Surreal Part 2

The elections continue to bubble away. Already millions have cast their votes in the Naxalite affected parts of our country. At least 30 paramilitary / police have been killed in violence so far – including some very close to where we used to work at Nav Jivan Hospital in Jharkhand.

But here in Mumbai / Thane-land the sheer inanity continues. On a hot and sweaty afternoon, I spotted this vehicle with its engine on – air-conditioner going – and the driver sleeping inside. Perhaps waiting for the evening campaigning. One the front of the vehicle there is a prominent “PRAISE THE LORD” emblazoned across the top of the windscreen. On the back the cheery greeting seen in the picture above.

On top of this chariot we see the beatific face of Ms. Mayawati – a cunning and hard-bitten politician who is riding the caste-based wave to power – and has never hid her ambition to become the first Dalit prime minister – and doing whatever it takes to get there.

Her local candidate looks like he has been just let out on parole. The Marxists across the country want to prop up Mayawati as an alternative to the Congress and BJP blocks - but are in a real pickle since many of these gents who are candidates of the ‘Elephant’ have declared assets in the tune of crores.

Our nation does require justice. Caste and class discrimination is rife. There are many ceilings – forget glass – for most the ceilings are concrete and brick and mud. But the track-record of most of those who don the mantle of social justice to get things done through politics is just as murky as those who they are replacing.