The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Congress-TDP wordy duels border on the bizarre

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 31, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Congress-TDP wordy duels border on the bizarre

W. Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD: They were first socially ostracised. Then mainstream art forms disowned them. Now their avocation has become a butt of ridicule coming in handy for political party leaders to mount verbal assault on rivals. None seems to realise that they are insulting them and their professions.

The ongoing wordy duels between Congress and Telugu Desam Party leaders triggered by the latter's Mahanadu is a sad reflection. Not just adages or expressions peculiar to a language or a region, they are letting loose a barrage in the heat of the moment, forgetting that such references have become irrelevant and politically incorrect.

For instance, Congress leaders preferred to call their rivals `Pagati veshagallu' and the latter found the former `Budabukkalollu' and `Jangamgallu'.

The communities referred to by them are marginalised classes eking out livelihood by performing folk art forms. Confined to rural areas these people lead miserable lives. They are not even farming community and hence don't own land and have no houses.

Mostly nomadic, these fringe communities depend on the munificence of the other socially disadvantaged sections like BCs and SCs. `Pitchaguntlollu' and `Pittala Doralu' are the others who have unique story telling skills and entertain people but have now found way into the politician's abusive words.

Another insensitivity on display is related to gender issues. Several outdated and politically incorrect expressions like `Mogunni kotti mogasala ku ekkinattu' have become a favourite expression of the leaders. References to other communities like `Andaru Vaishnavule, Gampalo chepalu mayam' or `Marwadi lekkalu' are equally jarring.

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