My Political Journey (a satire)

So far, I had not touched or allowed to touch my blog by the word “Politics.”  But this article is an exception. Why?

Over the period, I gradually begin to realize that even though I want to insulate myself from this word Politics, I cannot do it. Not only that, it may also be unnatural to eliminate this word from my dictionary.

Many people so far have tried to define politics for many years. Political scientist Harold Lasswell defined it (in 1936): Politics is about ‘who gets what, when and how’. Based on expectations and the sphere of its influence, this definition has taken many shapes so far and will continue to do so in future too. In that case, how can we ignore or neglect it? How can we isolate its sticking adherence to our lives?

My story of my journey within or on periphery of this phenomenon is may not be a unique one, but a representation of a generation and associated various elements. Hence it is interesting. This is a journey of myself, so far, of political thoughts and not of me in Politics, as some may wrongly think. The structure of my thoughts, though correctly written, misses minutest details and, may be, accurate time frames. I consider it as a ‘writer’s liberty.’

When, as a child, I was living in Pune’s Sadashiv Peth, I used to go to Maharashtra Mandal, Tilak Road, in the evenings. My mother and father felt that my energies will get consumed there through various activities and I shall get (a little) disciplined. This feeling was partially correct!

Then I moved to my new house in Erandavane. The evenings were now spent in a nearby ground where I joined a Shakha. I learnt many good things here about many revolutionaries who had contributed in our freedom struggle through the baudhiks taken by one lady teacher. One gentleman also tried to teach me lathi, but I did not understand why I should learn, when my two hands were adequate for self-defense. It was not an age where I can have my own thoughts and a processing mechanism for processing those thoughts. It was an age to absorb. However, I vaguely remember, the activities, teachings and games were straightforward, crystal clear, uni-directional and without any ambiguities. At that time, I liked this atmosphere (except compulsory Surya-Namaskars). It was much later that the process of self-thinking and opinion forming began.

At home, every evening we (Father, Mother and we two brothers) used to have a tea session where everyone used to tell how his/her day was spent. My father was in Education Field and he always motivated my brother and myself to think independently without biases and to act accordingly (sometimes, even if it meant that we do not agree with his views). Those were the days when I developed a liking towards reading books and I became a mad reader. I liked auto-biographies and biographies and even such books as “Analysis of Humour” (विनोदाची मीमांसा), “Famous Prefaces” (गाजलेल्या प्रस्तावना) and similar such offbeat books given by my father to read. I was yet to enter in to the world of Novels. During this time my father had subscribed for weekly and fortnightly Marathi magazines Sobat, Manus, Sadhana and Illustrated Weekly (of Khushwantsingh era).

This was the time of opening (or one may say – blooming) of my mind. I began to read other literature. The first big novel I read was The Carpetbaggers written by Harold Robbins, immediately followed by War and Peace written by Leo Tolstoy. Then I read Tolstoy’s biography. Marx and Lenin followed. And one day I suddenly realized that I have traveled directly from Right to Left! And, during that phase, I had automatically entered in to College.

Here I found that there were various groups, each characteristically different than the other but with only one common thread – revolution is must. No body thought about ‘what after revolution?’ Gradually I realized that this thinking was not needed since revolution is not going to happen. There was a pure Left (like Kathewadi Gujarathi or Puneri Marathi language). There was a Marxist group with theoretical discussions, a Leninist group who believed in action, even a Stalinist group who believed in radical action. Later, I found that there was also one group called as Marxist-Leninist – synonymous to tea powder mixture or mixed farsan or in simpler word, Kadbole. My confusion began to increase. This created an obstacle in my (so-called) growth.

Travel from Left to Centre had begun. I liked Seva-Dal and for some period got associated with it. The first important thing I learned was the concept of ‘Selfless Service’.  I think, it was a bit different than the concept of ‘Swayansevak’. I got attracted towards its meaning and then it got itched permanently on my heart and mind. That is one of the reasons, may be, why I did not get attracted to the concept of (give-and-take) CSR.

Here too there were various groups, but all came together for any kind of social events. At some point, I myself did not know about which group I belonged to – ‘Centre mildly inclined towards the left’ or ‘Centre-left with right inclination’.   I had gradually started to understand the true meaning of democracy. Anyone, who wanted to say something, was  listened to – followed by all sided thinking. Almost everyone was a thinker. A half-hour lecture by some leader on a particular topic in which he/she was supposed to be an expert, was always followed by two-hour discussion. Because the members of audience were also expert in that topic! For people like me, who were non-expert, this provided a golden opportunity to learn. I also experienced a total freedom to express myself. This was also a journey towards recognizing self.

When I say ‘centrist’, please do not confuse it with Congress. Political name is ‘Socialist Party’ – earlier Congress Socialist Party, later, Sanyukta Socialist Party and Praja Socialist Party – in 1977 both got merged. In later years it got diluted in UP and Bihar and I do not feel the affinity towards those diluted parties.

My attraction points in this group were many. Equality – with respect to gender/religion/caste/language, humanity, secularity (in true sense), non-enforcement of any kind of so-called ideals, freedom of expression, etc. Even if one differed from the other’s opinion, it was politely put forward and listened to. The problem of all the centrist groups, if it is called to be a problem, is quite different. There are no followers or bhaktas!

For centuries, our Indian Culture has been built upon the concept of a Leader having a base of followers. There does not exist a concept of various independent counsels looking after various areas and coordinators for inter-mingling of issues. It is not even in US or any of the democratic countries, how it can grow in India? There is not even the equal weightage of female members in the Parliament!

The period from college to my retirement went by with a lightning speed. I did not have time for Politics. The whole process of Survival, keeping myself straight and personal/professional growth as well as inception and growth of family – everything is very very complex. During election period, I kept my role limited to voting to a candidate who have fewer winning chances but who can get the second-best votes. Strange, isn’t it? I am not elaborating on it – you think. The only thing that I realized over all these years is that “NOTHING IS PERMANENT OR STAGNENT”. Today’s so called “Heavy Weights” may turn to tomorrow’s dust-bin “paper balls”.   

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In present days, the choice has become very simple. It is Us and/or Them. But this choice has created a much greater problem in my life. Why does intensity of problems increase with passing years? Or the problems are same with same intensity and that we feel the greater intensity as we grow old? Seemingly a simple “White and Black” or “Yes and No” or “1 and 0” type of decision becomes too big to take. And out of the blue it dawns that I do not belong to any of these two – either Us or Them. Then who am I?

“Us” think that I am mean-minded and self-centered. “Them” think that I am confused. I say, “You are right” to both. Again, with passing of time, my argumentative mode is diminishing.

What do I do then? I take one of THE best and proven escape routes. I enter into my room,  and open a very old and big steel cupboard whose life is more than my age. It has handled a lot many items, mainly clothes. Now it stores books. One shelf contains my books and left-hand side of it is my favorite. I pick up a random book of any of the authors from this left side of my shelf, like Pu. La. Deshpande, Chin. Vi. Joshi, Vyankatesh Madgulkar, Da. Ma. Mirasdar, Shankar Patil. I open a random page of that already read book and start reading. While reading, I instantly enter in to a tensionless calmer and humorous mood. And I Laugh and Chuckle and Giggle.