The Hindu Business Line : Gandhispeak on Singur

Gandhiji was resting under a banyan tree at Horniman Circle after attending a midnight Christmas mass at a more than 100-year-old church. This year Mumbai has not seen a drop in temperatures. The night was a warm summer and the Old Man took a sip of Bisleri water and wiped his bald head with a towel.

Left to himself he would have been quietly reading the Bible, but Ba had insisted on the church visit and Gandhiji could never deny her wish. "So what were you doing when the priest was reading the Bible," Gandhiji asked Ba, who opened a packet of dry fruits for her husband.

"I was chanting the name of Ram, like you always tell me to do," Ba replied and Gandhiji smiled.

From his khaki sling bag, Gandhiji took out a copy of Tukaram: Says Tuka (translated by Dilip Chitre) and was going over the famous lines: " I burnt the seed itself/And pop it went/Now I have gone beyond/Life and death/What space can enclose my form?/ My body itself is God./Sugar does not become/Sugarcane again./We will never grow/In another womb./Says Tuka,/ This is absolute awakening:/There is Pandurang/In every thing." India's famous couple were waiting for Nehru and JRD Tata, who had promised to pick them up for a late night cup of coffee and buns at the Taj.

Then they were pounced upon by a bunch of TV journalists with beaming cameras turning the Christian night into a day. Their editors had told them to get a byte from Gandhiji as there was no news to beam.

For a few moments, the Old Man and his wife did not know what was happening but they gathered their wits when a 20-year-old lady from Horror TV channel came asking: "Who is Gandhi here?" At that moment, JRD Tata drew up in his Mercedes with Nehru and the two helped the lady to identify Gandhi.

"Sir, what are you doing with your wife at Horniman Circle at this time of the hour?" asked a second curious lady from Misquote TV channel.

Being ever gracious, Ba offered the packet of dry fruits to the young crowd and requested them to sit on the grass, while Gandhi offered them two bottles of Bisleri water. "I would have liked to offer you coconut water. But I don't see any coconut sellers. Maybe they have been picked up by the Municipality," said Gandhiji.

The TV journalists were not keen on coconuts or any nuts, for that matter. "What is your view on Mamata's satyagarh at Singur against the Tata car project coming up on farmland?" they shouted together. Not being used to pesky TV journalists, Gandhi took some time before saying, "I cannot take your question as in recent times I have been watching cricket and the ads which go with it on the TV. I particularly like the Hutch ad with the kid running and the dog following. Our networks follow you... wherever you go."

And the Old Man took out a mobile to take a call from JRD who had been pushed far out by the TV crowd. "Be careful," JRD warned.

Most of the 50 TV journalists did not appreciate Gandhiji's reply and as one yelled, "Sir, we want to know your views on Mamata? Would you have gone on a fast?" Ba nudged Gandhiji who replied: "Ladies and gentlemen, I have not been following the event. Nor am I sure whether my fast and that of Mamata are the same. But I believe that one should be kind to farmers. I am not against car manufacture as economic development is about making more cars and jamming the roads. All my life I have walked on two legs and I suppose it applies to all of you. They can make the car on non-farm land. If the West Bengal government wants I will take up the issue with my friend JRD who can in turn discuss it with Ratan."

The TV crowd was unhappy with the wishy-washy reply and one 30-year-old journalist cried: "Sir, are you for the car in Singur or not? We want a Yes or No."

Gandhi looked like being cornered and took a sip of water. Nehru and JRD made their way through the mass of TV cameras, attendants and journalists to rescue Gandhiji. When Nehru tried to intervene, a curious wire journalist said, "Sir, please can you identify yourself."

Nehru introduced himself and JRD before getting down to discuss the Singur project. "JRD and myself do not agree with Bapu on Singur. But then we never agree with Bapu on anything. Gandhi's views are meant for men like Romain Rolland to think over. They have no empirical validity. I think the West Bengal government is doing the right thing backing the car project as it will provide farmers permanent employment," Nehru said.

At last, the TV journalists had a fine quote for their Breaking News. Being always the gentleman, JRD did not appreciate the manner Nehru tripped Gandhiji.

He was staring admiringly into the cameras when a 50-year-old from the print media walked up, gave his card and asked for JRD's card. "So, are you related to Ratan," he asked and JRD nodded. "Then you should be backing the Singur small car project," the elderly journalist said.

"Economic development implies projects eating up farm land. There is no other way though my good friend Gandhiji will ask where is the need for a car when villagers walk miles to get a drop of water," JRD explained.

As the TV crowd packed up one last question was put up to Gandhiji: "Whom did you back in the Ashes series?" Quick came the reply, "Flintoff and England" and the journalists walked away arguing whether Gandhiji was worth the effort or the lead.

P. Devarajan

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