Against all odds

While those in the mob were busy striking poses for press photographers, I could feel my adrenalin flowing fast and faster still with every sound of the flickering flash. But since I knew no one else was bothered I decided to wait and watch, hoping sincerely that the rally would keep moving.

And just as I was still hoping, the entire assembly halted even before I could realise that I had again expected“something to happen” (and so it happened otherwise). I could have sulked more but I couldn’t help but notice that the air was suddenly surcharged with excitement as the entire crowd went mad shouting slogans in praise of a particular leader who just joined in from the “free” end of the road.

I stood there, confused, trying hard to gather what had warranted so much hue and cry. I knew the country was going to the polls but I did not know that the idea drove some people so. Perhaps it is the same story every time. Perhaps I was realising this at last because I was standing witness to the whole drama for the first time ever. And I was beginning to get interested in its further enactment, leading to the climax.

As the leader took centrestage, his supporters got busy roping in more and more people. All those who were passing through the other end of the road were caught and made to serve as an “audience” to the drama. Bhaiji (as some of them addressed him) cleared his throat and in utmost humility bowedto the crowds gathered around.

Then began the most important part of the exercise — the election speech. But before it could begin there was a whole round of applause to set the mood. “I am here to speak on the behalf of our candidate who has pledged to surrender himself to your service. We hope you consider him worthy of your sincere support. We are not here to boast but it’s our duty to guide you right. Don’t fall prey to the gimmicks of our rivals. Just repose faith in us and we will not let you down. We will control prices, we will offer stability and we will be there when you need us….”

"We will be there when you need us." The words stayed with me and I was forced to weigh them, for I knew how shallow they were. Except from being part of a well-written speech, they had no identity. They were fake through and through. But they still did their bit, thanks to the confidence with which they were doled out.

I wondered how long would these facades last. I yearned to see the face behind the mask. Iwanted to believe in what the man just said though I was sure he did not mean it so. He was just a part of the system which trains politicians in winning over the gullible masses through the gift of the gab and trains them still better in kicking them once they reach the Chair.

Not that the masses are not ready to be kicked. For the sake of those who can rule, this much can be taken, but not for long. For there’s an end to every road and a limit to every degree of forbearance. Society is still working against its limits and so today it’s easy for them to "say things and not mean them". It would be difficult tomorrow when the limits of the masses expire.