At first sight, house number B-5 in the posh Dilkusha Colony with pictures of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and ‘socialist factor’ inscribed at the main gates gives it a look of any SP leader’s residence. But this house, located near the Nawabi era Dilkusha Kothi, has a shrine dedicated to a ‘socialist cat’ — attracting visitors and even SP workers. A flag in SP colours — red and green — flutters where the cat is buried. The shrine belongs to ‘Lord Boca’, the pet cat of Frank Huzur — author of The Socialist: Mulayam Singh Yadav. He is currently working on his new book The Tipu Story: Akhilesh Yadav. Huzur has earlier written Imran Versus Imran-The Untold Story on former cricketer and Pakistani politician Imran Khan and its sequel The Fighter: Imran Khan besides a fiction Soho. Originally from Buxar in Bihar, Huzur now divides his time between London, Lucknow and Mumbai. Huzur, who has 28 cats, including 21 from Boca, has named them after personalities like socialist ideologue Lohia, Tipu — Akhilesh’s nickname — Stalin, Lenin, Napoleon and even Lalu Billa Westy. “It is not a matter of offence. They have been named on the basis of traits like sharpenss, friendliness and good habits. These personalities have also influenced humanity by their virtues,” he said. Though he hasn’t told the CM — whom he frequently meets — about the shrine, Huzur claimed his regular posts on social sites must have brought this Akhilesh’s notice. “Some SP leaders are surprised and amused but nobody has objected,” he said. Huzur claimed that he had constructed Boca’s tomb since it had divine powers and was a true socialist. “SP’s cycle symbol is not printed on the flag, though I could have done it. For me, red denotes romance and revolution while green is for peace and prosperity. it is a socialist flag,” he said. Odd SP workers and others frequent the tomb — decorated with 17 rose plants — place flowers before standing in silence for the departed cat. Huzur lives with his actress wife Fermina Mukta Singh and newborn son Marcos. “A few incidents occurred during the ninth month of Boca’s stay — he would smell everyone and cuddle with only a few whom I realised were good souls. Now, I feel Boca had some divine power. So, I put the word ‘Lord’ before his name to add the aura of divinity,” Huzur said. He added that Boca — brought from Ludhiana — was a true socialist, as he always shared food with other cats. “He was a persian cat but believed in humanity, equality and was violent only in special circumstances. else he was very friendly and not fussy about his eating habits like a socialist,” Huzur said. While Huzur claimed that the mason who constructed the tomb got an offer from Dubai soon after it, gardener Rajesh Kumar Maurya said: “After I was hired to look after the garden where Boca is buried, I am flooded with so many work offers that I cannot handle it.” Though Boca had died on September 27 last year, Huzur organised a service in his memory last week, which was attended by several SP workers. While a poem composed by Huzur in Boca’s memory was sung by a professional band, an all-religion prayer was held and Boca’s statue unvelied. May be due to his closeness to the Yadav parivar, Huzur’s house is frequented by several SP leaders. “Many of them came when I organised Boca’s memorial service. Many still come in reverence with flowers,” he said. Huzur admitted that he has not taken permission to construct the tomb in a government accommodation. “I understand that I am not a permanent allottee here, but it is up to the next allottee to deal with the tomb. he may demolish it. I have just taken a little liberty,” he said. Huzur’s association with Akhilesh is known to many. He is often seen in SP programmes, even at Saifai. During the Lok Sabha polls, he had campaigned for Akhilesh’s MP wife Dimple Yadav in Kannauj.
