Two deaths and a thought
Within a period of a fortnight I had witnessed two deaths then. Both similar to each other to a great extent. At the same time differing each other equally. The similarities being both the deaths took place in Worli, both related to the politics, both having similar political ideologies. Both these men were once teachers who later played a major role in making the parties they worked for, big fishes in the sea of Indian political community, through the early days of foundation of their respective parties. Both were on ventilators in their last moments and both left behind a families of a son, daughter, wife and an aged mother.
Now it’s the time for differences.
One was a political activist. He spent his life working for his political party selflessly. He worked for it’s growth and popularity without expecting a penny or a position. All he had been in his life was regional secretary for his party. In spite of all his efforts and hard work he remained a simple party worker foe the upper crust of leaders in his party, his once colleagues. He strived with them to help his party hold roots on the soil of Mumbai. Only to be forgotten and neglected later. The boys he introduced went further to hold high positions at national and state assemblies. But he remained only what he was, The Regional Secretary of his party. Wherever he worked he gained friends, made unbreakable alliances and gained popularity amongst his fellow and subordinate workers. The only drawback of his persona was his misqualification of selflessness. He gave up his nomination for a subordinate youngster at the peak of his political career. He worked in slums, chawls and hutments for their upliftment without demanding ransom, in which his contemporaries had gained a mastery in. He put needy in first place and himself at last. He slogged through day and night in areas, which his other white-collar co-workers shivered at the mere thought. For only cause he knew was social upliftment, which he believed strongly, was what his party was formed for. However, he was disillusioned later. His tendency of refusing lucrative positions always kept him a man ever struggling to make the ends meet in his personal life. Till his last moment he lived in a hardly one bedroom house which he had been living in for years. At last he died a peaceful death of misinterpreted disease.
This other was a strategist. The big shot of his party. Mention of his party was his mention. He promoted his party to the extent of bringing it to power in India. He was known for his taste of technology and keen interest in adopting modern technological wonders. He was a bit of rule breaker for his party yet highly respected for the amount of intellect he possessed in formulating strategies at each election. His calculations worked at times and failed. But he remained the brain of his party. Never did he miss a moment of being in limelight whenever his party emerged victorious at any of election. A true believer of publicity, he made use of media to polish the image of his party by broadcasting advertising campaigns highlighting the achievements made by his party when in power, which in truth never existed. Involved in sex scams. His name splashed in numerous large illegal dealings. Responsible for privatization of many public sector industries providing basic needs to the common man. A sweet talker by nature and a hard core politst. Many issues that rose against him from time to time were covered up mysteriously, never to be mentioned again. His crusade for wealth never ceased as he climbed up his political ladder. Right hand of the political maestros and a consignee of their illegitimate transactions. He was a man whose name was always there on the lips of the nation. He had tottered the globe for the fund raisal of his party. From a small time teacher in a hamlet of northern Maharashtra, to the spokesman of a major political party his journey was painted with greed, lust and fame. Reaching newer heights in politics, all of a sudden was shot by his brother at his home in the posh locality of Worli homing several other V.I.P.s the very same day when his counterpart was declared to be in a last stage by the doctor giving up on his efforts. His counterpart passed away next day, while all possible measures were taken to save his life for a period of twelve long days, doctors doing their best to keep his soul from departing his body. Along with all media publicity and glamour. At last he died of lung infection, which coincidentally was the death ailment of his counterpart too. His death covered up for all his black deeds and made him a hero, with his death ceremony to be telecasted live by various television channels while his counterpart died a nameless death, cremated at Worli crematorium and not at considerably far Shivaji Park crematorium enabling a huge death procession with, crowds following, bhajans blaring on loud speakers and policemen giving rifle salutes. unlike him, no newspaper columns were filled with extollations for his counterpart.
This is how the political system works in our country. Real heroes die a silent death as scoundrels are made heroes for their undone deeds everyday.
My heartiest regrets to families of both these men. May god grant peace to these men’s souls and strength to their families to overcome their sorrow (which, I know by worldly means, they will).
And may god grant the dwellers of this nation ability to think about the circumstances around them someday.
Now it’s the time for differences.
One was a political activist. He spent his life working for his political party selflessly. He worked for it’s growth and popularity without expecting a penny or a position. All he had been in his life was regional secretary for his party. In spite of all his efforts and hard work he remained a simple party worker foe the upper crust of leaders in his party, his once colleagues. He strived with them to help his party hold roots on the soil of Mumbai. Only to be forgotten and neglected later. The boys he introduced went further to hold high positions at national and state assemblies. But he remained only what he was, The Regional Secretary of his party. Wherever he worked he gained friends, made unbreakable alliances and gained popularity amongst his fellow and subordinate workers. The only drawback of his persona was his misqualification of selflessness. He gave up his nomination for a subordinate youngster at the peak of his political career. He worked in slums, chawls and hutments for their upliftment without demanding ransom, in which his contemporaries had gained a mastery in. He put needy in first place and himself at last. He slogged through day and night in areas, which his other white-collar co-workers shivered at the mere thought. For only cause he knew was social upliftment, which he believed strongly, was what his party was formed for. However, he was disillusioned later. His tendency of refusing lucrative positions always kept him a man ever struggling to make the ends meet in his personal life. Till his last moment he lived in a hardly one bedroom house which he had been living in for years. At last he died a peaceful death of misinterpreted disease.
This other was a strategist. The big shot of his party. Mention of his party was his mention. He promoted his party to the extent of bringing it to power in India. He was known for his taste of technology and keen interest in adopting modern technological wonders. He was a bit of rule breaker for his party yet highly respected for the amount of intellect he possessed in formulating strategies at each election. His calculations worked at times and failed. But he remained the brain of his party. Never did he miss a moment of being in limelight whenever his party emerged victorious at any of election. A true believer of publicity, he made use of media to polish the image of his party by broadcasting advertising campaigns highlighting the achievements made by his party when in power, which in truth never existed. Involved in sex scams. His name splashed in numerous large illegal dealings. Responsible for privatization of many public sector industries providing basic needs to the common man. A sweet talker by nature and a hard core politst. Many issues that rose against him from time to time were covered up mysteriously, never to be mentioned again. His crusade for wealth never ceased as he climbed up his political ladder. Right hand of the political maestros and a consignee of their illegitimate transactions. He was a man whose name was always there on the lips of the nation. He had tottered the globe for the fund raisal of his party. From a small time teacher in a hamlet of northern Maharashtra, to the spokesman of a major political party his journey was painted with greed, lust and fame. Reaching newer heights in politics, all of a sudden was shot by his brother at his home in the posh locality of Worli homing several other V.I.P.s the very same day when his counterpart was declared to be in a last stage by the doctor giving up on his efforts. His counterpart passed away next day, while all possible measures were taken to save his life for a period of twelve long days, doctors doing their best to keep his soul from departing his body. Along with all media publicity and glamour. At last he died of lung infection, which coincidentally was the death ailment of his counterpart too. His death covered up for all his black deeds and made him a hero, with his death ceremony to be telecasted live by various television channels while his counterpart died a nameless death, cremated at Worli crematorium and not at considerably far Shivaji Park crematorium enabling a huge death procession with, crowds following, bhajans blaring on loud speakers and policemen giving rifle salutes. unlike him, no newspaper columns were filled with extollations for his counterpart.
This is how the political system works in our country. Real heroes die a silent death as scoundrels are made heroes for their undone deeds everyday.
My heartiest regrets to families of both these men. May god grant peace to these men’s souls and strength to their families to overcome their sorrow (which, I know by worldly means, they will).
And may god grant the dwellers of this nation ability to think about the circumstances around them someday.
posted by Salil Mirashi at 4:15 AM
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