INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN..118

 

                                                    
Dr K Prabhakar Rao                                              

 

 

(In a room Field Marshals Sam Manekshaw and Cariappa are
seen conversing)

 

Cariappa. You said retired army guys are fit to right
poetry. But not all are good at English. Then what they will do?

 

Sam.   I know many do
not do any thing. I know some Major Generals joined some political parties.
Nothing came through. They were not given higher positions.

Then what happens? They fumed and fretted and kept mouths
shut.

 

Cariappa. I know. These guys have lot of ego. Every where
they have to be at number one. Once you leave your uniform you are along with
every one in a political party.  You are
not known in public. If you stand independently who would vote for you? You
stand in queue everywhere.

 

Sam. Haa.. Haa. Not even your wife.

 

Cariappa. Some spend some time as chief guests at  some functions. That is also short lived as time
goes on.

 

Sam. Yeah. You can not be at top all the time.

 

Cariappa. That is possible only in civil politics where
certain dynasties rule.

 

             In the
mean time some Marshal music is heard. Chod Chalo oh Duniya wallo Hindustan hamara Hai.. … is played at high tone  Then walks in Netaji Subhas Chadra Bose
in  Jack boots and  in uniform of INA with a Japanese pistol  at the belt.

 

Subhas. Hello Marshals, Good morning. How are you?

 

Sam. ( Gets up smartly and salutes) Good morning sir. I am
honored.

 

Subahs. ( Goes to Cariappa who is unable to get up . Places
his hand on him and comforts him) Hello Marshal. Do not take trouble. You
already had enough with guys in India.

 

Cariappa. Good morning sir. I am unable to salute you. I am
weak. I can not even lift my hand properly. See sir ! My hand is
trembling.  I remember Prof Colonel Dr
Prabhakar Rao’s poem…(Sings):

 

Life in army is
compared to a golden jail

Where finally
all are bound to get sick and pale

They go through
service of a long cruise

Then come out
like a tomato sucked off it’s tasty juice

Thrown off the
service at an young age

We expect them
to become soon a sage

Outside world
that holds them as the great heroes

Now treat them
alas! As big blob and zeroes

 

Netaji. Marshal Just relax. Forget what were you in past
Know that you are now just a physical wreck and sick and pale and neglected
too. I just now over heard your conversation from the door when I stepped in.
You were telling about dynastic rule.

 

Cariappa. True. I was saying some families always rule in India.
Others do only   boot licking to be
precise.

 

Sam. Son of a person from some families always are top
leaders 

 

Cariappa. That is the psychological degradation in Indian
masses. They are more slavish. They live on past glories and give credit
accordingly to the sons and daughters.

 

Netaji. That is perfectly said. Just see the Indian leaders
one after the other. There is a chain of succession.

 

Sam. Yeah.. Mughals died long ago. But soon a new dynasty
started off.

 

Cariappa. It happens only in India.  We are 
more sentimental and slavish too. Look, in America
they worship Washington.
But Washington’s
children did not become Presidents. Kennedy’s 
kin are not presidents.

 

Sam. Same is the case with England.

 

Netaji. (Takes a deep breath) What I can say? I have seen
things from very close.  I am the witness
to the growth of  some important
persons  during freedom movement who are
still ruling and  getting ready to rule.

 

Cariappa. Now a days some one is being called Yuv Raj.
A  practice from  kingdoms.

 

Netaji. Look Marshal. The stooges in the political party
want to appease the top guys. It is sad that even senior guys from the party
resort to this type of bootlicking to gain favors

 

Sam. Sir this is the Indian trait

 

Netaji. Look. Although Winston Churchill led England
to victory in World War II he lost the elections. In India guys get elected on some ones
name eternally. They hang on till die. They rule lying on stretchers too.Even
with Oxygen masks  in a hospital they
want to rule.

 

Sam. Although they mucked up Indian security in 1962

 

Cariappa.True.

 

Indian army was butchered 
in the past

At some places they fought to the last

Nehru was sad and atlast 
gave up his  soul

But no one had guts and shouted foul

 

The dynasty  goes on
to rule

People in elections become a fool

The same old faces are again on the screen

Although they are sick with damaged spleen

 

Sam. ( Showing his right up right thumb) Sir well sung.
Three cheers to you

 

Netaji. You guys appear to be good at poetry

 

Cariappa. What else we can do? No one wants our advice.

 

Netaji. I heard there is some trouble in army over pay
commission reports

 

Sam. Yes sir. We were discussing that before you came in

 

Netaji. Nothing new. Days have changed. INA soldiers were
different . They were fighters for freedom. Indian army also has laid down many
lives during last  four wars  and internal security  commitments

 

Sam. Thanks for your kind words sir

 

Netaji. It is OK. It is so sad that Army had to shout and Ex
servicemen have to demonstrate for extra coppers. What a shame in India

 

Sam. It is said Army is under civil control.

 

Cariappa. But looks like under civilan Babu control as I
read in news paper.

 

Netaji. I know India is heading for trouble soon.

 

Cariappa. Sir What type of trouble?

 

Netaji. When army demads higher pay which should have come
automatically, it is the last straw. Down fall has already commenced.  We have seen How Pakistan suffered and what
happens there

 

Sam. You expect similar things

 

Netaji. I do not wish. But  
is inevitable. No one can change fate

 

Cariappa. What a fate indeed?

 

Netaji. Thanks guys. Thanks for the company. God bless you.

 

Sam and Cariapa say Jai Hind and salute as Netaji goose
steps and walks off stiffly while    song
is played…. Chod Chalo Oh Duniya wallo
Hindostan Hamarahai…

Cariappa.. A befitting song for the dynastic rulers in India. Hindostan belongs to them
eternally. Others just suck own thumbs because they can not suck others thumbs.
Sam. Haa…. Haa… Heee.. Hee

(Cariappa gets up from bed and holds hand of Sam. Then both
sing…. Hindostan hamara hai … Naa. Hindostan tumhara hai… Chod Chalo.. Chod
Chalo.. They do some crazy steps and get tired. Both slump to the ground)

 

                                                 
CURTAIN DROPS

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