When 80 km is too long

‘The distance between Darbhanga (India) and Janakpur (Nepal) isbarely80km. But here in Darbhanga, the Gen Z-led upheavals in Nepal have the quality ofa blur.

- ADITI PHADNIS

Itisremarkable that events that have hadacataclysmicimpacton many political leaders and their parties just 100 km away have had noimpacton the placidity —even hopelessness — in Darbhanga.

Suraj Raitalksas he rollsoutand flips aalu paranthas on his smoking griddle inatarpaulin-covered stall by the side of the road. He’s been a “caterer”, as he describes himself, at the same spot, near Darbhanga’s Uma Cinema, for 30 years. “Jab logadhairupay mein picturedekhte thetabhamaathaanekasinghadabecha karte the” (when moviegoers used to watch movies for 2.50, I used to sell samosas for 50 paise) he says, to provide historical context. Despite the insanitary conditions —a drain carryingall manner of objects gurgles noisily nearby — he is proud ofa 20 foot X 20 foot stall and has clear opinions on politics. “Iwill vote for Modiji,” he says, “and only for Nitishji because it enables meto vote for Modiji”.

Almost defiantly he adds, without being asked: “Iam a Jaswal Kurmi,” the message heistryingtosend isthat heisbreaking caste solidarity with the Bihar chief minister. “Modiji ne desh ke liye bahut kucch kiya hai” (Modiji has donea lot for the nation). But what about livelihood, jobs, the decay all around? He shrugs. His mind is made up. In Mithilanchal, they don’t do upheavals. In the greater national good.