121. Villagers stoning Bihar Chief Minister. P S Remesh Chandran

121

Villagers stoning Bihar Chief Minister

P S Remesh Chandran

Editor, Sahyadri Books & Bloom Books, Trivandrum
 Article Title Image By Ihsan Rosniza. Graphics: Adobe SP.

Robert Browning in his poem ‘The Patriot’ describes the different treatments the same man receives from the same people within a course of one year. First he was received by the people royally like a patriot. After one year he was dragged through the streets by the same people and given a scornful send-off to his death as a condemned man. The poet does not tell exactly what crime was committed by such a famous and worshipped man to be sent to the gallows within one year. Perhaps he might have turned a traitor to his country or people, or might have done much favouritism and corruption for his friends while he was in power, or else people might have made a serious mistake in judging him. We have examples of a Caesar returning victoriously after an Egyptian Tour, received jubilantly by people in Rome and declared by Senate as the Dictator for the entire Roman lands and after that, within days, assassinated by a senator in front of all senators fearing for the likely chance of him in the future declaring himself as an Emperor of Rome. We also have before us the example of the Oracle of Delphi proclaiming none was wiser than Socrates and then Socrates being assassinated by the City Council of Athens for a puny charge of corrupting their youth. The execution of Sir. Thomas Moore, the modern day Socrates, also is vivid in our memories. We have seen this exact scene in history a few centuries before, in the mountains of Gagultha. A human representative of the creator and molder of mankind- an innocent carpenter- was executed on the cross for the crime of loving mankind. History is so full of such admonition messages from the past that now we all know that people’s applause is but momentary and that their admiration nor condemnation shall not be taken into account in assessing a man’s real worth. In Browning’s poem, the patriot did everything for his people that a man could do while in authority. All of a sudden people turned against him and decided to hang him publicly as a punishment for his crimes committed during one year. Everything he did during one year had become crimes when viewed from another angle. Now we see him hands fettered, suffering in rain, stoned all the way, being dragged to the death post. And now there is nobody on the roof-tops to watch the spectacle. All have gone to the death-post at Shambles’ Gate to get the best direct sight of hanging him. What an unpredictable twist of human attitude! People’s applause and esteem is but a momentary bubble soon to explode. But they certainly have the right to stone a man elected by them to authority because his authority, if he has any, exclusively belongs to the people. Protection from the anger of his people is not an elected authority’s birth right or a privilege. If he has to escape and flee from his people, why should he pose and be considered as a leader? Or, is it a private gang that he is leading? 

[In response to news article ‘Villagers pelt stones at Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's convoy’ on 23 May 2012]