Have you ever played chess against a computer? You begin, cowered by the fact that the computer represents the combined knowledge of all the chess players of all times, its artificial intelligence and memory running into gigabyte making it almost invincible? Yet you advance your pawns, move your bishops and your knights jump into the fray. Your every move is matched with lightning alacrity by the machine and in no time you find yourself out maneuvered, out played and outflanked – gasping to save the King from the onslaught of an adversary who seems to know your every move, which in hindsight looks like a blunder even a child would not commit.
As I watch the political drama unfolding before us every evening on television, it is this game of chess that I find uncanny parallels with. In this checkered game of history being made, the “Shatranj ke Khilari’s” are not enacting the bold defiance of the Rani of Jhanshi, but look more and more like the act of a rag tag army with the helpless and hapless Bahadur Shah Zafar, hoist in his own petard, at the helm. Don’t be fooled by the blood curdling war cry and the saber rattling of a section of this force – these buccaneers are the rats from history’s sunken ships and are literally grinding their own axes, eager to divert attention from their self serving actions.
It was the first war of independence against the yoke of “Company” domination. Yet, the soldiers of fortune taking part were / are all, to some extent or the other, ones with their souls mortgaged to these “group” companies, such is the power of filthy lucre. And take a look at the star cast:
One, who claims to be a “mere, salaried employee” of the Company, was literally paid a king’s ransom to edit a paper that hardly anybody read. Another had a chosen colleague installed in the “company” at an equally obnoxious remuneration whose death is not only shrouded in mystery but is also a cause for serious consternation. While the sundry others had their hands in the till even while singing paeans to the Emperor: the freedom song, “remixed” and readied for the rowdies, with “jhankar” beats!
History tells us that the mighty Sikhs and the warlike Gorkhas could not be swayed to join the march, which to a very great extent had sealed the fate of the struggle, ensuring that it remain the last war of the Moguls and did not become the first war of the Indians. In this case too, Satraps who could have made a difference have stayed away: one as a “whistle blower” while the others giving a clarion call to clean the Augean Stables, that the party has now become. Snubbed in public, cut down in size in private and banished into insignificance, not to mention disgusted by the petty politicking, these “stalwarts”: seasoned campaigners all: are nursing their indignation and wounds, waiting for the opportune moment to bare their fangs.
The opposition which was in disarray having lost the popular mandate has regrouped, thanks to the callous and often unprecedented series of blunders bordering on imbecility:
- A turncoat rewarded with a berth in the ministry, having lost his legible claim to represent the constituency is allowed continue as a Minister flouting all norms of ethicality.
- A public representative implicated in the murder of a policeman goes underground, only to be arrested from a different state. However, his “Godfather” who had certified his innocence on record is allowed to continue in full regalia. The person accused of calling the man to action is rewarded with a plum municipal post. However full state honour was denied to his son, who died in “harness”, while making bombs for the D-day, when a local college was identified for the landing of the Allied forces, led by the General who was then and now in the Docks (no pun intended).
- Another party functionary, with a retinue of cases against him is accused of siding with the land grabbers and killing his own party man, too is arrested after what some allege, a compromised hunt. He is slipped out in parole to maintain the political status quo. Hush, hush!
- A student leader dies in police custody under deplorable circumstances. How ham handedly the heart wrenching situation was handled need not need my elucidation.
- The sanctum sanctorum of a temple of learning was desecrated by vandals brandishing the party flag. As a matter of fact, a responsible Minister went to the extent of questioning the “history and geography” of a lady, the Vice Chancellor of one of the most respected Universities of the land. He also spearheaded an absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for fight against the Election Commission and it is for history to record the drubbing that the move is going to be crowned with.
- The name of a prominent Minister got embroiled in the death of a “legal butterfly” (if one may coin a term, rhyming with social) who was obviously living beyond her stated financial capabilities. Why the lady, from humble beginnings, leading the life of a high roller hanged herself, allegedly after a heated altercation with an yet to be named lady (someone’s “other woman”?) is still in the backburner. Some every uncomfortable questions too are doing the rounds, clamoring for answers.
- However, the Chit Fund fiasco put everything else to shame. The way one “so-called” journalist has hogged the limelight for everything from journalism is perhaps without precedent anywhere in the world. INR 22,000 crores has been sucked into a black hole of greed, nepotism, pillage and outright loot. To put things in perspective all one needs to mention is the fact that this happened in a state that is financially on the verge of bankruptcy. And surprisingly, nobody claims to “know” anything while the loot was on, or while the majority was enjoying the largesse of the bandicoots.
To cut a long story short and to get back to the moot point, let’s get back to the spokespersons and the media managers who are entrusted with the onerous talk of defending this falling citadel against an array of armed adversaries. It is indeed a case of the rebel army taking on the might of the Company, that too with generals who are neither equipped nor capable. One used the word “deformation” in place of “defamation”. One set up the “Javelin Theory” and made remarks like “let’s catch Pappu first”, hiding behind empty political rhetoric and meaningless innuendo’s, unable to field coherent and logical explanations. Another who wanted to play the field certified an accused “fresh”, but is now eating humble pie with “fresh” accusations surfacing against him on a daily basis! It’s not even a soap opera – it’s more like a tearjerker in which their attempt at serious comedy make people cry out in disgust!
With such stalwarts conceding self goals, the historic mandate for change, the pitched battle that had delivered the coup de grace, the abject misrule of three decades, the pillage of Bengal that was unleashed by the Communists have all paled into insignificance. The table of hatred has turned full circle, thanks to a few right, honourable gentlemen and their ability to attract flack.
What now? How does one control the damage? Simple: change the spokes persons with immediate effect. Put the bumbling, foot in the mouth nincompoops in the cold storage and bring in sane, politically wise, media savvy faces to the fore. People who will not alienate the media, but will carry them to see things in the right perspective – help them shed their biases.
This is not alone. They must be empowered with transparent, above board actions that they can highlight. The rotten apples have to be discarded and the faster they are thrown away the better. And while throwing away these free-riders, make sure the events are built up as media do’s. Let the Romans and Countrymen cheer as the self seekers are thrown to the gallows.
Do not forget, it was such a gale that even 34 year old oaks were uprooted. Let no brokers or fixers harbour the mistaken thought that they are irreplaceable – I repeat, throw out the idiots and the knaves. Bring in the old guard and let no charlatan waylay the marching army by showing delusions of the Delhi Durbar. Forget about 2014. Concentrate on the now. The mandate was for change and there is work to be done. To turn Bengal into a Heaven on Earth, so that she can claim her rightful place by the dint of our honest hard work. Enough is enough, let’s start by getting the PR effort in place.