A sacred ritual

He has seen days of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Rajendra Prasad. Though Congress has lost base in Bihar, Bhola Prasad Jha, 84, can't think of any other party. He voted first time in 1952 and wants to vote for Congress only till he dies. Voting for Congress is his private ritual!

"As a ritual, I cast my vote for Congress. In this age, I do not want to break my loyalty for the party I worshiped due to its ideals and role in India's freedom," says Jha.

He was a Sarpanch of Koendha Birma Panchayat in Banka for 10 years. True to having been a political activist in the prime of his life, Mr Jha holds strong opinion about current politicians. "Politics has changed. And it has changed for worse," rues Jha.

In those times, politicians respected people and vice-versa, but now respect is out of politics, Mr Jha, who was a farmer, adds. Though a staunch Congress supporter, he had liked the JP (Jay Prakash Narayan) movement in 1970s for its objective. "The JP movement could not go in the right direction and petty politicians hijacked the plot later," Jha believes.

Bhola Nath Jha

He listens to long speeches of BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi and likes his oratory. "Even Nehru ji used to deliver long speeches in Hindi and English of more than an hour. People used to come from far away places on their own to listen to Pandit ji," recalls Jha.

This octogenarian is, however, sharply critical of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. "In Nitish raj, there is no governance. Officials are looting people. He has divided society. Murders take place in broad day light," Jha claims.

Having seen RJD chief Lalu Prasad's days also in Bihar, Mr Jha believes Mr Kumar's rule is worse. "Lalu used to say BHURA baal saaf karo, but that was only for saying. Nitish is exactly doing that without saying so," Jha laments. BHURA stood for Brahmin, Bhumihar, Rajput and Kayastha castes in popular lexicon.

As a true Congress follower, he wears Khadi but has turned a pessimist now. "I don't see great future of this country. There are no leaders left now. There is no administration. There is no discipline among the people also," says Jha, with a few drop of tears threatening to roll off his eyes.

However, he says that he no more asks anyone in his village Kulhariya to vote for Congress as he did earlier. That he does not do anymore, because the Congress for him is no more a party that it was. 

In the winter of his life, Jha finds the party he worshiped all life let him down and the nation too. 

(NOTE: This had appeared in The Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle also.)