A less colourful Holi for Lalu and Nitish

Holi, the festival of colours, has gripped the Bihari populace in and outside the state. However, the usual Holi spirit would be missing for Lalu Prasad Yadav...

Holi, the festival of colours, has gripped the Bihari populace in and outside the state. However, the usual Holi spirit would be missing for Lalu Prasad Yadav and his arch rival Nitish Kumar, though for entirely different reasons. While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will abstain from celebrating the festival due to personal bereavement, Lalu and his better half Rabri Devi will be robbed off their usual festival mood due to a judgment of the Patna High Court on Thursday. The court admitted an appeal by the Bihar Government challenging the acquittal of the two in the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case — an offshoot of the fodder scam.

The fodder scam had caught up with Lalu at a time when he was at the pinnacle of his popularity in 1996. The multi-crore scam was later investigated by the CBI and Lalu’s name figured as the prime accused. The scam tilted the political graph of Lalu downwards.

Lalu, known for putting up a brave face in difficult times, however, showed nonchalance towards the order and invited mediamen to his house for the celebration. “The order makes no difference for me. It is a legal battle and I will fight it out,” he said.

However, later he made it clear that this time he would keep off from his trademark “kurta phaad” Holi, indicating his mood. For some years now, Holi had symbolised the persona of Lalu. He, along with his supporters have celebrated Holi in its wildest form, right inside the Chief Minister’s official residence. Anybody arriving to greet Lalu was first soaked in coloured water. Then egged on by the top boss, the followers used to pounce and tear the clothes of the visitor. Lalu, himself bare-bodied, used to regale the sight. It did not stop there. Many unsuspecting visitors had even cowdung hurled over them — available in plenty as the official residence housed a cowshed with over a hundred cows. The usual ingredients of song and dance were also plentiful.

In contrast, Lalu’s one-time friend and now arch rival, Nitish Kumar, had always celebrated Holi in a very subdued manner. For him it is limited to “abeer” (coloured powder) and that too herbal. This time, however, he would keep off from even that due to demise of his wife last year.

The way the two backward class leaders celebrate the festival of colours, offers a glimpse into their personality and is indicative of the transition that has taken place in Bihar — at least at the top.