A Kashmiri Leader
Kashyap Bandhu
[Source : Desh Files procured from Sh. S. N. Gorkha, Translated from
Urdu by Prof. M. L. Kaul.]
One of the discerning boons that our country
was blessed with in 1931 was the establishment of 'leader industry'. At
the outset this 'industry' was the monopoly of two 'directors', Sheetalnath and
Pather Masjid. But now the 'directors' have lost their hegemony as every
household has started churning out various brands of leaders. Kashmiris
labour under the idea that the 'leader industry' is profit-yielding. Some
Gandhians aspire to broad-base it by transforming it from 'personal industry'
into 'spinning wheel industry' and have unleashed a tide of propaganda in this
behalf. What is interesting is that government spurns it out of sheer
spite. Normally government waxes eloquent on the industrial enterprises in
its administrative and official reports. But it has not made even an
oblique reference to the 'leader industry'. Despite government
indifference and cold apathy it is thriving in our country at a faster rate.
That day is not far when this industry will touch a lofty height and attain an
unimaginable glory. The types of goods churned out from the industry can
be labelled under various brands, the top brand being 'hundred per cent leader'.
This industry manufactures countless 'toy-like leaders', who are as cheap,
and fore us the Japanese toys are. In their manufacture various materials
are used, their upper layers are hard and solid lest they should break and give
way. Softer substances are used under the cover of harder ones like wood,
stone et al. Such toys can be seen littering over the tables of a clerk,
or head clerk and an office superintendent and are also put on an exhibition in
the drawing rooms of big-wigs. Poets have woven poems and poems with these
toys as their central theme. Some directors have researched the substances
of these leaders and come to the conclusion that if a clerk was plagued with a
transfer, he would earn, an immediate reprieve by reference to such toy-like
leaders. But this plague is quite rampant and such a prescription is not
efficacious now.
'Khwaja like leader' is another commodity of this industry. The
present-day nawabs and their womenfolk live in their ivory towers which, can be
well-guarded by these servile leaders. They do not permit a straw bird to
perch there. They shove away a human being if he dares enter and
interfere. Vested interests have emerged among ordinary populations of
Hindus and Muslims, when as a matter of policy these are to be kept at bay.
This task is diligently performed by the 'Khwaja like leaders' by erecting a
rampart between the vested interests and Muslim-Hindu folks. They are faithful
and are always at the beck and call of their masters. They guard the
ramparts of faithfully and the opinion of their masters is that they are a
useful commodity and serve their interests efficiently.
'100% leaders' have attained adulthood under the shadow of the Koran and the
Vedas. They have declined into old age while murmuring the mantra of '100%
Hindu leader' and '100% Muslim leader'. With the setting in of every
season these people take a 'religious purgative' and feel an intestinal
discomfort out of patriotic sentiments. The Merciful God finally relieves
them of pain and discomfort. Leaders of this brand deem it necessary to
formalise their ties with heaven and heavenly beauties for purposes of nation's
salvation. As they are troubled by poverty of the poor, hardships of the
hard-ups and nakedness of the nakeds, their alternative is to conceal their
penury, hardship and nudity with the leaves of the Garden of Eden, which were
used by Adam to hide his nudity at the time of his expulsion from Heaven.
However, this industry is yet at its initial stages. They say that it
does not seem to be set for manufacturing such commodities as fine to look at,
economical, superior, lasting and durable. There may be a modicum of truth
in it. But we should not forget that this industry is yet in its infancy.
Therefore, there is every reason if the goods churned out from this industry are
not competitive in the broader country-wide market.
But in my opinion this industry is progressing well, As a matter of evidence
reference can be made to Sardar Budh Sing Ji who is changing his underwear for a
bigger size and Sheikh Abdullah who is replacing his Turkish cap by a Gandhian
model.
| 
Previous
Article
