Friday, May 15, 2009

The Blue -eyed (Non-Brahmin) who would be P.M.

People in ‘High’ places…

There are multiple P.M. hopefuls waiting in the wings to grab the top job.Heaven knows who suggested Sushil Kumar Shinde’s name - it is reliably learnt that this rangeela’s Happy Hour begins at sundown come what may. He is clearly a happy man, who enjoys his happy state … I do believe it is important for the well being of a country to have a happy leader. But THIS happy? Shinde lives the high life – literally and figuratively. He sure has come a long way from that mamlatdar’s office where he began his life. We all have our weaknesses, but people who know Shinde well, prefer to meet him before 7p.m. That is if they are looking for a coherent conversation. Those interested in mere ‘time pass’ and shameless chamchgiri, wait for sunset, since they are sure of catching the light skinned, blue-eyed Dalit politico at his mellowest. In other words, Shinde would fail a breathalyser test post- sunset, and it is just as well he doesn’t drive himself. Let’s not beat around the bush – Shinde likes his booze, okay? That’s our Shinde - clever, cunning and a tippler who can barely keep those pegs in check, even while he is at his desk, working long hours into the night. As Maharashtra’s chief minister, he was notorious for his rowdy ‘after hours’ in Varsha. What sort of a prime minister would such a guy make? Well… he’d be in good company. In India, we get very touchy and judgemental about people who like their alcohol. We associate them with decadence and sloth. But internationally, they are far more accepting of boozards as leaders ( Britain, Russia,France …the list is endless). And some of those chaps did very well as Presidents and Prime Ministers.
Shinde was known to be Dhirubhai’s blue –eyed guy (literally and figuratively). The relationship worked great for both men. Shinde started his life as a peon in the malatdar’s office and was a sub-inspector later in the police force. It doesn’t get more ground level or hands on than that. Becoming Sharad Pawar’s protégé changed Shinde’s fortune and perhaps also enhanced Pawar’s. It was a mutually advantageous relationship that saw Shinde emerge as the landlord of all he surveyed. Quite a trajectory for an under privileged Dalit boy. Today, Pawar’s shisya has become his hard-to-dismiss rival. What an amazing reversal of roles. Since the dreaded ‘D-Word’ is no longer taboo, and the Dalit factor has emerged as the single most important pivot around which alliances will get formed in this perverse, immoral election, Shinde stands as good a chance as the other small-time players to get a shot at the top job in the country. Though with a quasi-Maharashtrian lady as the President of India, one more Maharshtrian would be pushing it. But if it is going to be a toss up between two Dalits, one a female and the other our Shinde, I get the feeling the Behenji will win. The one thing they have in common is a penchant for polyester. Shinde’s old mentor\patron Dhirubhai must have introduced him to the fabric, but he can’t seem to get enough of it. He remained Dhirubhai’s Knight in shining armour (and shinier shoes). So.. the biggest change in India if either of these two make it, will be in the sale of shiney, sasta aur tikao polyester – pink for Mayawati and white for Shinde. Oh… and the Good Doc (Manmohan Singh )will have to be on call at all times, especially when the nightly Happy Hour begins … Bhagwan knows what treaties and documents Shinde may sign in that state. Talk of people in ‘high’ places !!
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Guys, this appeared in Asian Age today.... and I have received an overwhelming response to the piece. I await your verdict with bated breath.
About the Bakul phool attack - it worked, but on a far more subdued scale. John, just back from trekking in Bhutan, was on a fitness kick ( read: off Single Malts). He was being a very good boy and making p.c. with the guests. Zia Modi ( how I love that brainy and FUN woman!) was in great form, and the evening sparkled! Just as we were leaving, we managed to catch the last five minutes of the nail biting finish to the IPL match which saw our Mumbai Indians lose by 2 wickets. Nita Ambani's Gayatri mantra Vs. Shilpa Shetty's secret mantra. I guess Shilpa's was more powerful! Chalo - game hi to hai.
The asli game for India begins on saturday.By this time tomorrow, we will KNOW!!
FINGERS AND TOES CROSSED!

26 comments:

t O m S o N said...

Dear Sobhaji,

Nice article.You are right.Heavens help us if bevdaa Shinde becomes the PM! By the way, are you reading FakeIPLplayer's blog?!Check it out, if you already haven't.

take care ji and continue blogging

Tomson Cherian

naval said...

nice article,
being from southern part of india i hav heard little about this guy, i havnt heard his name being suggested for top post, who suggested it????
Anyway things will become clear 2morow, no doubt that the money plays a major role......

Sidhusaaheb said...

Well, I wouldn't really have bothered about who would become PM, but I have already sent my entry for a contest where one could win a Skoda car for guessing the name correctly and I never thought of Shinde!

:D

freakaholic said...

As you remain in bated breath, Shinde, as hinted must be in a new realm of abated breath for reversal highs... An interesting outlook as to how nocturnal political geeks with loaded liquefying (pun intended) agenda can be a new chapter to the already conked system... :)

avidblogger said...

Really nice article. I really hope India gets someone decent as the PM.

varry said...

MAM nice article , But don;t u think despite the fact that we hate them , we are forced to choose one of them.
It's like choosing the one U hate or the one u detest.

Nandini Rao said...

This is stupidity at it's best! Why have a democratic process when we know that the ultimate power of advocacy lies with the goons?

I've been reading everywhere about the 'intelligent voter'. It's always 'admiration guaranteed' when determining the cerebral might of the 'Indian Voter'. Utter rubbish! We just love to repeat our mistakes.

No wonder the PM post has become the quintessential prop for the Joker's Party of India.

AnjuGandhi said...

Shinde/Mayavati/lalu/Singh etc etc etc. The list is long but where is the person who can bring drastic radical change in our country?Most of the politicans are old hags with vintage thoughts and corrupt ideas. Please any one search for one who is honest, sincere, committed , focused and dedicated to the country.Am I living in fool's paradise or imagining ramrajya ?

Hemish said...

Cmon Shobha Mam If a dude likes to have a drink or two or may be even a full ;), You shudnt hold that against a dude,

What ever may be the outcome of elections tomm, India as nation is going to make it.

Anonymous said...

Haha,

Technically, this would constitute defamation, wouldn't it?

Just because Mr. Shinde cannot prove it to be false doesn't make the article any more endearing.

Anon said...

Bharat Mata ki jai!! In the end whatever we do however daft our politicians are we somehow muddle through. Amazing isn't it?

Where are the screaming radicals who howl about women drinking now?? Or is the extremism reserved for women??
Rahul baba for PM anyone?? If nothing else he's eye candy with some brains for sure:)

Shruti said...

It should hav been called a Polyester political polls in Maharashtra!!

Velu said...

Much in the tone of the fake IPL players blog. Maybe you should add a disclaimer too.

Cheers,
Velu

Jogeshwar said...

well maybe internationally boozards are more acceptable but a person who is not disciplined, what discipline will he show towards his work??
now why can't we get to decide who runs for the post of P.M. like US presidential primary, shouldn't our democracy system be reformed so that we are not only known as the world's largest democracy but set standards for the world to look at.

Christine said...

Hi Shobhaa,kudos to you for calling a spade, a spade(again!)God help us if Shinde bhau gets on the gaddi :).Nice peice about the bakul phool and Shetty's mantars as well.. lol.I read her blog recently and it was very sad.Good for her, that her team's in better shape than her grammar!
also, would love to read your"insider" take on bahu's red carpet fit!

obssesor said...

I read it in Deccan Chronicle and thought it was very well written. btw what happenned to your column with DC?

Pratik Rangunwala said...

Nice article, quite thought provoking

With treatments in india being cheaper than anywhere else in the world, India is surely out to become the ultimate hotspot for medical tourists in the time to come.

IndiaHeartBeat.Com

-Pratik

NG said...

how come there's no "search" bar on ur blog... u should get one lest someone wants to read ur opinion about something specific!!!

ruben said...

Do u have any sort of special animosity towads Mr Shinde?????true he may be a bevada or a person of low character, but hadly dis anyone see him as a prime ministerial candidate.

It needs something more to be the prime minister of such a big country even though u may be a Dalit ka beta or beti or being a face a religion, caste or a community.

For best eg see Mayawati now:)

ZB said...

nice blog, such is the sad state of politics, all bevdaas and gunda mavalis, where do sucha seeda saada bharatiya citizen go in this big bad world. keep churning, loved your humor.

Shobhaa De said...

Guys, just to assure you that I do read every single comment posted here, but prefer to respond individually to those that interest me. What would you rather have - a community comment?? Or a personal response? Let me know1 Cheers. De

Amit Goel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gajendra said...

neeta ambani's gayathri mantra....tehehehe....good one.

freakaholic said...

Dear Shobhaa,

It would certainly be appreciated if you attend to personal posts too as they would be specific and useful for the interaction, as well as clarification on your views. It goes by default that you reply to those that interest you but perhaps the levels can be raised a bit so that the respondents be happy about the same. Pleasure reading the same. Thank you.

http://www.freakaholioxic.blogspot.com

Harish said...

...In India, we get very touchy and judgemental about people who like their alcohol. I totally agree with you...

sometimes we get overtly judgmental.. its a thing with we indians... we always have our analytical minds at play.. which is good. but just that we go a little too overboard.

no sooner someone comes to power or becomes popular, there would be talks about the person's sharab and shabab doing its rounds. How does it matter whom the personality does and what s/he drinks... as long as s/he works efficiently... the personal life should be left to them.

let them deal with their livers and libidos... we have ours to deal with... (i wouldnt say the same about smoking as its my lungs at stake then)

to have an opinion or a point of view is okay... not passing a testimony on the person.



id personally prefer bewdas to fatwas (read bee jade pee).

********************************

shilpa is suddenly lucky no... i mean, look at where she started... blink and miss in Baazigar... and then, sex bomb in Chura Ke Dil Mera Goriya Chali(cant forget teh fiasco that this song was, horrible editing- her white chaddi's were seen in one step of hers... not sexy at all)... and then sick performance in southern flicks like mr. Romeo et al... And now..! dekho how she is shooting high... Big Sister... Yoga Seductress... IPL winner... her taare sitaray all are shining... Her very beautiful MOM sunandha is responsible. Shilpa otherwise comes across as someone who is very scatterbrained, so with shamita... Sunandha is for shilpa, what jaya chakravarathy was for Hema and Babita was for Karisma.

Unknown said...

nice article...

Work from home India