Column

K-rail to K-state

Santhosh Kumar

The otherday I met Sadanandan, a CPI (M) activist from our neighborhood. He was born poor, stopped schooling in the 7th class when his father fell down from a coconut tree and died. Since then became a sort of 'man-Friday' of the CPI(M) local committe.

Sadanandan was known to me since his childhood. His was a typical making of a CPI(M) 'self-declared' party member. Somehow, he survived despite having any job. Then, the party did not allow back-door-employment in any government department. Else Sadanandan would have become a Section Head in the Chief Minister's office by now. But for, Sadanandan, his life remained the same either with a job or without one like many youngsters in Kerala.

Sadanandan greeted me with a grin and asked how I am? I promptly returned the courtesy and asked how he is.

"How goes your party activities, Sadanandan?"

"It's going very well Sir. I am being nominated to the local committee here. I am honored."

I could feel the thrill in Sadanandan's voice at the thought of becoming just a grass-root-level memebr of the communist party.

"That is an achievement, Sadanandan. Congratulations comrade."

"Even Comrade Pinarayi was just a party member when he came into the party. See, who he is now! He is the Chief Minister of the State..."

"If that is the way the party works who knows that you also will be a chief minister tomorrow?"

Sadanandan looked visibly pleased with my comment. He liked me calling him 'comrade'.

After a while Sadanandan asked me:

"Do you think our party will come into power in the coming assembly elections?"

"I don't know how the people are going to support your party or the Congress or the BJP in the coming elections. So I can't say for sure about it, Sadanandan. Why did you ask me that question?"

"You seem knowledgable and politically alert. I just wanted an impartial opinion, Sir."

"Your government claims that it stands for development in the State. But your treasury seems running out of money. Then how can you hope for a third term in this State, Sadanandan?"

My answer made Sadanandan look confused about his party's future in the State. After some time he asked me:

"Is it true that comrade Pinarayi is dreaming of making Kerala a soverign state by introducing K-rail, K-phone, K-bank and spends sleepless nights thinking of making a third term here?"

Sadanandan, like all other comrades in the State, also might have dreaming of making Kerala a soverign state like Ukraine. Ukraine, known as "little Russia", broke away from Soviet Union in 1991 with 300,000 people forming a human chain for Ukraine independance. I am sure that there would be no one to form a human chain and claim independence for Kerala as a soverign state in India. Forming a human chain in Kerala is not a new invention for the inhabitants of Kerala unlike the inhabitants of Ukraine. Even new-born babies were a part of a human chain here.

Only a few senile old comrades still dreaming big of the K-rail, k-bank, and k-phone and even a K-state! Senility among the rulers can make the State a mess. Pinarayi would never become another 'Hetman of all Ukraine'.

Seeing I am busy thinking in silence about the future of CPI(M) in Kerala, Sadanandan disappeared without saying even a 'bye'. Perhaps, he must be dreaming of himself in the CM's chair in the next assembly elections. Who knows how history evolves?