that poster!

You might recall dear reader that, in my blog before I headed off to Phoenix , I made reference to the CPI(M) local elections and congress being held over 9,10 and 11 November (in case you've forgotten, dear reader, the CPI(M) is the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and is the party currently in government in Kerala). I had also noted that, as a show of "power", the streets throughout Kochi had been festooned in streamers, banners, and posters, including one most incongruous one on the way out to the Lakeshore Hospital, with Gandhiji juxtaposed with Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat. As it happens, I was able to get a photo of said poster and I attach it herewith.

As I was taking the photos, I was approached by a local guy, Salim, who was keen to tell me how disgusted he was that the poster had even been conceived, no mind actually produced and erected. I have spoken to the Party Secretary and the Minister about this, he said. It is outrageous to group a man who never shed a single drop of blood (Gandhiji) with those terrorists and murderers (Arafat and Saddam), he continued.

The "explanation" he received was that they were grouped together to express an anti-American feeling. Salim remained unconvinced at the "logic" of this and was insistently apologetic. We know better than this, he added. Gandhiji should never be pictured with "them". I don't know whether his views were a reflection of the general populace (or indeed, whether they were even aware of the apparent incongruity of it all). At least there was someone with whom to share the rage.