The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : One among the masses

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Monday, Apr 06, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

One among the masses

J.S. Ifthekhar

CPI(M) leader speaks the language of the masses in old city

Tremendous applause for Madhu’s gesture in old city
The CPI(M) leader has engaged a tutor to brush up his Urdu

— PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

New get up: Rajya Sabha member of CPI(M) P. Madhu participating at an election meeting in the old city on Sunday.

Hyderabad: Wonder who is this guy in black sherwani and white pyjama? A closer look will reveal that he is none other than the Rajya Sabha member, P. Madhu. Standing amidst the Muslim candidates contesting from the Old City segments he looks one among them.

Not just sartorially correct, he also speaks the language of the masses here. In his inimitable high pitch, the CPI(M) leader goes bang-bang in Urdu. “Musalman taleem mein peeche, madaris mein peene ka pani nahin, teachers nahin. Kaun zimmedar,” he asks.

No, there is no heckling at his broken Urdu. Instead the crowd at the Bajabar function hall at Etebar Chowk listens in rapt attention and claps its approval. Sensing the mood of the public Mr. Madhu continues.

“Prophet Mohammed taleem ko importance diye”. He abruptly stops his speech as ‘Azan’, the call for prayers, floats from a nearby mosque. This gesture is not lost on the crowd. After two minutes when he resumes his speech, there is a tremendous applause.

It is not a grammatically right Urdu, but Mr. Madhu manages to convey his thoughts. Not long ago he used to speak either in Telugu or English in the old city. But now he has picked up a smattering of Urdu having thrown his lot with the Siasat Editor, Zahid Ali Khan, in the latter’s fight against the Majlis. The CPI(M) leader has engaged a tutor to brush up his Urdu, it is said.

Mr. Madhu talks about the ‘masail’ facing the old city and the crass indifference of Majlis.

“Yeh lootne wala zamana gaya. Zahid bhai ladai karneka, hum sath hai”, he thunders as people wave red and yellow flags.

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