Is DEATH. Man, does that sound dramatic !!
I am talking about Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial at Sriperumbudur recently “dedicated” to the nation by our Prez Dr. Kalam. This “tribute” to Rajiv, which took more than eight years to see the light of day.
With various political and social leaders waxing eloquent about Rajiv’s vision and intensity.
I quote : Likened to the Arjuna’s Penance bas-relief at Mahabalipuram, this frieze attempts to tell a legend. Indeed, the legend of the man who had a dream of a “strong, independent and self-reliant India”.
More on the design : Various quotations of Rajiv Gandhi have been etched at the base of each pillar depicting truth, social justice, modernisation, freedom movement, world peace, progress and development. Each pillar differs in design.
Modernisation, progress and development – I associate immediately with Rajiv Gandhi. But truth ? freedom movement (??? do you think the brief given to the architect contained only the surname and not the full name ?)
Anybody – remember the mammoth task before Rajiv when he came to Sriperumbudur, the general elections around the corner ? At a time when the tide of Bofors and more was threatening to drown him, and along with him the Party bequeathed to him by his mother and grandfather.
Fortunately for him, he died at a most opportune moment.
I perfectly empathise with Patrix when he says he does not understand the attention showered on a person following his death.
Remember Princess Diana ? An entire nation pays obsequies to her today. And her butler’s memoirs become best-sellers. And Elton John gets a new life…..
What would have happened had she lived on ? After death, she caught the popular imagination (read sympathy) of the British public (starved of romance and role models anyway) in a way that she never could while alive.
Remember Hansie Cronje?
In death as in everything else in life, timing is so important……