He picks up stones from the streets and throws them forcefully
against the walls or the electric polls on Bariatu road.
Invariably, the flying fusillades unleashed by him either
smash the vehicles' glasses or hit the passersby on this
busy street.
I
spotted this lunatic known as Govinda Mahato first when
I came to Ranchi in early 2004. I watched him with a sense
of trepidation. At that time Govinda used to throw stones
only during noon. But as the days rolled into months and
months into years, Govinda slipped from schizophrenic
to psychotic stage. Now he flings stones any time and
has turned out to be a big source of trouble for the people
in the area.
I
wondered why someone has not admitted him to one of the
three mental asylums in Ranchi. Even the police or social
workers haven't admitted him to the mental asylum, despite
his sickness, which has grown and he has emerged as a
big threat to children, women and others in the area.
In
fact, like the deterioration in Govinda's mind, I have
watched the deterioration in many other people and situations
in the state in the last couple of years. For instance,
the Ranchi-Hazaribagh-Kodarma road shone like granite,
offering unruffled driving, two and half years ago. The
Ranchi-Jamshedpur road was a delight. The Ranchi-Chakradharpur
Chaibasa road was also very good. But the condition of
all these roads have relatively deteriorated with potholes
and trenches dotting them now. The Ranchi-Kodarma road
has become virtually a nightmare for drivers for a half
kilometre near Hazaribagh.
The
number of poor and half naked women carrying logs on their
head, too, has not decreased on the Ranchi-Chaibasa and
Hazaribagh-Kodarma roads. There is no sign of improvement
in the drinking water facilities in the water starved
Palamau and Garhwa districts. Power and water crisis have
grown considerably in the city, too.
But
contrary to the deterioration in many walks of life in
the last couple of years, I have watched the meteoric
rise in name, fame and prosperity of the politicians ruling
this nascent state. Among the most "fortunate"
ones, is Madhu Koda, the new chief minister. He was not
even a noticeable character in the Assembly when I came
to the city. Yet, the son of a "hadia drinking"
Rasika Koda, from the backwaters of the state, managed
to join the "scotch guzzlers" group in a short
time.
Anosh
Ekka was not even known in Ranchi's political circles
in 2004. Some people say that he sold vegetables and mustard
oil on the streets of Kolebira before joining the 2005
poll fray. But then he has risen more meteorically than
the people of poverty stricken Kolebira. He became a minister
in the Arjun Munda government and later in the Koda Government,
too. He is one of them on whose shoulder stands the government's
fate. The former vegetable seller is said to have a posh
house in Gurgaon and many swanky cars. He wears designer
jeans, shirts and goggles imported from best markets of
the world.
The
"messiah" of the tribals, Shibu Soren, was also
struggling in 2004. But a tribal leader from the coal
rich Jharkhand Guruji is Union coal minister. Now he is
the chairman of the United Progressive Alliance going
to rule the state. His condition, too, has improved. Though
Arjun Munda has lost his chief minister's post, he is
set to be the Leader of Opposition. I personally don't
think his condition has deteriorated. Babulal Marandi
has left the BJP. Yet he has gained in strength to lead
his own party.
As
students we were taught that we have adopted the democratic
system. But I have watched the leaders improving their
condition more than caring for the people and infrastructure.
I felt being fooled when Koda said: "I have decided
to wear the headgear full with thorns to mitigate the
sufferings of the people." Is he telling truth, I
wondered.
