Most of us know that historic moment
of the epic battle of Mahabharata when Yudhishthira had to speak a half-lie.
Let us quickly refresh the incident to appreciate its modern day context.
The Kauravas were going strong
under the leadership of Dronacharya. They were decimating the Pandava army,
which led to a panic in the Pandava camp. There was a serious brainstorming
session in Pandava camp during which it was decided that if they were somehow able
to demoralize Dronacharya, even momentarily, they could regain their control
over the war. But then, how to weaken Dronacharya even for a moment? That was a
challenge. Then it dawned upon them that Dronacharya loved his son Ashwatthama
very much. If they could spread a rumor that Ashwatthama was dead, Dronacharya
would be dejected and morally down.
Accordingly, the Pandava camp
named an elephant as Ashwatthama. Then Bheema killed Ashwatthama, the elephant.
Immediately, the Pandava camp spread the news in battlefield that ‘Bheema
killed Ashwatthama’. Dronacharya, who heard this news, did not believe it
initially. He happened to be near Yudhishthira, so he approached him and asked
his whether the news was true. The impeccable reputation of Yudhishthira, that
he always spoke the truth, can be gauged from the fact that the commander of
enemy’s army chose to ask him to verify a news related to his son.
It was one of the defining
moments in the war. Yudhishthira knew the truth. Yet, he could not divulge the
truth, as he wanted to win the war. At the same time, he could not tell a lie,
as his reputation of several years would be washed away. He was in a dilemma.
He chose the middle path. He
spoke the half-truth.
He said, “Ashwatthama Hata iti,
Narova, Kunjarova’. Which meant, ‘Ashwatthama is dead. I do not know whether
man or elephant’. He intentionally uttered the last two words, ‘Narova
Kunjarova’ in a low voice, so that they could be suppressed in the trumpets
blowing all around. On hearing this confirmation from Yudhishthira, Dronacharya
instantly dropped his bow and arrow and sat down on the floor, overwhelmed with
the grief of losing his beloved son. That gave the Pandava camp the much-needed
opportunity and they swung the battle in their favor.
Now fast-forward to the current
times.
Arvind Kejriwal went to attend
the much hyped and publicized event of Nitish Kumar’s oath taking ceremony. As
he entered on the stage, he found Laloo Prasad Yadav, who warmly embraced him
and raised his hand together with Arvind Kejriwal’s hand, in a show of unity
and togetherness.
Later, Arvind had to clarify to
his supporters and critics that it was Laloo, who forcibly hugged him and
caught his hand to raise it, in a show of solidarity between the two leaders.
How far his clarification is likely to be accepted is anybody’s guess.
However, we ask five pertinent
questions at this stage.
When he went so enthusiastically
to the oath taking ceremony, did he not know that he would encounter Laloo
Prasad’s dominating presence in the event? How did he plan to react / respond
when such a situation, which was logically anticipated?
Does Arvind Kejriwal support the
Bihar government, which has major presence of Laloo Prasad Yadav? He had
mentioned Laloo Prasad Yadav as a corrupt politician, just a few months ago.
Does Arvind Kejriwal support
Laloo Prasad Yadav’s son’s becoming the Dy. CM and a minister in the
government? How can he then criticize or comment on Smriti Irani’s
qualifications?
Arvind Kejriwal had gone in a
chartered plane to Patna to attend this event. How does he differentiate
between himself and Narendra Modi, whom he had accused of using chartered
planes?
The video clip did not display
any expressions of embarrassment or hesitation on Arvind Kejriwal’s face, when
Laloo Prasad Yadav hugged him on the stage.
So, was he really embarrassed at
all?
The country today is so deeply
divided among various political affiliations that the merits of opponents and
demerits of their own leaders have become almost invisible. Obviously, the AAP
supporters would find nothing objectionable or wrong in what their supreme and
the holier-than-thou leader has done in full public display. They would pass it
off as basic courtesy, social obligation and political etiquette.
However, history has recorded
this hug. Moreover, future will reveal whether this was the ‘Narova Kunjarova’
moment in Arvind Kejriwal’s political career. The reason why we consider this
moment as ‘Narova Kunjarova’ moment is also very simple. Arvind Kejriwal has
been the fulcrum of the anti-corruption movement spearheaded by Anna Hazare. He
has fought elections on anti-corruption plank. His ‘unknown, low-profile’ candidates
have won the elections because of his faith and belief in eradicating
corruption from Indian politics. He has challenged all the high and mighty from
across the party lines on issue of corruption. He had almost created a halo of ‘most
clean’ politician on Indian soil today.
However, his national ambition
had overtaken his other interests. He wanted to hog the limelight on national
scene rubbing shoulders with the third front politicians to emerge as a
possible consensus prime ministerial candidate during the 2019 general elections.
This ambition momentarily blinded him and (mis)led him to share the stage with
Laloo Prasad Yadav. If he did not huh Laloo Prasad Yadav, his national
interests would be in jeopardy. If he hugged Laloo, then his clean image would
take a hit.
It was indeed a difficult moment.
He had to take a decision. He took. Now this moment shall re-define his destiny
in Indian politics.
It is said that till the time
Yudhishthira did not speak that half-lie, his chariot always rode two inches
above the ground. Once he uttered that half-truth, his chariot too, like all
other chariots, rested on the ground.
It would be interesting to see
what impact it would have on Arvind Kejriwal.
