Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, March 17: As if both forms of the media was not enough, men of various ages, sizes, castes, creeds, status, educational qualifications (?) and whatever else, have become self important (as hardly anyone else gives them or their verdicts any importance) and discuss nothing else but politics and politicians sure to return �victorious� hands or pants down. The only confusing factor for the man whose political life and aspirations revolve around the pocket and the market is whether these �experts� are discussing politics and politicians at the local, state, national or international levels because these makers and breakers that they deem themselves to be are sometimes heard to delve into the foreign polices of central government and Jharkhand State Government, the latter known to send farmers to Israel to gather moss or whatever and the Chief Minister to China apparently to learn about farming for his kitchen garden.
Ramu and Zulfikar (just fictitious names for real life characters) are two such unlicensed political analysts who turn heaven into hell to have their authentically illiterate views heard above the already existing din of their compatriots creating a Lok Sabha-like atmosphere at the betel shop or Murari�s Hotel or at the Janata Hair Cutting Saloon where the barbers look on as mute spectators with idle pairs of scissors or shaving creams drying up on the impromptu analysts� cheeks or chins or wherever.
The other point of confusion is that of the man devoid of such demonstrative political off-handed knowledge who has come for the simple purpose of a shave and haircut. He has to join the saloon�s barbers sitting on the benches like voters whose destinies are NOT in the agenda of discussions. This foolish man, a politically illiterate person is patiently awaiting his time for the �parliamentary discussions� to get over and for the barbers to return to their chairs of activity. At the end of the day, this foolish man has not gained any political knowledge from the din except that the political scenario at all levels as stated above is not good for mental health.
These self-styled political pundits ostracize, glorify political party partisan, pranks, plunders and remain undecided on whose party or party candidate is best. But the holler spills over to the very many following days when the same �school� resume classes over cups of Murari�s tea and samosas and Nirmal shop�s gutkha and cigarettes. Whether they remember to pay the bills is of no significance as long as their discussions steer the nation�s destiny. The Opposition Grand Alliance�s seat sharing has been discussed threadbare time and time again at these heated sessions and the semblance of a conclusion after much permutation and combination was arrived at for Jharkhand (till then) much before the haggling parties met the key combine camp boss Rahulji. It goes without mention that the political analysts got the figures all wrong but one of these men claim, �I told you guys so,� while others droop around him, confused if this �he� had really said so amidst the verbal ruckus before the original announcement made on the night of March 15! May be, Rahulji, Hemantji, Marandiji, Ajoyji and the other related Jis got their ratios wrong. After all, how can these vociferous political pundits, in spite of their half baked or not baked knowledge and authority go wrong? Something must be politically wrong � grossly. Back to the Gumti Parliament folks to decide who is wrong, Team Alliance or Team Political Pandits!
