Keep the filth out!

Indian politicians are by and large better than their counterparts in many parts of the world. We keep to a verbal duel and infrequent abuses, while many foreign legislatures have witnessed every physical form of combats and attacks.

However, the Gandhian philosophy of peaceful co-existence is blown to the winds when an election sets in. While frequent recurrences make such vitriolic attacks’ normal,’ Bengal prides itself on a unique plurality and political parties’ inclusivity. The famed ‘Addas’ permit the free exchange of ideas, the opposing parties sipping tea and returning home hands on their shoulders. 

Mamata has lost her temper and had used expletives against Modi several times. Her famous promise to tie a rope around Modi’s waist and drag him around seemed insignificant against her exhorting her party men yesterday to slap BJP members wherever seen. 

No wonder her confidante and MP Derek O’Brien today described Amit Shah as a ‘Dhop baj and a ‘Gul baj,’ both meaning liar in Bengali. The descriptions could also reveal the circle in which one moves and are largely for youths or goons. I guess not Derek could belong to either. The Bengali language is very rich, has beautiful and precise words, without sounding ‘gutter-quality.’ Instead of pretentious conquer of the language, Derek could keep to English or Hindi.

A few question Modi and Amit Shah repeatedly referring to Mamata Banerjee as ‘Pishi’ or aunt. However,  it is unlike when many senior left leaders abusing Mamata Banerjee in most derogatory terms. My memory includes Shyamal Chakraborty, Anil Basu and Anisur Rehman, but there could be more. To keep my wall clean, I refrain from reproducing their abusive tirades against Mamata. If there was no ‘bhaipo,’ nephew, there would have been no ‘Pisi,’ aunt either. Both are intricately intertwined and collated terms, which I need not elaborate on. I must add, I do not approve of the ‘Bermudas’ quip by the State BJP president either.

Overall, what one utters also exemplifies their culture and upbringing. Surely all our leaders, Modi and Shah included, could do better.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix