Every
week commuters, on way to their work, get to witness new posters and graffiti pasted by unknown or
little known organizations and even individuals on trifling issues at various public space without
the permission of civic authorities. They do not mind that in the process they
are defiling public space. This is India where we enjoy this inherent right to
deface and defile public places by pasting posters. If this is the “Right to
Expression” we need to learn quite a few lessons in civility. Nevertheless, the
content of these posters and graffiti at times are quite amusing and
hilarious. I enjoy reading these posters which might cover any issue- a AAP
baiter may paste posters of unknown voters supposedly repenting his decision to
have voted for AAP Party in the recently held Delhi Assembly elections. A
number of these posters merely convey birthday wishes to a particular neta put up by a chhut bhaiya neta (small time neta)
hoping that such sycophancy may pay him some dividends, politically. One also
gets to see self congratulatory posters on getting nominated to any minuscule
party position. Our PM by announcing that he used to sell tea and arranged
chairs at party office has raised the ambition of every small time netas. What these small time netas do not realize is the fact that
there were plenty of other qualities that actually got him the position that he
holds today and for which he is acclaimed world wide. Mostly these posters and graffiti carry ridiculous message.
One poster which drew my attention recently was put up by the Congress Party,
that urged party men to come in huge numbers for a dharna (sit-in) to oppose a year of ‘misrule’ at center by BJP and
a ‘misrule’ of 100 days by the AAP. It reminded me of the fundamental marketing
strategy- buy one get one free. When no one pays you any attention you try to attract them by giving him the option of two dharnas in one.Yesterday it was a pleasant surprise to see
another poster by the Congress Party urging party men to come to Mhow to
celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Since
the sixties, which saw a systematic elimination of all political leaders of
stature by Indira Gandhi in the name of Syndicate versus the Ruling, which
ultimately made Congress a family party, this change is quite surprising- thanks to the PM
whose effort at recognizing these leaders (Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Pandit Madan
Mohan Malviya, Sri. Atal Bihari Vajpyee etc) has forced Congress to sit
up and take note. However, I believe the Congress has already lost its credibility
and the right to own legacy of these unforgotten heroes of the Congress Party. Let
me share with the readers of this blog, this piece of information, that as on
date there is also a proposal under consideration before the Department of Posts,
Government of India to issue a commemorative postage stamp, in the freedom
fighter category, in memory of another such forgotten hero of the Congress
Party- the “Iron Man of Bihar” (a
title bestowed upon him by the leading newspaper of Bihar of the sixties “The Indian Nation”) Sri. K. B. Sahay. Today incidentally is
his 41st death anniversary.
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