04-26-2007, 09:13 PM
Apologies for this diversion, but just remembered a couple of things regarding JP:
1. He was "AjAnubhuja", i.e. when he stood up, his hands reached till his knees. This attribute is celebrated in hindu epics and Sri Rama is often called AjAnubhuja. It is easy to imagine why having long arms for warriors was given such importance.
2. During 1977 elections, I had the opportunity to attend a rally by Jayaprakash Narayan and Indira Gandhi. JP was surrounded by enthusiastic young students, and I could get to within few feet of him. IG's rally was an elaborate state-affair, very intimidating and distant, with all the security around, bomb-squads/dog-squads checking everything. Indira Gandhi had sunglasses on when she gave her speech, and appeared distant and authoritarian and the response of the crowd was minimal.
1. He was "AjAnubhuja", i.e. when he stood up, his hands reached till his knees. This attribute is celebrated in hindu epics and Sri Rama is often called AjAnubhuja. It is easy to imagine why having long arms for warriors was given such importance.
2. During 1977 elections, I had the opportunity to attend a rally by Jayaprakash Narayan and Indira Gandhi. JP was surrounded by enthusiastic young students, and I could get to within few feet of him. IG's rally was an elaborate state-affair, very intimidating and distant, with all the security around, bomb-squads/dog-squads checking everything. Indira Gandhi had sunglasses on when she gave her speech, and appeared distant and authoritarian and the response of the crowd was minimal.