Bapu and the dancing girls.

Dear Bapu,

Happy 142nd Earthly Birth Anniversary.

How is it up there in heaven?

I just wanted to rant about the state of affairs in the country after you have left. But what's the use? It's a widespread activity not bearing any fruit.

Instead, I choose another famous quote of yours. "First, Be the change you want to see around you." Still fine tuning that Sir, a lot of work to be done, on me.

Something new I learned about you. We know about your measures to uplift the poor and the harijans. But this story is unique.

The your time-era equivalent of bar girls were shunned by the society(in public) but still were visited by the elite secretly.

And came the self-appointed 'guardians' of culture, who opposed them - protested against them and raised quite a din about it.

And then came your salvo. Personally you are not the kind of person to favor these dancing ladies. You supported the socially outcast, but what about the supposedly morally outcast?

You brought in a game changer. You arranged an assembly for them. Gave them assurance and encouraged them to add a patriotic flavor in their activities. That changed their hearts and many others.

Today morning's DNA had an article on the bar dance girls, who were banned by the govt. of Maharashtra. It seems they now perform in the Gulf countries. Earlier there were news reports of illegal outlets in Mumbai housing them.

The prohibition only led further spread of the problem.
You were the one who knew that problems should be sorted at the roots, not superficially.

If only you were here!

---- The end, thank you very much-----

This article is dedicated to Sunil Shanbag and his team, performing the play Stories in a song, for reminding everyone of the above story and many beautiful and some funny, from the past, through a beautiful presentation of a musical.