Tale of two tails

By Goutam Shankar

[dropcaps round=”no”]O[/dropcaps]f all tailed creatures, the species of dogs and politicians have learnt to wag theirs exquisitely, effectively and meaningfully. A dog (or a bitch) wags his tail to express happiness while the politician wags his to denote evil or more evil. However, make serious note of the fact that I harbor absolutely no intent whatsoever, overtly or covertly, to belittle man�s best friend while attempting to compare this noble canine with a seedy canine. I am sure even the puppies will understand while it would make absolutely no difference to the wilder mammals whose symbols range from the mirchi to the jhadu with the slap thrown somewhere in between the other eyesores.

The dog is honest and simple and has nothing to hide, not even its tail. But the politician begs to differ for he has to. He has to make his tail unobtrusive like his undisclosed wealth and other assets. While the dog�s tail can be seen anytime, anywhere, always, the politician�s can�t be seen. Now don�t ever ask me where he keeps it. Grope for yourself, feel it and run for your life and your constituency�s future. His tail can perform multifarious tasks in a penetrative manner like the Swiss Knife. This brand of tail, when wagged, can hurt, as it usually does, after the elections. And yes, the elections are here.

Being dogs, they are found in and around human habitats. They are perennial features in the joints of insensitive mammals who prefer to kick the trustworthy canines instead of giving them a measly piece of basi chapatti; but when the political wolves come a-begging for votes once in five years (depending on the purchased weight of trust or no-trust motions), these higher animals seemingly go gaga over repeated false pledges and crocodile tears. Under such electioneering circumstances, such �political visits� may hardly elicit a curious bark or two from the street dogs while their human counterparts, in the form of much maligned and betrayed common folks, also known as voters, bend over to be kicked again in their weather-beaten somewhere. The political vampires, gauging the response (not of the dogs) as favorable or not-so-favorable, wag theirs in anticipation to please or retaliate.

The dogs, in spite of being kicked around, are ever agile and guard the mohallas of the basti vasiyons against all intruders including the political carnivores who, however, prefer to spend the dark hours planning moves in the comfort of air conditioned rooms to live and fight another day. This is a part of the campaign trail as they call it. If the dogs know of this modus oprendi, they don�t show it.

Dogs will be dogs and politicians will be politicians whether in jail or in Parliament. A dog�s life is better, you will agree, on a few counts. Dogs don�t have to vote in a stifling democracy. They need not differentiate or attach political concerns to the Lotus, Bow and Arrow, Elephant , Bicycle, Corn and Sickle, Star-Sickle-Hammer and all else that dirty the walls of establishments and public toilets. Dogs prefer electric poles to offer their traditional salute. The symbols are for humorous consideration of the two-legged canines who have their tails up during ballot times.
Long live the dogs! And the underdogs.