Animal Farm: AAP’s recent theatrics refresh Orwell’s classic!

The iconic stipulations - “Swaraj” allegedly turns to Swa - raj (self rule, read Kejriwal’s), transparency has allegedly gone for a toss, inner party democracy allegedly appears redundant and dissent is allegedly anti-party now.

When ‘bouncers’ decide poll outcome, ‘resolutions’ are taken up without anyone seconding, ‘dissenters’ pose threat to party’s inner democracy, internal lokpal’s existence attracts confrontation – freshness in idea of AAP becomes too annoying akin to an aromatic rose with too much thorns surrounding.

Anyhow, opposition parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that was left sulking after Delhi defeat, roughly bruised Congress, and indisputably the famous loose cannon justice Katju, must be rejoicing for what is being observed inside the shed of AAP.

Nothing but “Battle of Cowshed” – phrase borrowed from George Orwell’s masterpiece “Animal Farm” – illustrates the entire saga best. My humble appeal to all readers glancing through this writer’s article, go through the classic novel to comprehend the notions argued here much better.

Resemblance in characters Country or the manor farm was once ruthlessly owned by Congress till Anna revolution against corruption saw the light of the day. Members of a motley group who had by now lost patience against the corrupt system joined hands to depose the crooked regime.

A colossal and proficient revolution occurred on ground against the establishment, second time after the famous JP movement. Delhi’s 3-time elected Congress government was overthrown and AAP seized the throne handsomely – “The Battle of Cowshed” was accomplished victoriously.

Similar to “Animal Farm,” the revolutionaries who fought on meagre resources celebrated in unison – “The Beasts of England” or should we call the AAPised version “Aadmi ka Aadmi se ho bhaichara.” All went well until one day; egos of participants became too gigantic to be accommodated in the small farm.

Knives came out, conspiracies knitted and accusations hurled! Factions developed! Napoleon (Arvind Kejriwal) and Snowball (Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan combined) - the ultimate leaders of the limply knit party - reared distrust towards one another. While one accused other of acting back-stabber and putting obstacles in path to victory, the latter alleged former to be killing party’s inherent ideology.

But, Snowball had forgotten that the Napoleon and his coterie has not only grown over- ambitious by now, spiteful and dictatorial as well. Ultimately, Snowball was made to run for his life, pushed to oblivion - deep into the woods. Post this, the “seven commandments” were shrewdly and steadily altered to suit the remaining faction’s cause; fear was systematically instilled in the minds of workers, and everyone forced to sing those same crooked tunes which were once much abhorred inside the farm.

The “Battle of Cowshed” was won to lend a hand to the general public overcome the despotic rule of fraudulent oppressors.

But as time elapses, the situation comes back to the ground zero, nullifying all the magnanimous efforts to bring about the much needed metamorphosis. Despondently, those who once took pride in calling self aam aadmi (common man), just like other volunteers in party, are skirmishing for ascendancy that constituted for altering the way politics is done in the country.

The distinction tends to narrow down between AAP and other political units now and only for the worst. And these last lines from the classic novel definitely read the truth: “For once Benjamin consented to break his rule, and he read out to her what was written on the wall. There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. It ran: ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL.... BUT........ SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS!”