Untitled
Native Wisdom!
I always enjoy my conversations with cab drivers, whenever they are so inclined. They are a veritable source of information on the state of the nation, local politics, the weather, where to stay, what to see, and the like. More often than not, they are a fund of native wisdom that can set you thinking differently
The other day, I had a very useful interaction with one such cab driver who, it turned out, was not just interesting but informed as well. The `gems of knowledge' that he brought forth would put many political pundits to shame, by the way!
Here goes the conversation: I was more at the receiving end, as you would see. [This is a free rendering of the original dialogue in Hindi.]
Cab driver (CD): So, sir-ji, we have a new President, eh?
Me: yeah, and a lady, to boot!
CD: Yes, yes, these are the days of women's empowerment; they are coming up everywhere. I hear that Hillary Clinton is contesting elections in the US.
Me: That is right.
CD: So, what will Bill Clinton do in the White House?
Me: I am not too sure
CD: He can spend more time with the Interns, I guess!
Me: Ha, ha!
CD: But Sir-ji, tell me something, what is all this Indian media going gaga about?
Me: Why? What happened?
CD: We had Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister for 15 long years. And that was much before Hillary came to know of hubby Bill's extra-presidential activities in the White House.
Me: That's true!
CD: And Indira Gandhi ruled with such authority which not many other Prime Ministers had.
Me: I agree.
CD: So, what's this talk about women's empowerment! Indiraji was there as Prime Minster for so long, and so long ago.
Me: What are you trying to tell me?
CD: If we could boast of a woman Prime Minister for 15 long years, and that too starting 1966, what is this tamasha about having a woman President in 2007!
Me: It makes a difference, I believe.
CD: What difference, and for whom! After all, the Prime Minister runs the government ' at least that was so when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. There was no remote control those days, you see! And the President signed wherever she wanted him to sign ' may be even while in the bathroom!
Me: Don't tell me you remember Abu Abraham's cartoon of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed signing state documents from the bathtub!
CD: Any way, we all know the President just signs on the dotted line. Even after that, they don't get a second term!
Me: How sad!
CD: So, if in 15 years, Indira Gandhi couldn't do much for her sisters, how can you expect poor Pratibha Patil to do it, that too as the President?
Me: But even if it is merely symbolism, it is a forward-looking step.
CD: Have you heard of Mao Zedong? He talked of `two steps forward, and one step back'!
Me: What are you, man? A professor of political science, masquerading as a cabbie?
CD: No, sir-ji, I am a simple cab driver!
Me: So why are you questioning the election of Pratibha Patil as the President? After all, she was nominated by another lady, which doesn't ordinarily happen, you know!
CD: Oh! The Lady with the Inner Voice! But I thought she never thought of Pratibha Patil in the first place, if we go by the media reports!
Me: May be, but the Left parties made us think right
CD: May be that is why the Left parties always get left out by the right-thinking people!
Me: What do you mean?
CD: If they want women to come up, then why don't they nominate more women candidates for Parliament and Assemblies? And certainly they can have more women as office bearers of their parties?
Me: Well, you know, there is a way with politics in our country
CD: I know, sir-ji, and that is precisely the problem! You see Kalam sab! What a great President he has been! Till he came, we only knew of Presidents who confined themselves in the fortress called Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Me: True.
CD: Now, we know that beyond the fortress, the pomp and pageant, there is a human being, who smiles, laughs, mingles with children and ordinary people like us, First Citizen though! He didn't even change his hairstyle, you see!
Me: I saw!
CD: And sir-ji, he didn't play any politics; he just made us realize that we have a President who knows his duties and responsibilities without intimidating us with his high office.
Me: may be.
CD: Not may be, sir-ji! Unfortunately, people like us don't have the power to elect the President. And sab-ji?
Me: Tell me
CD: If there was an election to the office of the President, who do you think would have won?
Me: Well
CD: No one would have had the moral authority to contest against Kalamji. And if anyone tried, he or she would not have got even the deposit back!
Me: Well, well
Me: Now, I have a question to ask!
CD: Shoot!
Me: What should we call the new President: Rashtrapati or Rashtrapatni?
CDK: Neither! Rashtradhyaksh should be just about right!
