Checkmate

Proof that stupidity is not the birthright of Soysauce aka Maasanamuthu only. News from Sify News:

Fans to build temple for Sonia

Thursday, 27 May , 2004, 15:36

Eulogies no longer suffice for Sonia Gandhi, who captured the nation`s imagination by refusing to become Prime Minister. Admirers are now planning to put on her on a pedestal. Literally.
The Sonia Gandhi Vichar Prasar Kendra will build a temple dedicated to the Congress president at Ramtek near Nagpur. And although `Sonia Mandir` is to be a monument to her school of thought, it won`t stop short of deifying her.

Discuss: Sonia`s swept Vajpayee under the carpet


While Sonia`s sculpture will adorn the Stupa-like central hall called the `Ekatmata Smarak`, prayer halls for different religions will drive home her message of secularity.

The Gandhi `bahu`-turned-reluctant politician should be in good company - busts of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi will also be on display. Plaques recounting Sonia Gandhi`s speeches, her pictures and achievements along with carvings are expected to adorn the edifice.

`Sonia Mandir` is the brainchild of Sandip Agrawal, convenor of the newly formed Kendra. Agrawal, who also happens to be the vice president of Maharashtra Congress Farmers and Farm Labour cell, admits he has for a long time now nurtured the idea of paying homage to the thoughts and principles of the Congress party.

``However, Soniaji`s unprecedented act of sacrifice recently, prompted me to convert the monument into a Sonia temple,`` he says.

According to Agrawal, the Congress leader`s decision to turn down the top job in the country is without parallel in a day and age when politicians are willing to do anything for the smallest benefit.

8.50 acres of land has already been identified for the proposed shrine. The site, insists Agrawal, is significant despite its rural backdrop.

Ramtek is looked upon as a place of cultural confluence with a Ram temple, Kalidas Smarak, Buddhist excavations and a Sanskrit university all in the near vicinity.

V N Khare, architect for the ambitious project, says he has understood Agrawal`s concept and will ensure that his design is in harmony with its surroundings.

The architecture will convey the philosophy of the Congress party, its accessibility and affinity to the downtrodden, he adds.

`Sonia Mandir` is not going to be an exercise in sycophancy, Agrawal promises. A library with literature on the Congress, training centre for Congress camps, playground, rest house, old age home, a school and dispensary are planned around the stupa-like structure to make it socially relevant.

However all this won`t come cheap. Rs 10 crore is likely to be spent on the project. Agrawal, who has come out with brochures explaining the concept, is confident that people from all over the country will contribute handsomely to help him realise his dream. He himself intends to share a part of the costs.

While Sonia is not yet aware of Agrawal`s plans, he says he will be in Delhi next week to seek her permission. Then, probably reminded of her penchant for denial, which incidentally became the inspiration for the project, he adds, ``Does it matter? After all, it`s a matter of faith!``

BBC ran a program on how sikhs are coping with 1984 in 2004. It interviewed a bunch in punjab and they seemed mostly to have healed, the uk folks were still angry. BBC as usual went out of its way to stir a controversy through its interview questions, but the general response was at best tepid.

So my guess is no politician is interested to investigate 1984 with any vigor, except for some lip-service, as their constituents have moved on. BJP will however make a big stink if if Modi is put on trial. My guess is that the current govt will allow the courts to take its natural path.

What impressed me most is the smooth manner in which one party has taken over from the other and the way Vajpayee has bowed out so gracefully. Had it been Pakistan there would have been awful mud-slinging and allegations and then army would have stepped in to put its favourite party in the saddle. Pakistani politicians are real Peter Pans, they dont learn anything.

amit:
Sonia will need all the skills you attribute to her, plus not interfering in the government affairs. The start is less than auspicious. I cannot figure, for the life of me, what were Sonia`s compulsions in giving Tytler the congress ticket from Delhi, let alone make him a minister? As far as I know, he does not have a huge following in Delhi or elsewhere; he owes everything to his sycophancy of the Gandhi family, but Sonia owed her nothing. In appointing him as a minister, she has lost almost all of the healing of sikh wounds that was beginning to take place with the appointment of Manmohan Singh as the PM. Where is the wisdom of Sonia in this? The courts might have aquitted Tytler, but the public certainly has not. And that`s what should count.

soundmeister

~~comparing her ``renunciation`` with the likes of Gautam Buddha for cryin` out loud!!!!~~

I agree...that was hilarious, the hyperbole and boot licking sycophancy...

Sonia`s come out of this smelling like roses, but let`s not assume her actions were driven by some awesome Machiavellian strategy on her part. The simple fact is everyone else just played into Sonia`s hands and she gleefully accepted. A good politican needs necessarily be a great opportunist, and to that extent, Mrs. G has proved herself.

It was truly hilarious to see the Times of India`s pinko brigade emerge triumphantly. Their b@lls must be sore from all that fence sitting when the BJP was in power. Now they`re actually calling her ``sanatani`` and what not, comparing her ``renunciation`` with the likes of Gautam Buddha for cryin` out loud!!!! Am really surprised not to see Siddharth Vardarajan`s or Dileep Padgaonkar`s name in the sworn-in list. Hehehe

Hi Amit,
I hope that SG does not follow IG`s policy ala 1971.....

Ras

<<< Sacrifice has always been regarded as the highest virtue in our society. >>>

Like Indira Gandhi murder was avenged by ``sacrificing`` thousands of Sikhs.

Amit, excellent read. If we are to believe that sonia is capable of this planning (as described in your article), then she must be one real smart cookie.

I think it only shows that she is indeed a stateswoman capable of handling leadership role either on or off stage.

there are many nationalists among all the nation states that make up india who will salute even the worst among them rather than salute a foreigner...sonia had no choice but to give up the PM`s job and let it be...she has scored brownie points in the process and india has gained a PM of high repute..india has won again...the poor have won too driving home the point that they too want to be counted...if it means a few sops to keep them happy, then so be it according to them...the rich should know not to be too selfish....give a little they say and we`ll let you have the rest without any problems...that`s why a large ,diverse, multi -everything country such as india has survived, i guess, `cause there have been bloody revolutions in other countries for less........sonia the italian evolved into sonia the indian..

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Even if her stepping down was a political sly tactic ...it is still worth applause. I cant recall any such example in history of pakistan ... where things are done for personal satisfaction and not for nation`s sake or even party`s sake. I think she has given Indian a very talented and wise person as PM by stepping down unlike our politicians to generals fighting for one top slot after every few years.

``by freeing her self from the day-to-day governmental responsibilities``

Sorry but this comment of urs is way too cheap and makes her look like a nonwanter of one the few most prestegious seats in the world. India is world`s biggest democracy and its a dream to be the PM.

Your attitude in article reminds me of an old adage, ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL THE TIME !!!