by B. R. GOWANI
India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (left) and Pakistan’s first Governor General Muhammad Ali Jinnah PHOTO/The Unreal Times
a vast sea of people
under the British Empire’s control
had gathered near a monster lake
the Empire was tired and bankrupt
plus keeping people under shackles was no more profitable
a couple of persons were fighting for leadership
one was Nehru, Gandhi‘s adopted son
more correctly, it was a mutual adoption
Nehru didn’t want to share power
because, for him, an alliance will be “highly injurious”
another was Jinnah who demanded equality
Nehru said to himself:
“if only” I can “keep Jinnah far away”
then only can I be the master
of the remaining, but still vast and rich, land
Jinnah threatened to leave
he found a trunk named Puristan to pack up things
which he then placed it at the lake’s bank
but he was not serious
he didn’t want to leave at all
while Jinnah was busy bargaining
what to put in the trunk
Nehru’s friend Mounbatten
(who thought, he was
“still one of the most powerful men in the world“)
asked Nehru not to worry
because the trunk, packed quickly, contained not much
(both Nehru and Mountbatten hated Jinnah)
Mountbatten then pushed the trunk in the lake
several persons present there screamed:
“save” “save” “please save that trunk” …
but nobody wanted to risk her/his life
Nehru tried to push Jinnah in the lake
but failed, and failed, and failed
after sometime, Nehru ultimately succeeded
and Jinnah found himself in the monster lake
now Jinnah was left with no choice
but to save the trunk
the forceful and deadly waves
which could flow only in one direction
in other words, Jinnah couldn’t return back
transported Jinnah and the trunk on the opposite side
which was an undeveloped area
Jinnah opened the trunk
and what did he found?
lo and behold!
it had materials to put up “a tent”
“a permanent building” went to Nehru
many people applauded and declared
Jinnah as the “Founding Father”
Jinnah, who was furiously mad, shouted:
“Who pushed me in the Lake?”
Nehru, who was overjoyed, gave a cruel smile
now he was the master of this side of the Lake
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com