Monday, August 17, 2015

Revenge Reloaded


While Sholay completed forty years, we completed sixty-eight years of independence. Like Sholay, revenge - a pet Bollywood theme played in the Indian Parliament. But, with several twists.

Wo 44 aur tum 280, phir bhi GST pass nahi kara paye?
Before your imagination runs away to Ramgarh, know that Gabbar here is not a person. Instead, he is symbolic of all that is wrong with our governance. Whether the Thakur is from the BJP or the Congress, when in power, he is helpless without the hands of the opposition. 


The monsoon session of the house resembled a battle zone, said President, Pranab Mukherjee. No, he didn’t use the Sholay analogy but like most of us, he lamented the waste of the monsoon session. Returning from a sabbatical, riding the Congress horse, God’s gift to mankind, Rahul was there to fight every cause, join every dharna and support every protest. From mobilizing farmers, to FTII, to municipal sweepers, to net neutrality, to OROP – Rahul Reloaded held an entire nation to ransom. Loaded with ammunition provided by news channels and cheat-sheets provided by party veterans, he threatened political ‘soocide’ unless Sushma Swaraj resigned. Despite being called an ‘expert without knowledge’, despite verbal bullets from Sushma’s oratorical armor, despite the social media jeers, the energized version of Rahul had only one thing on his mind. Revenge.

Those who had energized the Bunny, failed to understand that young India enjoys a tit-for-tat tale only in the theatres, and not in the Parliament. Funny, that a wise old party allowed its newly minted crusader to launch himself with an irrelevant idea that had demolished them in 2014. Why is it so difficult to understand that any hindrance that throttles the aspirations of Ramgarh, is unlikely to reap positive political dividends. No wonder, the messiah of causes was sent packing by ex-servicemen as they did not want their angst to be hijacked by any farcical photo-op.

As a bitter retribution saga played on, it was heartening to see leading businessmen sign a petition to put an end to the revenge politics. But wise Congress veterans ignored their pleas despite the fact that they need corporate tycoons to fight elections. They ignore the fact that every citizen aspires for a suit-boot, even if their Energized Bunny wants a pyjama party. How do you plan to win a battle when your basic strategy is flawed?

In the past forty years, while Bollywood has moved away from the script of revenge, our netas are stuck with the theatrics of revenge that does not resonate today. With both sides engaged in a bitter battle, Ramgarh is unlikely to get rid of Gabbar anytime soon. And it is not a reassuring thought at all. It seems as if the Congress is saying, ‘I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for’. Fine. Go ahead and hate each other more than you care for us. But know that the man who seeks revenge digs two graves. 


23 comments:

  1. Witty but the harsh truth could not be told better, Alka!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loved it! I couldn't help laughing and feeling sorry for India, both at the same time. The last line says it all - we're all digging our own grave.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The parliamentary dram was a shameful display of all that is wrong in the Indian political scene where the actual hard task of governance is always given a backseat to the nasty politicking of votebanks and opposing for the sake of opposing. Such an insult to a central institution of democracy! Such a waste! I have a feeling that the number 44 will be reduced to 4 after 4 years.
    Nicely written, Alka!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After Delhi, not sure about 44 to 4 Beloo. Anti incumbency will set in and if they go up from 44 under present leadership,it will be a sad day.
      It's an honor to see you here. Truly.

      Delete
  4. You've nailed it, Alka. Thakur is busy nowadays making Ramgarh go global and latest antics was in Dubai today. Parliament is such a farce nowadays with mudslinging and Momma boy's antics. This time, No Jai and Veeru to save the nation but the Junta itself:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm laughing at your post, but just like most of us, shocked at the disarray (and disgrace) that our political system brings us. Well written piece, Alka. Might I add, as always :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sid. Always a pleasure to see you here.

      Delete
  6. Big tamasha it has become these days...not that it was different in the past, but even worse...I hope the politicians realise it some day sooner.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Our so called netas cannot see beyond their petty motives.They even fail to see they are digging their own graves.Both the parties have boiled this horrible soup and the new boy on scene is equally disappointing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Makes on cynical. Kuch nahi ho Sakta wala mode.

      Delete
  8. Beautifully narrated Alka. Where is the time to think for development and other mundane things.. when there is revenge to think about ?

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a waste of the taxpayer's money! It fills me with contempt and disgust for those up there. And next you know they will pass a 300% salary hike for themselves. The apes!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I wish that performance could dictate pay for MPs. No work; no pay and we will see them scrambling to attend. It is also high time that attention was focused on their perks etc. I have nothing but contempt for every such legislator who behaves in this manner. Perhaps, they do not understand that we are watching.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your post sheds light on 2 things Alka:

    1. Bacche ke liye maa ka pyaar andhaa hota hai
    2. The Indian media will not stop until this country is mixed in the very coal that it is trying to mine.

    Gabbar here is Sonia, not the Congress. They're just a bunch of spineless "Maine aapka namak khaaya hai sarkaar" people. And Sonia thinks that her son can do no wrong. What remains to be seen is how swayed we are by the media, and how much we support what is right, or do we make Bunny our PM one day.

    ReplyDelete
  12. THe truth that is going on.. hard fact. Sadly we the people have also not been able to do anything about it .. because we tend to vote the same people again..


    Bikram's

    ReplyDelete