A news item caught my attention yesterday. It was about the tribals of Madhya Pradesh meeting Mrs. Sonia Gandhi on her birthday. Though she was not celebrating and had refused to meet people, she made an exception for these tribals. As the report says: they came with little bags on their heads and rotis in their pockets...
Since one of my identities is that of a Madhya Pradeshi, the picture of these tribals was very vivid in my mind's eye...they must have taken months to arrive at this major decision of going to far-away Dilli...then the preparation...the excitement of traveling, going by train...they would have packed enough rotis for the whole journey, counting out their money only for tea...then arriving in this huge station, and going to 10 Janpath. Since everything in India is seen in a family context, to them in all probability, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is Ma...Obviously she features in their minds otherwise why would they make this journey for her birthday. Obviously she means something to them, and is deified according to some obscure belief in their hearts and minds. How like them too, to give her 'advice' about reviving the party in Madhya Pradesh.
How innocent and how charming...