As
the harsh April sun blazes the earth ferociously, Jharkhand gets hotter
with politics, games and sports.
Some describe politics, too, as a game and rightly so. The arrival
of BJP president Rajnath Singh on his Bharat Suraksha Rath in the
state coincided with that of star wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh
Dhoni, a local lad, and his Team India mates on Monday to play an
ODI against England at Jamshedpur.
Though Keenan, where the cricket lovers gathered on Wednesday to watch
Dhoni set the stadium ablaze, is 135 km from Ranchi, the city's shops,
restaurants and offices were abuzz with talks about Mahi, as Dhoni
is referred to, and his heroics.
Few are talking about Rajnath's yatra though the BJP president moved
in an impressive rath with fancy cars occupied by state's political
heroes Arjun Munda and Babulal Marandi escorting him. His clarion
call to launch a battle against religious conversion and militancy
and his efforts to make people "aware" of serious issues
like "threat on national security" too have failed to evoke
any popular response.
I, at least, did not find any group on the Ranchi streets even sparing
a few minutes to discuss the "serious issues" that Rajnath
raised in his passionate addresses at Majha Toli, Gumla Bazaar, Palkot
and Khunti. His visit was simply a non-event, at least, for common
people.
But the mention of Dhoni and his team-mates are on every lip. Youths
had gathered around TV sets in shops and offices to watch cricket.
Many had left for Keenan to get a glimpse of their heroes. "I
have watched Dhoni bat at Morabadi Grounds on several occasions. It
would have felt great had I managed to watch him play as a Team India
member in an international match," remarked Tarun Kumar, pursuing
graduation at a local college.
His friends, gathered at Raghunath's paan shop near Rajendra Institute
of Medical Sciences (RIMS), echoed similar feelings. "Why do
you want us to discuss the scoundrels, who rattle of boring speeches?
We have nothing to do with these Rajnaths and Mundas," remarked
one when I intervened to get their reaction on Rajnath's yatra. The
youths disdainfully dismissed Rajnath and other politicians and stared
at me as if I had interfered with the pleasure they were deriving
through their talks.
I initially wondered why the city youths were so repulsed regarding
the netas. But with a bit of thinking and discussion with the society
watchers I have reached the conclusion that the people, particularly
the youths, are fast losing their faith on the present breed of "netas".
The youths see inspiration, promise and hope in the Dhonis, Tendulkars,
Sehwags and Yuvrajs. They hardly find anything interesting in the
"netas". Moreover, if leaders discuss something topical,
which deserves concern they do derive some sort of interest. For instance,
when A.B. Vajpayee and other politicians spoke on national security
when operations against intrusion in Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir
was in progress, it generated interest among the masses, who were
concerned about national security, when it was under threat.
But the borders appear to be safe as of now, because India and Pakistan
are on the negotiation table rather than on battlefields and there
is no war in the country. So Rajnath's talk of national security at
this juncture bores more than it informs.
People are simply dismissing his rhetoric as an "effort to build
up his political image" rather than his concern for security.
On the other hand, cricket fever has gripped a state otherwise known
for its love for sports and has produced many a star performers in
hockey and volleyball, besides Dhoni in cricket. I too wish the state
to keep on producing more Dhonis than Mundas, Marandis and Rajnaths.
