The Maharashtra soap opera

I remember this movie showed on Doordarshan in the year 1987, the only TV Channel available in India. Its name -  YEH WOH MANZIL TO NAGIN, loosely translated "This is not the goal we envisioned". 

In that movie, a group of friends who have gracefully aged try to help a college rebel for the right cause played by the actor Pankaj Kapoor. Nasiruddin Shah was playing the negative role of a small time politician fiddling in student politics. At the end of the movie Pankaj Kapoor is killed betrayed by his own. It was a deja vu moment for the old men who planned a mutiny against the British but ended up by betraying their close friend who gets killed by the English ruler.

Moral of the movie - nothing much had changed in those 40 years between 1947 and 1987. Friends betrayed friends then, the next generation replicated the act years down the road. The movie aptly depicted this, contrasting the milieu of games of deception played in two different era but resulting in the same end game.

Betraying our own for cheap, myopic gains is in our blood. Otherwise everyone from Turks, Persians, Afghans, Mughals and British couldn't have defeated, looted and occupied us with impunity. The title of the movie perfectly captured the ethos and pathos of - our basic nature didn't change down the road.

Now fast forward to 2019. We can see the fortune of the aspirants for Maratha throne swings like pendulum every passing day. (I call this quest for power as a battle for throne in the guise of the hypocrisy called democracy). Current political drama is played in the state of Maharashtra when fortune favors one faction in the evening, but next morning the other faction is sworn at the Mantralay (Assembly).

The common man is a BHAKUA (gullible chap) who is enjoying this Soap opera from the sidelines. His mandate has gone to the dogs. My newsfeed is filled  Bhakts (blind supporters of BJP) having gleeful euphoria and multiple orgasms since last night, since as of now its advantage BJP. Those who oppose the party are down but not out, hopeful that the old, wily Fox Sharad Pawar has a surprise or two stored in his sleeves to have the last laugh. It ain't over until it's over. PICTURE ABHI BAAKI HAI (the movie is yet to end). Game on folks.

Whatever may happen, irrespective of the end result let's take a break from the drama and climax, rather relax and introspect. Aren't these folks supposed to respect our mandate ? Did we elect them for displaying these non stop nonsense histrionics which can give Ekta Kapoor's soap operas run for money, as the state administration lies paralyzed for weeks ? I haven't seen a single post highlighting this. All are busy watching the reality show. After all these Netas (leaders) we elect represent us only.

The democracy we envisoned is for namesake only and has a long way to mature. Abraham Lincoln famously said democracy is "Of the people, By the people, For the people". Under current circumstance it is - "OFF the People, BUY the People, FAR the People". YEH WOH MANZIL TO NAHIN. This is not the goal we dreamt off at independence. We got miles to go before we reach our much cherished destination.