TALES OF TRAVESTY
DR. JITENDRA SINGH
For all these years, it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that was mocked by cynics as a party of protests and ‘‘Dharnas’’. Having been in opposition for most of the 66 years after independence, it was given to the BJP to accept the responsibility to agitate and come out on streets whenever there was a public outrage against ruling party’s apathy or indifference. And lo ! Now see, what is happening !
Every other political party is doing the same. It is no small coincidence that last three weeks have witnessed atleast three top leaders from the ruling polity sitting on a ‘‘Dharna’’ in New Delhi in full media glare. The Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi sitting on a ‘‘Dharna’’ at Jantar Mantar in support of North-East students. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sitting on a ‘‘Dharna’’ against police. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Reddy sitting on a ‘‘Dharna’’ in support of a united Andhra not yielding to a separate Telengana State.
The question, thereof , is… whether the best way for a minister or a Chief Minister or a ruling party high-up to identify with the aggrieved commoners is to himself sit on a ‘‘Dharna’’ with them and become a part of the agitation? If so, who then would be expected to address the grievance of agitators ? What is more important for a person in public life…. to appear aggrieved along with the aggrieved or to assume the responsibility of a doer and help redeem the grievance of the aggrieved? And what serves the nation best…..to act as a facilitator for better deliverance or to turn a liability for deliverance ? Remember…. when Mahatma Gandhi turned down the then Home Minister Sardar Patel’s advice not to travel in 3rd Class railway compartment because Bapu wished to travel with commoners even if it meant deployment of extra security, Sarojini Naidu had remarked, ‘‘India has to spend a fortune to keep the Mahatma poor’’.
The merit of democracy lies in its ability to allow adequate opportunity for expression of grievance as also adequate opportunity to climb up the ladder of hierachy. To that extent, perhaps, the Indian democracy is still too young to realize the essence of its real potential. The true test of Indian democracy having come of age lies in its ability to get over the feudal mind-set of erstwhile era of monarchy that encourages dynasty rule and at the same time the ability to call the bluff of populist symbolism which includes the current phenomenon of ‘‘white collared’’ Dharna.
Be that as it may, as long as it sells, ‘‘Dharna’’ is in vogue. The common man, however much aggrieved he may be, hardly needs to take to streets when his rulers themselves oblige him by sitting on a ‘‘Dharna’’. But the mute question is, whom will Umapathy expect to sit on a ‘‘Dharna’’ against the inconsequential ‘‘Dharna’’ of these big-wigs……a queer situation mimicking the 1960s lyric ‘‘……Aise Mein Kisko Kaun Manaye!’’
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