The Rising Sun

By M K Devidasan

Unhappy over the present political system prevailing in the state of Kerala, the southmost state in the Indian subcontinent, God’s own country, a retired Air Force officer decided to form a new party titled Ex-servicemen's Democratic Party, with nil benefits by the workers including ministers. As the assembly election approached, his new party with numerous developmental promises was accepted by the masses within a short period, provoking the existing political setup and its leaders. They tried all methods to avoid the growth and the new party leader was killed in an open function. But the murderers were not arrested despite video proofs. His wife took over the mantle with a vow to cremate the corpse only after the culprits were arrested and the body was left in the mortuary. The party lead by her got a wide majority in the election. What happens next is worth to read and appreciate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M K Devidasan
• Release date: Dec 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005347154

M K Devidasan

M K Devidasan is a graduate engineer in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering  with Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management. He had served the Indian Air Force for 32 years as a technical officer and retired as a Wing Commander.

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Preface

People in a democratic set up expect to have a progressive and corruption-free government to rule the states or the country with development aspects in priority rather than looking after their party or personnel interests. Some people have a feeling that the ongoing trends are opposite and the politicians in power give nil priority to these aspects with scanty interest in the growth of the country or the satisfaction of the voters. They feel that the party which comes to power with promises luring the commoners to vote, forget what was told and written in their manuscript, without considering the public dissatisfaction level. Towards the end of their term of five years, citing the promise given in their manifesto start projects taking loans from whatever sources available increasing the debt of each citizen to whitewash their image Public feel this is a vicious circle with a point of no returns without considering the prevailing dissatisfaction of the voters. Again, the next government formed by the new set of politicians with great promises and expectations perform similarly, without considering the mounting despairs among the public.

Most people have a feeling that politicians consider politics as a source of making income for their living rather than considering it as a service to the public. Unless a drastic change takes place in the present political scenario, this system will continue and the level of disgruntlement will keep mounting. They firmly believe that with the present system of functioning the state or the country will not be able to witness development other than what could happen with the natural phenomenon by the grace of foreign money pouring in through the NRIs shedding sweat in foreign soil. A change in the functioning of all politicians is a must for a great change in the mindset of the public.

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When the dinner-dance party was about to be wound up after the formal speeches, Wing Commander Subhash expressed his desire to bid farewell to all officers and their lady wives assembled on the sprawling lawn, immaculately decorated with color bubs all-around the hedges to give a festive look and moved close to his Commanding Officer Air Commodore Chawla. While shook hands with Chawla, he was emotionally enslaved realizing the fact that from the next morning, he was to be like anyone else in civil life, but for the rank, he would wear before his name throughout life. Avoiding to exhibit his quivering lips with uncontrollable emotion, he covered his face with a handkerchief.

Holding his wife Chitra’s hand, he left the lawn to move towards the mess guest room where they had decided to spend the night, as he had handed over the service quarters back to Military Engineering Service, the caretaker of all Air Force estates and buildings, after loading the truck with their entire households during that afternoon to cart across to his hometown, Thrissur in Kerala state.

Wishing good night to all friends who had accompanied them till the guest room building, he entered the airconditioned suite and saw daughter Suma and son Sivan sitting on the sofa and watching television. Without uttering anything about the farewell party to the children, he kept the farewell memento on the table and moved to the bedroom. Maintaining silence, he removed tie and coat and fell onto the cot looking upward. Suma, who was keen to hear from them about the party, went to the bedroom and raised many questions about the total ambiance during the farewell. Usually, Subhash was vociferous on the culmination of every party, mostly highlighting the lighter moods during the entire episode. When he did not respond to her repeated queries, she was wise enough to read his mood, with anxieties over leaving the organization where he spent his most productive part of his life. Without abhorrence over failure, she withdrew with dismay and joined Sivan articulating fruitless attempts.

Subhash lay on the bed and regurgitated his entire life and career spectrum from tender age till date. When joined Indian Air Force as an airman, he was only seventeen and the atmosphere he got throughout thereafter was very conducive to build up a career to add more glow to his lifestyle. Favorable postings and support of seniors assured his career graph facing upwards with sharp climbs and he became a commissioned officer of class one status. Passing the engineering degree with ardent and relentless hard work paved way for that. During his entire service life, he never thought of getting detached from that excellent service, but for while missed the deep selection process from Wing Commander to the rank of Group Captain. Thoughts of subsequent chances of having to work under juniors who picked up the rank gave a jolt to his sincerity and ego. He questioned why and how such a situation could be encountered while had been maintaining a glorious career profile with sincerity and honesty. Finding no satisfactory answers to those bubbling thoughts, he could not avoid thinking of other officers who had missed promotion on similar lines and sought pre-mature retirement citing that reason and doing extremely well in civil life holding respectable high positions drawing a handsome salary. The mental tug of war remained in him and without discussing with Chitra, he decided to put in his papers for pre-mature retirement, thus calling it a day from the organization that nurtured his status to the level of a Wing Commander.

Removing the shoes and socks he got tucked into the soft blanket and asked Chitra to switch off the light after her routines.

He could not snatch sleep and kept rolling on the bed with great discomfort. The late realization of his impatient behavior in the quick decision to put in papers was condemned by himself. In between, he enjoyed thinking of the Air Force days, frame by frame, from day one of entry as a humble airman. The sweet memories would never die and would gain strength as the years pass provided that was ushered properly with deserving importance. When he put the application in a huff, he never expected to get considered by the Air Headquarters, as they never encouraged a well trained and established officer with so many years of experiences to get out on flimsy grounds of missing promotion and was sure to receive a reply to wait for the next board. But, on the contrary, defeating all expectations, the order was of the other way round – approval of pre-mature release application on the grounds of missing promotion. When the news was broken by the Station Commander, Subhash missed a few pulses and felt he was losing balance awaiting a fall. But he was prepared enough to be on the guard to avoid such shameful situations which were sure to affect his individuality and honor.

After putting in papers, he was quick to send the application to various organizations of repute for employment, and from two he received positive responses. Both positions offered were high with a respectable salary package, much higher than what he was drawing then. But, he was apprehensive of getting correctly fitted into the new groove without any bickering and binding. However, experienced one might be in defense forces; would that be of much value to a civil setup? That could only be judged after getting into that. After discussing with Chitra and children, he had decided to take up the post of Managing Director in a state government organization, which was close to his home town, Thrissur, in Kerala.

On the next morning, after getting ready to proceed in his Toyota Etios car to Thrissur, he came out followed by Chitra and the children with their bags. As the door was opened, the sight of few officers standing in front to escort the whole family to a parked decorated jeep on the road, made him jittered and raised brows with many mute questions. They saluted and guided him to the jeep and asked the children to be seated in their car which was planned to be driven by someone up to the main gate, near the guard room.

The jeep was found tied to a long rope held by few airmen and pulled to move at a very slow pace through the center of the road flanked by two rows of officers and airmen in their uniform presenting their salute with warmth. The whole scene and mood were so touchy, he felt like calling out his unsurmountable joy loudly exhibiting mental condition. He was amazed by the cohesiveness of the fighting force which was giving such a warm send-off by physically presenting themselves on the road to show their affection he could grab from them through his humaneness.

After crossing the main gate, he was permitted to alight from the jeep. Taking permission from everyone to proceed, after exhibiting his profound gratitude for such warm send-off, he promised to make frequent trips to meet then, as and when possible. The truck, with their household items, owned by one retired Air Force personal was ready nearby to follow the car to Thrissur with four locals from Coimbatore for offloading at his residence. The same personnel was engaged for loading, as they were employees of the company.

XXX

Squadron Leader Rahim, who had taken premature retirement much earlier, owning a cable manufacturing factory in Thrissur was in regular contact with him on mobile to know their location at various points of time. He was given the responsibility to get the newly built house cleaned up before they reach, for smooth transition and occupation, taking the help of Gopi, a part-time driver. The distance of one hundred and twenty kilometers was covered within three hours and they reached their location, before twelve.

The car followed by the truck glided into the compound owned by Subhash and found Rahim and Gopi anxiously awaiting their arrival. They moved close to the car and Rahim opened the rear door and the children came out. Thanking him profusely, both Subhash and Chitra got out. Subhash was amazed to find few blue-uniformed persons, standing under a mango tree in the compound, rushing towards the truck, as it was stopped after maneuvering for easy offloading. When they enthusiastically jumped onto the vehicle and started removing the lashings, the laborers brought from Coimbatore stood amazed asking what was their intentions, in Tamil. Without heeding to what was being asked, the uniformed people were seen busy with their handwork.

Looking at Rahim, Subhash said, We don’t need their services. The laborers from Coimbatore are there to offload.

When that was conveyed to the uniformed task force, they obediently got down and took their earlier location under the mango tree.

Things moved very smoothly and the entire luggage was offloaded and placed in different rooms as everything was well planned by Chitra, much before.

Once the job was over, Subhash gave cash to Tamilian laborers and with smiling faces they climbed up into the cabin, ready to proceed back to Coimbatore. As the driver started the truck, all uniformed laborers from the local area, moved to the front side, and blocked its movement.

Subhash was amazed by their audacity and asked them to make way for them to go back.

How can they? One person yelled.

Why? What do you want? Subhash asked.

Unless you give our labor charge, you just can’t think of moving out of this gate. That person took out a beedi from his pocket and lit it by striking the matchbox. Leaving the smoke, he said. It is our prerogative to offload. You have to pay for that.

But, you haven’ done any work. Subhash showed his amazement.

Doesn’t matter. Whether your people work or we work, the amount due is to be given to us. That person sounded impolite.

Subhash looked at Rahim and raised brows. What is this? He chuckled. Quite unheard of anywhere else in India!

We are not concerned about what is happening elsewhere. We need our labor charge. It is the custom here. It is our exclusive privilege to load and offload in this area. Whether done by you or anyone else, our share needs to be paid. That is our right.

Rahim took Subhash aside and said. You give him five hundred. Let them have tea on your behalf.

Subhash showed hesitation refusing to understand the veracity of their undue demand and squeezed his forehead. Half-heartedly, he fished out one five hundred rupee note and gave him. But, instead of accepting that, that person looked at him contemptuously and turned his head mumbling something inaudible.

Subhash turned his head towards Rahim asking, what is this?

Rahim asked that person. What do you want?

That person was audacious enough to utter, we need to be paid twenty-five thousand rupees.

Subhash got a shock of his life. The amount he spent to cart across from Coimbatore to Thrissur was less than that amount. Heaving a sigh, he looked at Rahim. He chuckled and mumbled. What a place to live?

Rahim did not comment but smiled meaningfully enough to express his abhorrence to the existing systems that prevailed locally. He pulled out his mobile from the pocket and contacted his police friend who was holding the rank of a circle inspector and apprised him of the present situation where a retired Air Force officer being troubled by the union workers. He came without much delay and spoke to the laborers, but found they were not yielding. Subhash was not in favor of making the payment as demanded either. Disregarding the presence of everyone, without taking the pain to bargain, he got engaged in taking the items from the car with the help of his children and entered the house. Rahim came to him ad asked to talk to them to compromise with a lesser amount in the presence of the police officer.

After much bickering and binding, the police officer struck a deal to close the chapter by making a payment of fifteen thousand rupees. Albeit unwilling, Subhash agreed on the compulsion of wife Chitra, in order not to create a scene on the first day of their arrival at the new location where they were intending to settle down permanently. When the atmosphere got regained back to normalcy, it was two in the afternoon.

During lunch, Rahim said, those union workers consider it is their prerogative to carry out all loading and unloading work in an area demarcated for them. He chuckled. I believe, to become a worker they give membership fee and they live on the income from that. These days, as the economic condition is not that rosy, construction work is on a downward trend and other works are also dwindling drastically. So, virtually, these people find no much job and hence their income has also deteriorated badly. So, whenever an opportunity is sighted, they try to make use of that for maximum benefit. Most of these people are politically affiliated and have a good hold at various political levels. So, they hardly budge and show scant scare even to police. He drank water. With a grunt, he said, the present economic situation is such that, the rich become richer and the poor get pushed backward to become poorer. The gap between the poor and the rich is widening more and more, as time passes. This brings in a lot of disgruntlement and is sure to take a much worse turn unless a strong political changeover erupts to bring in a better future; which is beyond the horizon.

"You are right. When people get fed up with one party’s governance, they elect another expecting drastic changes. To their dismay, despite all their promises and blame games for a while, the history will be repeated by the newly elected leaders also. Then, again the earlier party will be brought back to power, as the people find no other alternative than that. This is