INTO THE PAST WITH PAIN…...
111.. ( Part I )

 

                                           Dr K
Prabhakar Rao

 

(  Indira Gandhi,
Nehru,   Rajeev Gandhi and General
Sundeerjee are seen sitting in a room in heavens)

 

Nehru. I hope  Bapu is
fine .

Indira. I am sure Mahadev desai will accompany Bapu and Take
part in discussions

 

Sunderjee. I am sure he will do it. But Bapu has become very
sick.

 

Nehru. What to do?

 

( Mahadev Desai brings Bapu in a wheel chair. Bapu appears
alert. He is seen reciting Ramdhun and occasionally blinking too. Every one
gets up and wishes Bapu)

 

Bapu. I am sure all of you are fine. Please do not worry
about me.  I have been like this ever
since I  came to heavens after getting
shot down by Godse. I am very grateful to him for shooting me down

 

Nehru. Bapu. Please do not say that. We are hurt.

 

Gandhi. If Godse has not killed me then probably I would
have committed suicide unable to see the fall in standards in India, particularly in political
leaders.( He looks  at sky).. Oh Godse
sahib. Where are you? I am greatly indebted to you. You were so sure and prompt
and determined too. You made sure that I died without saying a word. I am very
thankful to you for that. I am happy that you did not make half hearted attempt
on me as done by some guy by throwing bomb at me earlier. I am happy that you
used a good Italian semi auto pistol that ensured that I died on the spot.

 

Indira. Bapu. Please do not be so harsh on us. Changes do
occur in any country. Political degradation is very common in all countries. So
is India

 

Gandhi. Indira. Please stay quiet. I am already upset with
happenings in India
after my death.

 

( In the mean time, great Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in full
INA uniform walks- in goose stepping. Marshal music is heard. Indira and Rajiv
rise and greet Netaji with folded hands. General Sunderjee  looks 
lost and after hesitating for few seconds smartly salutes. Netaji. Subhash
wishes Bapu and Nehru. Nehru walks to Netaji and embraces him. Tears roll down
from their eyes. Bapu tries to get up, but he is too weak. Subhas goes to
Bapu.)

 

Subhas, Jai hind Bapu. Sorry to see you in this state. You
have taken things to heart.

 

Gandhi. So many years have passed since I saw you. Where
were you?  Jawaharlal and you were my
eyes. When you left India
I felt that I lost one eye. Cries.. eee..eeee…ee..aaa…aaaaa

 

Subhas. What to do Bapu? Our aim was to get independence. I
felt that your theory of non violence would not work. I thought that the
English men should be bodily thrown out and World War II was an opportunity for
me.

 

Nehru. But you could not succeed. What is the use?

 

Subhas.  Jawaharlal.
Some times one becomes victim of circumstances. No one thought that Japanese
would surrender. Who imagined that USA
would bomb Nagasaki and Hiroshima? That made big difference. Every
one was sure that it was a matter of time for surrender of British Army in India.
We were already in India
at east. I also established Azad Hindustan in Singapore. The foundations of
British crown  were severely shaken and
they knew that their rule in India
was short lived..

 

Nehru. You were with axis powers and many doubted you.

 

Subhas. I joined Hitler to throw out the English and get
independence. I would have re established democracy if I succeeded. I never
wanted to be a dictator. It is a different story that Hitler failed in his
mission.

 

Gandhi. Many doubted you.

 

Subhas. Bapu. Many think many things, we can not stop them.
I failed to liberate India
with the help of Japanese.

 

 ( In the mean time
Major Gen Shah Nawaz khan of INA enters the room. Marshal music is also heard.
He smartly salutes subhas and Gandhiji. To others he says hello including
General Sunderjee.)

 

Nawaz. Look friends. What a sorry state today. We gave
democracy to India
and see what is there today?

 

Subhas. A country that gets freedom by begging will never
understand the meaning of freedom and would value it. They would surely misuse
it. That is happening now. All though I like democracy, Indians have misused
it. We have not risen to occasion. Dynastic rules have become order of the day.
I knew this would happen. It is a shame and disgusting too.

 

Nehru. Are you referring to me?

 

Subhas. I did not say about you in particular.

 

Nehru. We feel bad because your views are different and do
not conform to that of Bapu. 

Nawaz. Every one will have their views. We can not stop
them. Netaji has been a great fighter and leader and fought for freedom of India.
Yet the government in India
has own views and underplayed his memor.

 

Nehru. What you want to say General? Be specific.

 

Nawaz. I shall surely say. I have no regrets.

 

Subhas, Why he should tell? I shall reveal truth.

 

Gandhi. Subhash.What is that truth which I do not know?

 

Subhash. You guys have underplayed my memory. There was systematic
white washing of my achievements .  In
the school text books my deeds and role have been omitted. My achievements are
written in one sentence. Deeds of INA are ignored Even Indian parliament failed
to display my photograph for many years while all nuts and bolts were
displayed. Why it should be like that?

 

Nehru. I do not want to say anything on this issue.

 

Nawaz. I am not demanding any memorial for us. But I am only
trying to bring out  that injustice done
to the memory of Netaji by the Indian leaders and govt.

 

Subhas. Gen Nawaz. We should not hurt their sentiments.
Whether some one appreciates the greatness of INA or not, these memorials have
no meaning. In the melee of Bapus grave all will be lost. The dignitaries
visiting India
would be lost in visiting the graves one by one. First they go to Rajghat, then
to Shativan, Sanjay’s Samadhi, Indira’s Samadhi (shaktisthal), Rajiv Samadhi,
May more will soon come. The spend whole day visiting the graves and then will
fly off in the evening.   I do not want to be in that crowd.

 

Nawaz. Hee…heee…heee Well said sir.. Sir in that case future
generations will forget us.

 

Subhas. Our memory is immortal. People are remembered by
their deeds. Not by their graves.

 

Gandhi. Very well said Subhash. You hit the nail. I feel now
very much for you. How much difference would have made if you stayed with us. History  of India would have been different.
But the God felt differently

 

Nehru. Or else, how I would have become the PM of free India? How I
would have established my dynasty?…. Bapu I am not feeling well. I want to go

 

Indira. Dad  I also
want to come

 

Rajiv. Grand pa and mom I am also coming.

 

Subhash. You guys .Do not run away. Face realities

 

Gandhi. Rajiv. You stay back. I have work with you.

 

Sunderje. May I go sir?

 

Gnadhi. You can not go like this. I got you here. If you try
to go, you will be dead

 

Sunderjee.. eee…eeee… Bapu. Please save me. I do not want to
die.

 

Subhas. Relax. General Why are you scared of death? You are
a military man. You know INA soldiers just walked to death on just a word.. ‘Delhi Chalo”. That was
the spirit they had.. I do not know what type of stuff you are made of.

 

Gandhi . Bose. Leave him alone. Sunderjee. Be ready. I shall
send you to India.
You can enjoy Ooty again. You are not of much use to us here. I think there is
no fear of Sikh Militants. I think they forgot you. They might have thought why
kill a dead man. Probably they thought bullets will be wasted.

 

Sunderjee. Thanks Bapu.

 

(Gandhi closes his eyes, utters few words with in him… “choomatar.
Abracadabra.. Ramm.. Ram apna.. Sunderjee Bhagana … oofff…oofff”. Sunderjee
vanishes)

 

 

 

Continued

---------------- Note: Content of this blog post is writer's personal opinion and may not be SanghParivar.org or Sangh's view.