itself is good past time for crooks. There may be fistful of good people in politics also. Most of them are opportunists and cats on wall.

(Suddenly a cat jumps over the shoulder of Gandhi mewing .It kisses Gandhi on Cheeks and jumps off. He laughs loudly)

Seetha Ram. OK Guys. You have discussed enough. It is getting late. You can not stay here for long. Better go home or come to police station for night stay.

Patel. No Thanks. We shall go home. Bye

(Gandhi, Patel and Nehru walks off singing Ramdhun)

CURTAIN FALLS