The Politics of Politics

     We had to leave to Udaipur from our village, Sarada, 60 Kms away, on the day when Mr Narendra Modi was expected to visit the city to address the people. When I came to know about it the previous day, I was made aware of the fact that roads leading into the city would be blocked. This did not strike me as something of great importance as, back in Bangalore, I have witnessed ministers coming to the city on many occasions. However, the full magnitude of the effect of a minister of Mr. Modi's stature's visit became evident only the next day.

     Usually what happens when we decide to leave to the city is that we book a car and we dump our luggage and we take our bikes. However, today, we realised that there was no car available at all. All the cars were booked by other people- well in advance- to make the trip to Udaipur, to witness Mr Modi in action. We frantically searched for a car as otherwise we would have to take the bus  which would leave us more than 7kms away from our lodging, and apparently in the city, all modes of public transport were frozen  for as long as Mr Modi was in the city. Finally, when we saw that there was no other option available, we agreed to reach Udaipur in a goods pick-up (which, otherwise, carried cattle).

     As we began our journey, it became clear that almost every tourist vehicle around Udaipur had been hired by people to make the historic visit to see the prospective future Prime Minister of India. And when I say almost every other tourist vehicle, I mean EVERY vehicle. There were rows and rows of cars and busses that overtook us on our way to the city. There were almost 5 more people crammed in every car and there were people sitting on roof tops of the busses (occasionally shouting slogans of Mr Modi, of course). While I was smitten by the allegiance that these people pledged to him, a friend pointed out to me that in more than just a couple of the busses, the roof was full of people while seats were vacant inside. This brought me face to face with some harsh realities of the world of politics. For all I know, it was money and orders that I mistook for faithful allegiance. However, I tried to not believe it. I tried hard.

     And then, finally, we reached the entrance of the city. It did not take me long to see the huge sea of people walking on the road. As mentioned earlier, all vehicles leading into the city were stopped at the entrance of the city. All these people would have had to get down from their cars/busses and walk for 6-7 kilometers to reach the ground where Mr Modi was to give his speech.  It was a sorry sight to see really old people walking aimlessly, being shouted at by the police who were stationed everywhere. How many of them really wanted to see Mr Modi speak and how many were promised food/money/alcohol/ all of these? Even if they were just ordered to come along, why did they have to be made to walk for so long a distance? Who needs whom, here?

     For a moment I managed to convince myself into believing that these people were here, really, to watch Mr Modi. Even then, I only had pity for these people. They are going there only to be incited; to be given big promises; to be brainwashed. Why is it that we are so gullible? Did Mr Modi really care about the fact that these people have come from so far away and walked for so long in the city (probably without food and water) and stood for so long? Did Mr Modi care for the fact that they would now have to walk back just as long and travel back just as far away to reach home? I guess not. Because if he did, he would have not blocked any and every entry into the city. Unless, of course, he didn’t know how exactly, and from where his 'followers' would be coming, and I think that was highly unlikely. Once he began giving his speech, there was the usual cheering and clapping when he delivered a powerful (read as inciting) dialogue (read as  stab at Congress). Just listening to him speak was amazing because his entire speech consisted of taking digs at the opposition i.e., Congress. There was so much hatred being generated and delivered that it looked like as if it were a speech before an army went at war with the enemies.  Not once did he mention as to what was  really needed to be done or what BJP was thinking of doing if it came to power. Now that I think about it, I see that it has become a trend today, to deliver speeches of hate and criticism of the opposition. 

That is a pity, if you ask me.

A real pity. 

I mean, haven't our parents always scolded us for being tell-tales?