Populus Vult Decipi

By Prem Ansh Sinha

Somehwere in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi. Clicked by me

"I am, but only a Will-o-the-wisp. It is born, does it work, runs around, stays still for a while, vanishes from one place and then, shows up at another place. It manifests itself but cannot be taught. I am just not here. I have no existence."   

                         - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose during his last years in Faizabad

The impact remains immeasurable. The tales go on. Those riddles continue to exist. A few weeks ago, it was my first time at this square designed by the daughter of Shah Jahan that originally looked like a half-crescent moon. I was trying to explore the food options with my mother. While trying not to throw away the famous Rabri Faluda Ice Cream into the dustbin, I discovered those words in the picture and kept standing there for the next thirty minutes. I was awestruck. Who could have done that? Whosoever did that would have been well-versed with the fact that Bose was the anglicized version of Basu. Perhaps, some person who owe their origin to the land of Bose and carries the same title? The last chapter of India's Biggest Cover-Up by Anuj Dhar was in front of me. The tales of Gyanganj and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had always intrigued me, but it was amusing to find them written on a random electric box, if that's what people call it. The presence of Trishul was not coincidental as well. Perhaps, whosoever had written those words was well-versed in that book? Did nobody notice that man when he had been writing these words everywhere? Swayam Prakash's fiction became a reality. Does this man know something that we don't? What makes him wait for the return of a leader like Subhas Bose? Does this suggest the failure of this modern democracy, or his faith that Subhas Chandra Bose is symbolically still alive

"After ten months and ten days, I'll be born at my aunt's place. If you don't recognize me, O Mother, I'll hang myself." 

In the voice of Lata Mangeshkar, such were the emotions of a girl narrating the tales of the great revolutionaries, Khudiram and Abhiram, while young Subhas Chandra Bose was contemplating the pathos behind those words in an old Bengali song. 

Upon reading the news of commissions established to investigate into the mystery of his death, "Populus Vult Decipi", noted Bhaagwan-ji in capitalized letters. Being dead saved him. The Peacock shall dance again. Subhas Chandra Bose is still alive.