INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...216

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…216
Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi, Nehru and patel are seen trekking the dense forest and mountainous areas near Panhala Fort . They are on hiking trip. They are dressed in usual manner, but are carrying some water and snacks too. All are carrying long walking sticks. At one place they find a grand statue that is imposing)

Gandhi. Oh Bhai Patel. Who is this gentleman? He appears inspiring and imposing too. Find out. See, He has swords in his both hands. That too they are heavy swords. Read the plaque.

( Patel goes to the pedestal and reads the name.)

Patel. Bapu. He is Senapathi ( General) Baji Prabhu Deshpande, the great Maratha warrior of Shivaji times.

Gandhi. Why his statue is installed here?

Patel. I am not sure why. He must have done some great deed around this place.. Jawaharlal ! Do you know anything about this area and history? You are known as historian after your book discovery of India.

Nehru. I am not sure. It is long time since I read and copied history into my discovery of India.

Patel. Hee..hee , Good admission in fact. That means you copied information into your discovery of India book.At last you admitted.

Nehru. Every writer in history copies. What is so amusing in this?

Patel. I vaguely remember his actions. He was a very brave General and warrior like Senapathi Tanaji Malsure of Sinhgarh fame.

( Suddenly they find the statue coming to life . Baji Prabhu comes to life and steps down fromthe pedestal and approaches the trio with swords flashing. Seeing this the trio is worried, but they put brave face.)

Baji Prabhu. Hello. Gentlemen, Who are you? You look like strangers. Iam Baji Prabhu, the senapathi of Shivaji Maharaj. You guys do not look like Maharashtrian.

Nehru. Is it necessary that we have to be Maharashtrian to visit this place?

Baji Prabhu. No.. No.. I did not mean that. Your dress indicates that you come from different land .

Patel. Sir, senapathiji, We are not from this place. We are from north India. We two are from Gujrat and Nehruji is from UP.

Baji Prabhu. Why re you struggling in this difficult area? This is not very safe place. Tigers roam in this forest.

Patel. What tigers can do to us? Humans are more dangerous that animals.

Baji Prabhu. You appear to be learned and practical.

Nehru. Time only will tell you sir.

Baji Prabhu. That means you are not sure of his intelligence.

Gandhi. Sir Why your statue is erected here? In fact statues of all famous men are erected in big cities at important places.

Baji Prabhu. I was the fort commander of Panhala Fort and this fort was encircled by Bijapur troops when Shivaji Maharaj was in the fort. Chatrapathi Maharaj could not escape from this place for long and it became very dangerous for him. Finally on one night he escaped from the fort in Darkness with troops and were chased by troops of Bijapur. I ensured that Shivaji raje escaped to Vishalgarh fort while I along with some troops held up the enemy and fought till each one of us died. I also died in this battle. But Raje was safe.

Patel. How great were you sir!

Baji Prabhu. We were not great. We did our duty for our Raje.

Patel. You are too humble sir.

Baji Prabhu. You know better. We do not claim any credit. Chatrapathi Maharaj was a very great warrior king. But for him, India would have been Islamized.

Patel. I remember a poem from a book and I remember it was penned by Kavi bhushan
( Sings)

Kashiji ki kala jaati
Mathura Maszid hoti
Shivaji Raje naa hothe tho
Sunnat hothee sabkee

Gandhi. I know this poem. This book was also banned for some time at the time of partition if I am correct.

Baji Prabhu. Look. In our times each and every soldier was reday to sacrifice his life for Chatrapathi maharaj. Are people ready now in this country to die for nation?
Patel. Why not? Iam sure every one is ready. But I can not say about some sections like SIMI. Darhgah E shahdat, and other terrorist outfits of Kashmir areas.Theya re after breaking this nation again.

Baji Prabhu. Look. I laid down my life along with my men to enable Chatrapathi to escape the net of Bijapur troops. Are your men ready for such things?

Patel. I have something to say. Recently there was great scam called 2 G spectrum scam in India and there was hue and cry around.

Baji Prabhu. What is this scam? I can not understand modern languages. Plesea explain in simple way or in Marathi.

Patel. I shall explain to you sir. Scam means Hera Pheri in dealings with traders. 2 G spectrum is the name of scam identified with some trade by govt agencies with other organizations who are given the trade orders.

Baji Prabhu. That means it is corruption. I mean they were cheats. Ghoos ( Bribe) khatehai ( Eat). How bad and horrible! Is this India?

Patel. Exactly sir. Opposition parties in parliament made and hue and cry about this scam after one senior guy revealed the scam.

Baji Prabhu. So the king must have punished the offenders.

Patel. There is no king in India in fact. We have Prime Minister elected from the largest party that governs the nation at the centre. Although he is PM at present he does not enjoy any power. He is a puppet. He is yes master to a power that acts from behind the screen.

Baji Prabhu. Such things were present in past too. But the present guy is probably not intelligent.

Patel. No .. No sir. He is highly brilliant guy and a great economist of international reputation. Only thing is that he can not win election on his own. He has to be nominated to upper house. He thus gets back door entry to power. I remember that during the rule of wretched Mughal emperor Zahandarshah at Delhi a concubine named Lal kumari of ill virtue and she was the force behind the screen. She dictated to govt what to do.

Baji Prabhu. Of course every one knows about Noor jehan during the reign of Mughal emperor Jehangir.

Patel. True sir. Very well said.

Baji Prabhu. What happened to the corrupt guys in the scam.

Patel. The ministers in cabinet tried their best to avoid the issue, down play the scam and protect the scamsters. At some stage even PM was indicted. All the ministers who are simple stooges did their best to side line the issue and shouted down the opposition.

Baji Prabhu. That means some loyalty is still thre in the ministers to protect their leaders.

Patel. Sir , but it is not sacrifice like you displayed for Shivaji Maharaj. These guys are trying to save scamsters and save inefficient govt.

Baji Prabhu. If Shivaji Raje was there he would have sent the scamsters and abettors to gallows.

Patel. Probably he preferred to blow them by cannon.

Baji Prabhu. True. All anti nationals were blown up like thus. Lesser criminals were pushed down from the ramparts of Raigarh fort and hanging was also there. Beheading also was common.

Patel. We do not have such punishments now in India. In fact we are scared to hang even anti nationals and men who commit treason.

Baji Prabhu. During our time death was the only punishment to such men. You guys appear to be spineless men.

Gandhi. Baji sahib, India is much changed now. There are no kings now. Democracy prevails. Any one can rise to PMs Position.Govt does not run on fancies. There is a rule of law.

Patel. Bapu. Is it possible? I could not become Pm even in that democracy. You played game and Jawaharlal was made.

Gandhi. At times it happens.

Patel. Bapu. This is a bogus democracy. Only the guys with money can rise and win elections. Criminals get party tickets, Bootlickers become ministers. Chors get important positions in society. You very well know about Swiss accounts.

Baji Prabhu. Is this so bad? I am ashamed to know this. I am lucky I am not born in this time. I served Raje and died glorious death. Your ministers and leaders are dying every minute and every second by doing all wrong things. Why live such shameful life. God will not forgive you guys.

Gandhi. What I can say?

Baji Prabhu. We sacrificed everything for establishing Maratha Hindu kingdom when Aurangzeb was at peak of his career and was persecuting Hindus. We had to live by sword all the time. You guys are having nice time. The present guys can not handle a sword and shield. They can not even lift the sword, forget about swinging it effectively. What type of race you have! Shame.. shame

Patel. Bhai sahib. Kindly forgive us.

Baji Prabhu. By the by, why you guys are here?

Gandhi. We came to see Panhala fort.

Baji Prabhu. You will find it difficult to climb it. Any how you may try. It needs determination. Do you have stamina? You look so weak.

Gandhi. Sir, We shall surely go there.

Baji Prabhu. Best of luck. Please pray to Shivaji Maharaj and say Jai Bhavani and Chatrapathi shivaji Maharaj ki Jai and climb the fort hill. You will succeed.I am sure.

Gandhi. OK sir. Thanks.

( Baji Prabhu suddenly turns into a stature over the pedestal)

( Gandhi, Patel and Nehru start climbing the fort .They look pulled down )

CURTAIN FALLS