I know I have been absconding for sometime now. No reason in particular really, just didn't feel like pressing that publish button even if I wrote a bit. But my surroundings are in a constant state of vertigo and I am goaded to write - finally!
There is a battle on two fronts really here. And while one is more enjoyable, the other - pungent. While the former can be ignored and is often not, the latter cannot be ignored but often is. And that is India's plight. And the motley of characters pitching in their own areas in both the 'battlefields' is a scene no doubt. The first is the IPL or as the newspapers put it the NRIPL, and the second is India's general elections. And while the drama is enfolding on both the fronts, I pause to write.
The gamut of players on both the fronts are, permit me to say, larger than life and their prowess is yet to unfold. Yet, you see certain streaks. I do not claim to know much about cricket, but I can surely speak of politics. Sharad turns the renegade again, I very vividly remember the time he quit from the INC on the grounds of Sonia Gandhi's nationality (1999). Now he seeks alliance with another 'turncoat', and is almost in tow with the Left parties. BJP does not seem to know where it is heading, fumbling along nothing really. Advani seems to be busy throwing brick-bats at Manmohan Singh. But of the last things I ever expected, was to see someone as educated as Manmohan Singh to actually react to Advani's comments in the way he did. An affronted Manmohan ignores Advani in a public meeting - highly unchaste - so I think. And then again you have 'apla munnabhai', who is leaving no stone unturned in his debut as a politician. You can see him using all the communal cards very well. Thank God he wasn't allowed to contest the elections. And untill the elections are over a lot more will billow within the political folds. Wonder how many will do the democracy dance the Chiranjeevi style!
And while purple and orange caps do their rounds at the IPL, the political scene is complex. Pune went to polls today and I cast my vote. A number of rich affluent neighbours of mine haven't, alas. And in the DP road slums, votes were bought for Rs 300, my maid informed.
To the politicians, who change their colour at the fancy of their will and advantage, here is an extract from my favouriate all time story:
`Who are YOU?' said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, `I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'
`What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. `Explain yourself!'
`I can't explain MYSELF, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, `because I'm not myself, you see.'
`I don't see,' said the Caterpillar.
`I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly,' Alice replied very politely, `for I can't understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.'
`It isn't,' said the Caterpillar.
`Well, perhaps you haven't found it so yet,' said Alice; `but when you have to turn into a chrysalis--you will some day, you know--and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you'll feel it a little queer, won't you?'
'Not a bit' said the Caterpillar.
Somehow they do not understand!
This summer I hear the mangoes are very few - thanks to the cliamte change.
Those few in the market - are sour!
