The Clash of the Yadavs

For the Hindus, UP is a holy land. It is the Land of Lord Rama. But one can be forgiven if he thinks that it is the land of Mahabharata. Today Lucknow the Capital of UP looks more like a battlefield.

The key players in the ongoing war are mainly from the first family of UP, The Yadavs who are currently running the Government. There is just one outside player, Amar Singh, the biggest wheeler dealer once upon a time but now reduced to a has been.

The Yadavs have taken the meaning of Dynastic rule to a new level. There are twenty members of the family occupying various positions in the Government, the exact number to make two football teams.

But there is an enigma to why they are actually fighting. Everyone is blissfully employed, from MLAs to MLCs, MPs to Ministers, Chairman of Zila Panchayats to other juicy posts, it is all in the family.So what could suddenly go wrong?

Did they take the football analogy too seriously and decided to give it a shy.

The answer probably lies in the  Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The Yadavs have crossed all the fundamental levels and are now on their path of self actualization. This path has made them both greedy and blind.

Perhaps, Maslow could have added another level to his pyramid, specially for the Yadavs- The suicide level. The Yadavs are now in this part of the pyramid.

But for their survival, they must  realise that they can only win if they remain together.
They must all hang together or else all of them will be hanged separately.

This is the story of three ambitious uncles, or maybe two and a half , because Amar Singh is no longer the force he used to be. On the one hand there is Shivpal Yadav who is aligned with the Patriarch, the veteran of many a wars, Mulayam Singh Yadav and there is Gopal Yadav who has thrown his weight behind the son and the current Chief Minister of UP, Akhilesh Yadav.

What makes this story much more interesting is that it has another dimension. Mulayam Singh Yadav has a second wife.  So you see, it has all the ingredients of a typical bollywood boiler.

Now who wins in this tug of war? No one really. It will be the third party. The Muslims are the biggest supporters of the Samajwadi party. Now this split may leave them confused as whom to support.  These voters may then turn to either the Congress or one of the splinter groups.

So the biggest beneficiary may be the BJP.

But in politics, nothing can be predicted till the last moment.  Equations may change overnight, new partnerships can be forged. As of now, the rumours are that Mulayam Singh Yadav has called truce.

But we must thank Akhilesh Yadav for at least one thing. He  has spiced up the boring Elections. 

The AAP Conundrum

Power is a bitch and  absolute power  a super bitch.

Most of the problems in AAP stem from the fact that they are sitting pretty with an absolute majority.  One wonders if this simmering discontent would have been allowed to take the form which has now taken if the party had a simple majority and it would have been easy to topple the apple cart.

To be fair to Kejriwal, there is no party in India which can claim to be democratic.  Every party revolves around it’s one charismatic leader.  No leader bothers to prepare a second line of leadership.  In fact anyone who is a threat  to the leadership is conveniently deleted.

Coming back to Kejriwal, he  is very ambitious  and  brooks no competition. Any competition is ruthlessly quashed. He has cultivated an army of headless followers who are ready to attack any dissenting voice. Yogendra Yadav is normally unflappable. But even he must have been shocked at the vehemence with which he was attacked.  There are conspiracy theories abound. But the one which looks more credible that this whole fight is about Rajya Sabha Seats. After their sensational  performance in the recent election, AAP is now sure of  three seats. Ashutosh and Khaitan are ensuring that by eliminating Yogendra Yadav, there is no competition left. That explains the over zealousness of these two blokes.

If one observes carefully, there is a pattern .  Clearly Kejriwal is not comfortable with anyone who is telegenic, TV or social media savvy or is articulate. Look at the way  Kumar Vishwas and Shazia Ilmi were elbowed out. Kejriwal has a weakness for limelight and he hates sharing it. Anyone hogging the limelight is a target. There are presently two candidates. but both are more of hench men then any serious competition. Ashutosh's command over English is dodgy and makes him a target for fun. Khaitan on the other hand is fast developing his image as the Sanjay Jha of AAP.

But Yogendra Yadav is different. But one thing is sure. Yogendra Yadav shall not be the last to be sidelined. 

After Yogendra Yadav, who could be the next victim? Raghav Chadha should be careful.

However, It is easier to predict who would be safer. The one man in AAP who is smarter than even Kejriwal is probably Manish Sisodia.  He understand Kejriwal better than anyone else and hence deliberately kept a low profile.

It is a symbiotic relationship. Kejriwal needs Sisodia as much as he needs Kejriwal. It is very difficult for Kejriwal to sit in an office and work. He is much comfortable participating in dharnas and playing the role of an anarchist.  Naturally he needs a second in command. He found that perfect Manmohan Singh in Sisodia.

Sisodia, on the other hand, understands that although he is officially the Dy. CM , But in reality he would be the one running the show.  So it is a win win situation.

I do not for a moment think that anything dramatically will emerge out of this meeting. Kejriwal has resigned as the convenor because he knows that the numbers are on his side. The resignation was just one of his publicity stunts. It wouldn’t be surprising if Yogendra Yadav or Prashant Bhushan appeals him to continue being a convener.

There is just one small detail which will have changed.

The party with a difference will cease to be a party with a difference.

Apart from that, life will continue as usual.

A Parable.

Each day one learns something new. Yesterday  I learnt two.

One, Optimism is a state of mind. It has nothing to do with our social status or educational background and two that the Indian cab drivers are probably the best in the world.

Yesterday was my last day in Bhopal and I had to do a lot of travelling. I always prefer hiring a cab as it saves a lot of time. When we were returning, suddenly there was a thunder and rather unexpectedly it started raining, not just cats and dogs, but the entire feline and canine fraternity. We still were more than twenty miles away from the city. 

Horror of horrors, the wiper of the car was not working. The driver called up his agency and he came to know that his supervisor had ordered a servicing on his off day and probably the mechanic forgot to connect the cables. Now we had two options. Either stand put where we were or take a risk and drive. The driver explained that since it was raining with heavy breeze, it was more difficult to drive since the raindrops spread on the front after falling thus making it very difficult to see ahead. 

I was feeling cold, hungry and tired. But I had to leave it to the driver. My mind said wait but my heart and my rumbling stomach said move.

The driver looked out and said that this rain doesn’t look like stopping.  He was indeed prophetic.  The rains didn’t stop the whole night.  

Fortunately we were on the outskirts of the city and the road was practically empty. There were occasional cars but no bikes or cycles.

He opened his side window and drove slowly.  He explained that any car which overtakes would be from his right side. So he would know. Also he could see faintly the lights of the leading vehicles. I was scared of the cyclists, buffaloes and dogs. He told me not to worry and stopped under every tree and cleaned his mirror. I asked him how he would manage in the city. He cheerfully replied, “ Let’s hope it stops for a while.”  He said that always look at the positive side.  Imagine if we were on the highway or in the city. His optimism was infectious.

I planned to take an auto once we reached the city. But probably even the rain Gods were moved by his optimism. It didn't stop raining. But for some time the pouring became a drizzle. His eyes now fully accustomed, skilfully drove me to safety and warmth of my home. I tipped him generously which he accepted grinning, glad that his hard work had not gone unnoticed.

In all the parables, there is a moral at the end of the story. Now we can draw a lot of them from this.

There may be some who may deduce that one has to avoid being stupid like me. Others may feel that the same about the driver. All of you are right. But parables are not meant to teach negatives. Hence we should look at how optimism helps in life.

For those who still disagree, at least let us agree that the Indian drivers are the best in the world.

( You can’t always win!)

Evanescence

Time is still. The hands on the clock just refuse to budge.. Every second is followed by a pregnant pause. A gap between a tick and a tock.

Is it apprehension or fatigue?

But one thing is certain. We both are unable to over come our ennui.

The clock is fortunate. It has a fixed path.

Some times its good to have no option.

Recently a school mate sent a mail after almost twenty years. He wrote that he has been working in the same company for over twenty two years. I almost feel jealous.

I am depressed. No, I do not suffer from bipolar disorder.

But there comes this moment in every person’s life when he’s on the cross roads . you are torn between adventure and the mundane. I had my chance.

I chose adventure.

Its not that I repent. Given a chance I may still go for the same. I feel enriched with all that I experienced.

But highway driving can be exhausting. There are only so many highways you can conquer. And then you pine for a destination.

A friend yesterday swatted a fly. That drove him to the question why am I born?

Some day to be swat by the cruel hands of destiny. Just like a fly?

What is life? A cupboard full of trophies? Trophy for cramming, another for garnering wealth disproportionate to the requirements, a trophy for copulating like an animal and breeding like a rabbit ?

Can we even claim to be superior to animals?

Myriad questions like the multiple heads of a hydra. No answers.

I read on the website of a famous guru the joys of a sunset. How can sunset give you joy.

I write on his blog. No reply. Probably faith is about optimism. Faith is about what else – FAITH. You just accept what is told. No place for doubters like me.

Nishant ( yes the same lad who fudges his report card and calls himself the end of darkness. Read my earlier posts! ) has a pertinent point. He is a sprightly lad. He doesn’t wait for your question. He just gives his advises.

Haven’t seen him for quite some time now.

Probably doesn’t eat chaat on juhu anymore. So doesn’t remember the crumpled newspaper that is my blog!

Youth can be innocent. And yet that innocence can camouflage a sharp mind.

He once called me an entertainer. I like that description. Yes indeed. Writers are exhibitionists. Like a stripper in a club.

A stripper bares her body. You emotions. Both long for applause.

I am ashamed. I have to surrender to a youth’s random comment and validate my existence?

But we are in a quick fix world. The two minutes syndrome;

The Pavlovian syndrome ! a predictable response.

We are in a hurry to label.

And so for want of a better definition, I accept this one.

My life for now is that of an entertainer. And I have a job.

To entertain.

Just like the hands of a clock that have to keep ticking.

No questions asked no answers given.

And when your time is up, you just fade away.