Counting—Result—Mood Story

Counting—Result—Mood Story
Santanu Saraswati
Dumka, June 02—The sky of Dumka suddenly changed its color at 5:30 p.m. From blue it turned into green. There was little difference between the burgeoning leaves and the suddenly turned “green” sky. The 300-kilometer stretch from Shikaripara to Mihijam, from adjoining Godda to Sarat—witnessed a fresh gush of wind, what it was in 1980 at the time of “Gurujee’s mass movement for separate statehood” though bifurcation was made in 2000.The crowd never seemed so jubilant, not even after the Jharkhand was born from the womb of mother Bihar. Their “green-head band” was enough to symbolize their outburst. Their slogans: “Ek tir se do shikar, Bhajapa, Congress do no saaf. Bir Shibu zindabad”—was enough to prove that they ultimately conquered the crown for their icon.The margin of 94,205 is just the referendum of the tribal mass and their decision in favor of a “secular-force”. Gurujee’s house, just after four years, again became the center-stage of State-level politics. He got back his giggly look. He got back his crown. His eyes again started sparkling what used to be in 1980—the golden era of his political career. The morning was also in favor of the JMM-S icon. At 7:50 a.m. when Gurujee was entering the counting hall to check the arrangements, his arch rival, BJP candidate, Romesh Hembrom, came and took his blessings by touching Soren’s feet. A standing BJP worker asked the reason. Romesh answered: “He is just like my father. I have played in his lap in my childhood days.”His son, the party MLA from Jama, Durga Soren, whom the tribal society started seeing as their “crown prince” was attending the telephone calls—from Ranchi, from Patna and from New Delhi. Even he got calls from few State-level BJP MLAs saying: “Humlog aapko saath dene ke liye taiyar hein. Aap sarkar banaiye. Is raj ka raja Gurujee hein Babulaljee nehin.” Durga laughs aloud saying: “Humlogo dhire chalne dijiyee. Koi jaldi baazi nehi hein. Eh sarkar apne girega.” His men peeping from the windowpane again shout: “ Durga bhaiya zindabad. Bir Shibu zindabad.”With the fall of the dusk, a new sun is set to rise—this the entire tribal masses think. The street lights on. Added is a green cover in it—what was the jubilant mass’ creation. At noon, just when the JMM starts its winning spree after the third round of counting—it was raining outside. The heavy shower flooded makeshift tent but not a single man left his seat symbolizing a single thing: “We were with you and will remain throughout.” The leader of the Opposition Stephen Marandi, Shikaripara MLA, Nalin Soren, Gurujee’s middle son, Hemant Soren advised the gathering to take a shed. They just turned down their leaders’ request. A smiling Hussein Ansari, party MLA from Madhupur then giggle and said Stephen: “Aaj kuch mana nehin kijiye Stephenbabu. Yeh log aab saans le raha hein.” Durga seconded Hussein.At 4:30 when we came out for a fag people were just dancing outside the polytechnic with the beats of drum—their traditional “madal”. Stephen again tried to cool down. “Aare yeh saab ke liye bahut samay hein. Counting shanty mein honey dijiyee aaplog.” But his request was not enough to stop them beating the madal—in its highest sound. We again entered crossing the tight security, as arrangements were more than requirement.There was huge deployment of force and the polytechnic got the look of Dras sector. There were officials for harassing the Opposition party cadres, who not even spared the media-men too. But with the news of JMM-S’ winning spree—the officials color suddenly changed. Few with blackened face started giving chuckle-headed smiles. The black cats, too, stop their ongoing checks—giving a chance for all to enter. With the end of the day the ground of polytechnic got a look—what probably the masses wanted, but the officials never. EOM.
Words: 665
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