Broken Nation

The man looked middle age in his blue overalls. One would get the impression he was some sort of a technician and given the meeting context most likely to pass off as an electrician. There was a purposeful way he went about walking towards a small crowd that had gathered around an elderly man who looked fragile and was helped in his walk by two young girls on both the sides. As soon as he was in front of the elderly man, he introduced himself as Godsend. N. Ram bowed to the elderly man while his hand reached out to a sharp weapon in the shoulder bag he had carried and stabbed the elderly man in his heart. The elderly man who was respectfully known as the Mahatma clutched his heart and faintly whispered a prayer ‘iswar allah tere naam’ and died in the arms of the girls.

The security was lax and only a few men formed a cardon around Mahatma. They were shell shocked but quickly gathered themselves and pounced on Godsend. The gathered crowd started screaming and the word quickly spread that the Mahatma had been stabbed to death. There were a few reporters and one smart one wanted to get the first words from the killer and rushed towards Godsend thrusting his mike. Godsend was fully prepared and he shouted “Mahatma would have announced fast unto death forcing the government to hand over the northern valley to Kapistan. I therefore took this pre-emptive action.” It was around 630 pm and the address by Mahatma was to start by 7pm. The reported immediately relayed the recorded statement by Godsend to his channel when the shocking news was televised. Even the PM got to know of Mahatma’s death from this channel news only as he was also getting ready to see the live coverage of Mahatma’s meeting. He was aware that Mahatma up to some mischief but the intelligence agency could not find more about what he was up to. Some Godsend had taken unilateral action. The home minister then called and advised that PM should address the nation as usual at 8 pm. He would meet him before that and give him a brief as to what should be told to the nation.

PM as his is wont came on TV at eight PM in the evening. Unlike the first PM who had declared the light has gone out of the nation, the 8 PM simply informed that the Mahatma had been shot down and difference to his wishes he would be given a simple burial in the Sabarmati Ashram. He however added that there are many conspiracy theories floating around behind Mahatma’s assassination and he would request the Supreme Court Chief Justice to appoint a sitting judge to head a commission of enquiry. This would reveal the truth about Godsend, if indeed he was the true son of the nation!

Social media was agog with Godsend. The #IamwithGodsend already had a huge following. Times have changed indeed in this new India.

The CJI was shocked to learn that many sitting judges recused themselves. Nobody dared confront the truth seeing the social media following for Godsend. Social media had already decided who was on trial and what the judgement should be. CJI was left to hand over the mantle of the enquiry commission to one Mr Going who only had a few months left in his career. Mr Going clicked his tongue in delight when he received the communication from CJI. There was an upper-class seat vacant and he had eyed post-retirement. He already knew what the verdict should be. According to him verdict should align itself with the majority sentiment in cases such as the one in hand that had political overtones.

It so happened that one of Mahatma’s nieces confessed to the commission that Mahatma in a conversation had revealed to her the dilemma he was facing about the northern valley. He knew that the northern valley was a thorn in the flesh between the two nations. But the mother India could be generous and hand over the valley to Kapistan and bring lasting peace. Whether Mahatma was planning to announce his fast unto death, the niece wasn’t sure. It was also a mystery how Godsend got to hear about his conversation between Mahatma and his niece was a mystery. In the questioning Godsend kept repeating that he knew that Mahatma was up to some serious treason but refused to reveal the source of his information.

Kaal chakra turned on. People got busy fighting their daily battles to earn a livelihood. Three months later the commission’s verdict was to be announced. That morning was dark and gloomy. The Sun decided not to appear foreboding of things to come. Mr Going announced that the Godsend was guilty of taking law into his hands. However, he had the welfare of the country at heart. There was some substance to his fear that Mahatma had thought about handing over the northern valley to Kapistan. Whimsical the Mahatma was, no one knew if he had that intention and if he would have announced a fast unto death. But Mr Going was giving the benefit of doubt to Godsend. By this time #Iamwithgodsend had exceeded the PM’s popularity even. My Going in deference to majority’s wishes had decided to recommend a presidential pardon.

The government with alacrity resolved in parliament supporting the verdict and the president duly signed on dot. Mr Godsend was duly pardoned and he went on to become a true hero of New India. India thus truly changed. In the Sabarmati Ashram few elderly Gandhians had gathered and were heard lamenting the rise of Godsend. The police arrested them for treason for speaking against the true hero of the nation. The district magistrate passed an order supporting the arrest and announced that there was prima-facie a case against the elderly Gandhians. The case went up to high court and the high court judges upheld the magistrate’s judgement. Then the case went up to the Supreme Court and the SC found no evidence of treason and ordered the release of Gandhians. But by this time the elderly Gandhians had endured six months of underserved jail term. Such is the due process of law. 

Six months after Mr Going retired, he was inducted in to the upper house. Except for a cursory opposition statement nobody bothered. He was duly rewarded for respecting majority sentiments. Satyameva Jayate!