INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN...228

INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…228

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

(Gandhi, Nehru and patel are seen walking on Delhi’s old market behind Red fort on Sunday. There are many things kept on road and are being sold. At one place a vendor is seen playing an old HMV Gramophone of spring winding type with 78 RPM records. The song blares out from trumpet cone.)

Iss Duniya mein hai sab chor chor

Koyi anda chor Koyee Murgee chor

Iss Duniya mein hai sab chor chor

Haa Duniya mein sab chor chor

Gandhi. Look Patel, What that singer says in this witty song

Patel. Mere Bapu. What he said is true

Gandhi. That implies to us also.

Patel. What can I say? You know it better.

Gandhi. I may not agree to it fully. There are so many Mahatmas born in this land. Sankaracharya, Buddha, Ram, various saints, Vivekananda, Ramakrishna, Ramdass, Ramananda, Dayananda,…. The list is long. How about them? The singer is not fair surely.

Patel. Bapu. That is a comic song. Please do not take it to heart. Our heart should be clear. Chor does not mean a thief who robs some one off his money. Krishna was a Makhan chor. Many songs were composed with word Makhan chor. Are we not worshipping him as God?

Gandhi. True.

( The trio goes to the vendor and Nehru purchases the record )

Patel. What will you do with this. Purchase Gramophone alos.

Nehru. Bapu has one in his room. Keep seeing now

( Nehru tries to break the record and patel prevents him

Patel. Come on Jawaharlal, Why are you breaking? What will you gain?

Nehru. I shall break this and get rid off this shitty song. He says every one is a thief. Am I a thief? What shit he is singing?

Patel. How many records can you break?. This song is now available on some CD and cassettes also. Haa..haaa…

Gandhi. What Patel says is true. Plesae cool down Jawaharlal.

( Nehru keeps the record with him)

Gandhi. I accept that this was a comic song and can not be accepted as universal truth.

Patel. I agree Bapu. There are many good people also in this world. I shall modify this song ( sings)

Iss Duniya mein bahuth chor chor
Koi anda chor Koyee Murgee chor
……

Gandhi. That is good. This is moderate and fine too. It is not offensive now.

Patel. Bapu. In present political system in India this song in original version is more relevant.

Gandhi. I agree. Now I shall modify this song. Listen ( sings)

Iss duniyan mein kuch ache log.
Kuch ache log bahut bure log… suno
Iss duniyan mein kuch ache log

Patel. Hera.. Hera.. Great Bapu. Great.

Gandhi. Thanks dear.

Patel. Look Bapu. Now the political system is so bad. Look at the govt. There are neck deep in scams. They are struggling like fish out of water and making all efforts in convincing people that they are at fighting corruption.

Gandhi. I know that. But this is all politics. Opposition tries to corner govt always. When BJP was in power congress also raised hue and cry. Once Mukherjee shouted that BJP had no face to point at Congress as they were tarnished with Tehelca.

Patel. But it can not take away right for pointing out corruption. Aim is to cleanse the system.

Gandhi. Do you believe they can do it?

Patel. Let us hope. By the time the investigations make some progress next elections will be due and all will be forgotten. In politics no one is a permanent foe and permanent friend.

Gandhi. Haa..Haaa.

Nehru. Do you guys have any thing else to talk here.

Patel. What else can be there? This is politics. Aim is to destabilize the other guy and throw mud as much as possible. ( sings)

There is plenty of mud everywhere
All this at others is thrown
The guys are kept on toes
Common man in despair is found to moan

Gandhi. Well said. I am proud of you. You are appropriate to the occasion. None cares for a common man. They are like gun fodder and chicken at butchers shop ( Now stylishly called Chicken centre)

Patel. Bapu. Let us move from here. We spent lot of time discussing this and that.

Gandhi. Let us go.

( The trio walks away singing Ramdhun)

CURTAIN FALLS