Perception of Domain -- Deschooling Kapil Sibal

Did some one say ‘the proper study of mankind is man’? Kapil Sibal is the new-age avatar of that honourable syllogist.

Baba Ramdev is a yoga guru. He should teach yog aasan, not political aasan. You know, the proper job to do, don’t go beyond the limits into another’s domain. Put in your thumb… pull out a plum… and say what a good boy am I !

For long, this country has been obsessed with the notion of suitability. It is suitable for a Brahmin’s son to study the Vedas; for a kshatriya’s son to study warfare and learn warlike arts… so on.

Today a doctor’s son becomes a doctor, an actor’s son becomes an actor, a cricketer’s son becomes a cricketer, an IAS Officer’s son becomes an IAS officer, a politician’s son becomes a politician, a Prime Minister’s son becomes a Prime Minister… logical, dynastic and divinely ordained.This is India. We are like this only.

So, said the wise Kapila, to the yoga guru, stick to your field and thou shalt not fail. You and your generations, teach yoga aasanas.

The catch ,of course, is that this is Swatantra Bharat, Independent India. Some times, political convenience, nay expediency, demands that an actor, or a cricketer or a fire-spitting Swami don the role of a politician. Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Chetan Chauhan, Azharuddin, Shatrughan Sinha, M.G.Ramachandran, N.T. Rama Rao, Jayalalita. Some Exceptions, please.

Else, what does an actor know of anything but grease-paint, dupes, dubbing and some facial contortion? What would a cricketer know except a red ball coming at ones head and the frantic need to run back to the pavilion?

Kapil Sibal sahib , you need deschooling.

Is there any activity which does not involve politics? Is there any man who takes a stance and asserts with conviction that it is NOT a political stance? Is all life except that of career politicians devoid of political strategies? Is an actor less of a human being than a member of the political class? Is not a cricketer a member of that society which is governed by politics? Is a taxi-driver less of a politician than the corporator whom he drives to the municipal corporation? Does not an Iraq war impact his understanding of petro-politics and economics? Are these members of the social structure unaffected by taxes, inflation, caste and communal politics, politics of language, region, ideas if not ideology?If they are cut, do they not bleed? And if they are hurt, will they not revenge?

How childish and vainglorious Mr. Sibal!!

Baba Ramdev has as much right to indulge in political aasan as you have, Mr. Sibal. In fact he is more fit for the rough and tumble of politics. You, Mr. Sibal need Yoga aasanas to shed the flab, physical and mental, that envelopes you. The Baba’s agitation is about you. The more time your government gives itself on measures against corruption, the flabbier you grow. When corruption grows you rot, you decay and decompose.Trim up, learn the right aasanas, tighten the Lokpal Bill…
and you’ll see how good Anna and Baba are for you.