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Bihar
By K. Balchand
The Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Laloo Prasad Yadav, cutting a cake to celebrate his 55th birthday in Patna on Wednesday. — PTI
While his supporters have been projecting him as the "second Gandhi" in Bihar, the RJD supremo, Laloo Prasad Yadav, is now sought to be bracketed with "chacha Nehru". He was dressed for the occasion in dhoti and a vest, and, much like the first Prime Minister, ensconced himself with children of the oppressed classes. He even sported a cap worn by the minorities during religious events. Even if inspired by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former Chief Minister, who once spent time in "dalit tolas", handling lessons in cleanliness, infuses a freshness in all his endeavours. The children came with toffees to greet him but he was not impressed. "You don't have money to eat and buy books and you have wasted money in buying toffees for me,'' he said. Of course, there were sweets aplenty for all who had come from the neighbouring slums inside the Chief Minister's residence. "What is there to rejoice? I'm getting closer to nirvana,'' said the man who, however, still considers himself young in the sphere of politics. There is no celebration for the poor. "I never enjoyed myself on my birthday. First of all, I don't know when I was born. People started celebrating my birthday once I became the Chief Minister. Even now I don't indulge myself. It is the people who take to elation on an assumed birthday.'' It was simplicity all over. Sporting a "tilak" on his forehead the "chacha", father of nine and who has since turned a grandfather, cut a cake symbolising secularism — the icing featured a temple, mosque, church and gurdwara.
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