The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 15

 

The Bits and Pieces – As I Please – 15

Naman to PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee – Today, December 25, is the birthday of the Statesman PM of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I thought of remembering the great leader in my blog as Naman to the worthy leader with whom I have had the good fortune to work and interact during my diplomatic service. Beyond his qualities of head and heart, I was most impressed by his unpretentious demeanour and

sense of simplicity. My first encounter with Vajpayee Sahib happened in April, 1977 when I escorted him to the Conference Room of the PMO for the first meeting of the Morarji Deai Government as Protocol Officer in PMO/MEA.  My immediate boss, Vimla Sindhi popularly called Behanji, a longtime aide of Nehru/Gandhi family, was known to Vajpayee Sahib. She received him outside the Conference Room and said Sir, shall I salute you with Pranaam or Namskar to register her earlier acquaintances. Vajpayee in his charming response said that ‘Kuch bhi kaho; ashiya hum sab jaante hain’ (You may utter anything, I understand the subtle gesture). Later, I met Vajpayee Sahib, in Peking (Beijing) in China when he visited in 1978-79 as EAM. He came to the Embassy to meet the staff over Tea and Snacks. I was looking after the hospitality part of the function. Offering some Pakoras to him, I said, ‘Sir Garam Garam lijiye’ (Please have some hot ones). He touched the Pakoras and spontaneously retorted ‘Agar yeh garam hai hai to thanda kya hota hai’ (If that was hot then what was cold). We all smiled and took the subtle wit in our stride. I have many more anecdotes to narrate which show his ground to earth wit and wisdom to put juniors like me at ease. I will share those at some other opportunity.PM Vajpayee was a not only a Statesman but also a great human being. Naman to one of my favourite PMs of India, Atal Bihar Vajpayee

Uthaye Kuch Waraq Lale Ne, Kuch Nargis Ne, Kuch Gul Ne
Chaman Mein Har Taraf Bikhri Huwi Hai Dastan Meri
(Some leaves were picked up by the tulip, some by the narcissus, some by the rose
My story is scattered around everywhere in the garden)

Upward Social Mobility – Incidentally, of late, I noticed some trends in the social circles of the marginalized sections of the society generally called Dalits which may be termed as gratifying but on the other hand somewhat worrying to the extent of undesirable. I thought of sharing here my off the cuff thoughts on the emerging social scenario without caring for the fact as to what worth these may carry.

If I go by the social media, it has become normal for the Dalit youth to assert their Dalit Identity – Chamaran, Balmikian Te Mazhvian De Munde – Sons of Chamars, Balmikis and Mazhvi Sikhs in exact retaliation of the so called Jat Pride often repeated by the rustic but well to do Sikhs. My immediate motivation to write on this emanated from some social functions like marriage or any other celebratory occasion and also visible power paraphernalia being subscribed by the spiritual leaders and Deras of the community. On one hand, I feel that the marginalized segments of the society are passing through a phase of ‘Identity Crises’ and on the other a sense ‘empowerment’ coming about slowly but steadily. Of late, it has been observed that marriages and other celebratory occasions are celebrated with much fan fair and show off with elaborated menus for lunches and dinners served with premier scotch whiskies on the beats of dance and songs. Even the Bhog (Antim Ardas) ceremonies on deaths are done with elaborated menus of food. I have observed, during my decades long career in diplomacy when I saw different societies and cultures, that when society opens up with empowerment and economic prosperity and also from the clutches of the ideological governance; vices crept in first before it gets moderated.  The community that is the so called Dalits should not be oblivious of the negative fallout of the ‘upward social mobility’ and try to understand the virtues of balance and sobriety.

Nazren Chahe Aasmaan Per Hon

Magar Paon Zamin Per Rakhiye