Running in shorts or walking around in your undergarments—it’s all about the choice
This Saturday, I’ll tackle two unrelated incidents—both involving a bathroom—that are nothing but positive and life-affirming, but given an entirely negative spin by the cynical press and increasingly intolerable social media.
The first incident is of Gopal Mandal, leader of Janata Dal (United) and MLA from Bihar. It was reported that he was seen ‘walking around in his undergarments’ while traveling in the AC first class compartment of Tejas Rajdhani Express, following which co-passengers objected to the leader’s ‘behaviour’. (Mandal defends that he urgently needs to use the bathroom because of which he has shirtPajamas fell on deaf ears.)
what’s so awful with what he did, pardon the idiom choice, getting all commonums in a turn? What has he done that Milind Soman does not do on a weekly basis? Why it’s okay for Soman to run around in picturesque places, most likely to ‘sing’created In india, made I‘n India’, and post your rearguard action on social media to a standing ovation from an appreciative public, while Mandal, dressed in respectable vests and draperies. soundAccused of being obscene, out of control and causing a ruckus?
What about those topless uncles we encounter from time to time? Attending weddings and other family gatherings, baring your Dunlop daddies out to the unsuspecting public? Are any of these men warning passersby or guests that they are being treated as the Mylapurian version of a man? Moulin Rouge? no sir. How is this okay but Gopal Mandal is a vulgar, bad guy.
Stop being so hypocritical. If Milind, Mother, and sure fairs If the world can do it without any care, so can the Mandal.
The next incident I want to talk about is one Mr. Murli Kamat from Andheri, who occupied two hotel rooms for a period of eight months and ‘run away’ without paying the 25-lakh-bill. From the bathroom window.
What a bad man! how could he? The news of this type of incident is coming in all the newspapers. And in my opinion, social media has been unnecessarily cruel as well.
Why is it being twisted into something evil and cunning when I can only see the good?
By not paying ₹25 lakh, Kamat saved around ₹5,200 per day, good money that can be put to many better uses like building infrastructure, setting up a . pakoras Stall, etc. This is a lesson in financial planning. Had Kamat stayed in a 5-star hotel, he would have saved 10k per day.
Please note that Kamat used the bathroom window to exit. What does this prove? that she is thin and agile. Which can only mean one thing. He is a Yoga Practitioner.
That Sajjan gave eight months of non-stop business to the ailing hospitality sector during the lockdown cannot be ignored. He boosted the morale of waiters, housekeeping staff etc. by their constant assured presence in their lives.
The most important thing, however, is how he left. Quietly, meekly at midnight. He did not ask for a farewell party, return gift or to name the room ‘The Murli Kamat Suite’. Such humility can come only by following yoga and our ancient culture.
Murli Kamat is a true patriot.
I nominate him for Mehul Choksi Angirundalum Vazga Awards for 2021. and Gopal Mandal for cover feature GQ On body positivity.
Krishna Sastri Devulapalli is a satirist. He has written four books and edited one anthology.
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