Five functions, one birthday — Allahabad celebrates its Doctor Saheb

Who’s this if not APJ Abdul Kalam? It is Murli Manohar Joshi. Joshi’s hometown celebrated his 66th birthday on Wednesday with not one but five functions, all spiced up with sycophancy.

Delayed by fog in Delhi, Joshi reached late and had a tough time rushing to one function after the other — organised by supporters eager to please their leader. So there was the health camp organised by a new associate whose aim is to take medical services to the people, “but only in Joshiji‘s constituency”. There was an `abhinandan samaroh‘ organised by the Scheduled Caste and Minority Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party. But the event of the day was the `Bhajan and Bhojan Sandhya‘ held in honour of `Saraswati ke varad putr‘ at the Ram Lila Maidan.

Doesn’t it look Congressy? Joshi doesn’t think so. “This is just a reflection of the people’s affection for me, not because I am an MP or a minister.” Even otherwise? “Yes, even otherwise they have been celebrating for it is the outcome of years of rapport between me and them.”

Joshi spoke — after endless paeans by orators and a series of garlanding for which academicians and local legal luminaries stood in line. “I will work for my people as your affection shown through this is a reminder for me to do the task assigned to me. Lekin main chota kaam imandari se karna pasand karoonga, bada kaam beimaani se nahi

(I would rather do a small job with honesty than do a big one with dishonesty),” he said.

Sycophancy was the theme of the day. While people shivered in the cold but waited to wish their `Bharatmata ki aashaon ka kiran,’ the bhajan-singer sang a song specially composed in Joshi’s honour.

But the icing on the birthday cake was the slogan: “Prayag hi Joshi hai, Joshi hi Prayag” that completed the package.