Truths in rumours & humours

Free Thinker *

Rumor mongering and rampant gossiping are part of our political culture and these are also the bread and butter of many. Such syndrome is prevalent in every political organization irrespective of ideologies. Their main discussions are on who has taken what? auction-type-bribery (highest bidder gets the job done), romance of elected members, their new high-end cars, the maker of guns they carry, number of spouses they maintain etc. They all relish such junks and tolerate one another.

The only time you don’t like gossip is when people gossip about you; otherwise everyone loves gossips and also pay utmost attention to political rumors. Many a small thing has been made large by the diabolic design of rumor mongers. For instance “a VIP wife was taken to shopping by a security guard”; as a matter of fact VIP wife had taken the security staff for her Ningol Chakkouba shopping, so that he would hold her things. What things? Another gossip!

A highly obnoxious recently manufactured rumor is, a transfer order was made to sign at midnight. It is really stunning to hear such baseless rumors because Shahab sleeps at 11. It reminds me a futile rumor; when Mark Twain was in London (1897), a newspaper in the USA carried the news that he was dead. He reacted to that news in his inevitable style, “the report of my death is highly exaggerated”.

The sycophants narrate many cook and bull stories to their bosses and in turn they get rewards in cash or in kind. Surprisingly bosses tend to pay attention to what their chellas utter. Many a times such gossips cause frictions within the fraternity leading to bigger problems creating chasm and even political instability.

So, politics is a very funny business which can easily be ruined by rumors and gossips. Just on the basis of some hearsay and mere suspicion wings of his own people were clipped; not only that the organization chief was asked by the competent to remain vigilant to prevent any political maneuvering . And at the same time the man holding the weapon of mass destruction was also cautioned by the same competent authority not to show-off his weapon. These all are culminated by the rumor mills within the political arena.

The nobleman of Singjamei is the one who has the Bramhastra; however he will not use the weapon until and unless he himself is 100 percent sure of its beneficial and benevolent impacts. Anyone with some idea of the Tenth Schedule (defection laws) must be aware of the possible number games for changing the political dynamics. He has the Constitutional power to count the de-jure number and take a decision accordingly inside the ‘House’. His counting is so significant that it can change the destiny of a government.

Someone may conveniently say that it is again a hyperbolic analysis. Many weeks back two ministers were really annoyed as they were stricken by an unconfirmed news that they were going to be dropped. That proposed reshuffling did not take place as the super boss was either too busy or not interested; or the news was bogus.

Another hot rumor is that 4 ministers of a party are likely to be replaced by unemployed MLAs. According to the same source it is confirmed that nothing will happen till the outcome of Lok Sabha election. After the Sangai Festival there may be some changes but certainly not the top leaders. These are again rumorous gossips, authenticity of which is highly hinky. If elected nobles are uncomfortable with the fraternity and unhappy with the Rule they may resign or design.

Politics is not always driven by ideologies or Party doctrine but many a times by personal egos, dictates of High Command and allurement of power and money. This is the harsh political reality. You may relate the same as political sophistry or blah blah, but the truth of anguish is in the air.

Another rumor which is doing the rounds within the parivar is that the incumbent in-charges will be promoted to handle some bigger responsibilities. That is going to happen sooner or later, may be after Dec 11. But the buzz in the political circle is that one in- charge may come from Maharashtra. The NE in – charge may be an old hand but the State may get a raw hand. Such gossips carry weight, because there are many who want to believe in it.

One octogenarian politician claimed that the concept of ‘go to village’ was initiated by him when he was the Agriculture Minister. And ‘go to hills’ was really started by one Muslim Chief Minister of the State; whenever he was approached for transfer he used to say ‘go to hills’. These are old political blabs.

Chandrakriti Maharaj did organize public hearings perhaps for grievance redressal of the people. If someone deploys all these ideas smartly to win the prize, why should we envy and gossip? Everyone is so keen to listen to such gossips and rumors.

Reporters are helpless; they are also bound by demand and inquisitive minds. Unfortunately people pay too much attention to bruits and slanders and we are really neglecting vital issues like
“whether ‘Sumo’ was one of our indigenous games, when it went to Japan, who has brought it back?
Who assassinated the Amur falcon?
Which weapon was used – air gun or the catapult?
Should we ban both air gun and catapult?
Why is Keli ‘channa’ always ‘mangan’?
Who is going to be the biggest beneficiary of the Sangai Festival? Of course the people!

Why are you giggling?