The Resolution

Over the last few days a lot has been telecast about the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or the Common Man's Party. Every time the spectre of AAP is aired, I am reminded of Baba Bharti and his majestic horse Sultan; from a story titled, Haar Ki Jeet, I had read in my Hindi text book in primary school. It is the story of a mendicant, named Baba Bharti who used to lead a pious life in the outskirts of a village. His only worldly possession was a grand horse named Sultan. There were many who coveted this horse.

One of them was a dacoit named Khadag Singh. When he heard about the horse, he wished to possess it. He was told that Baba Bharti would never sell it or part with it. So if he wanted to own that fine horse, he had to steal it. One  morning , as Baba Bharti was riding on his majestic horse, he was stopped by a pitiable man, begging for alms. As Baba Bharti slowed down,  the beggar overpowered him, and revealing his identity, the  dacoit said that all he wanted was the majestic horse.

The Baba was taken aback. Yet he spoke, ‘The horse is yours, this moment  onwards. But promise me - you will not reveal to anyone how you obtained Sultan, what treacherous means you adopted to seize him.’

‘Why?’ countered the fearsome dacoit.

The heartbroken Baba said, ‘After listening to your story,  people will stop giving. They will lose faith. They will not trust anyone and will never help the needy.’

Khadag Singh escaped with the grand horse. The baba went home a sad man. Early next morning he thought he heard the horse neigh. He remembered how he had lost the mighty horse to the menacing dacoit. His legs carried him to the paddock. His Sultan, his gallant Sultan, with bridle in place, was neighing impatiently, waiting to be fed. Baba Bharti was overjoyed, he hugged the strapping horse and kissed it. In his loss, lay his victory. The dacoit had indeed had a change of heart!

Now to the events. It is common knowledge that the AAP was formally launched on 26 November 2012 after a series of agitations against the then central government, which was weighed down by one scam after another.

The AAP raised hopes and rekindled a new hope in the people, who started envisioning an India, rid of corrupt politicians and practices. Several thousand people gave it their all and provided support and succor to the fledgling party. Eminent personalities endorsed the party, adding wisdom and respectability. AAP promised to be transparent and democratic in its fight against corruption.

After initial hiccups, the AAP bounced back and formed the government in Delhi, winning with a thumping majority. I live far away from Delhi and I don’t know how it is being governed. But the AAP has been in the news for everything except what it had promised to do. The differences, the dissent, the drama, the dismissal - all have come to the fore. This has shocked and surprised me for I expected the party to manage its affairs in a mature and honorable way.

Sometimes,  I wonder who is the common man for whom the party was formed? It caught everyone's imagination- the rich and the poor, the elite and the ordinary, the educated and the unlettered. Every section of people had its own grievances and the AAP promised to address all of them. It was a party built on faith. At that time, we did not worry about this...who were these people in whom we were reposing this faith?

More than anything else, now, I will be wary of people's promises. It is difficult to place faith again in people who promise to fight for you. That is why I find parallels with the story. I know Delhi has been overpowered. I am waiting for the end of the story, for the resolution.