Lucknow: “Mai Kalyan Singh Bol Raha Hoon.” It is a barito that is not mistaken from the other side of the land.
No doubt, it’s him.
But still, it’s amazing.
After all, no main minister summoned a desktie unknown newspaper in the morning.
It was the last week of September 1999.
The cellphone has arrived but still exceeded someone’s reach.
So, this is where I, holding the telephone receiver and not sure what to say.
He solved my problem.
“Apki Khabar to Liye Dhanyawad (thank you for your report),” he said.
I now get it.
He talked about the stories I wrote after the election trip with him to Rohilkhand the country – Bareilly, Kheri and Rampur – two days ago.
Lok Sabha conducted a poll for only a month again and I had been assigned to accompany the Minister of Kalyan Singh’s minister on his helicopter tour.
Toi-Lucknow editor which then has a very orthodox way to mobilize journalists.
Other editors will not think of sending a junior sports table sub-editor in a campaign footprint with cm.
That our helicopter, on the way back, must force the land between two farm fields in Hardoi because bad weather is a different long story.
But the relevant here is that I discussed the four actions and wrote two reports – one in the demonstration and the other on our narrow runaway – which had appeared in the newspaper the day before.
“He might like it,” I thought.
But so many reporters accompanied him and wrote about election demonstrations.
Does CM call each of them? Did he call me to push when I was too young a reporter to accompany CM on the election tour? I wrestled with a random mind when he was still calling.
“Ye king lear ki kya kahani hi (what’s the story of King Lear?),” Suddenly he asked.
Now I understand.
He talked about my story, King Lear continued to haunt Kalyan Singh who appeared that day (the day after a rally report) and was based on informal conversations with me during a daily tour.
This story is not on my menu.
Been born after the editor I asked about the trip and whether I could have a conversation with CM.
That is the time of Kalyan’s association with the BJP Central Leadership has started to marry.
He believed that part of the BJP leaders of the country conspired him and tried to tarnish his image.
He also seemed annoyed by the way the leadership of the center treats the highest leader in the state.
So, he was full of anxiety and talked a lot about it.
I was afraid that after finding a beginner reporter who accompanied him, he would not open.
But that doesn’t happen.
“How did he sound?” Editor asked.
“Bitter and helpless,” I said and then gave some a glance at the condition of Kalyan’s mind.
“Write down,” he suggested.
“But it’s all informal conversation.
He might not like it,” I tried to reason.
“We will find a way to present it.
He will not be quoted,” he said.
So, I began to scratch my memory.
Because Kalyan talked casually, I did not feel deserving.
The story I wrote is about his hatred of the top leaders themselves, of course, by considering ‘people close to him’ and how it can affect BJP’s performance in the selection of Lok Sabha.
The analogy of King Lear, however, is not mine.
It was my editor who did it when editing.
When he showed me the last copy, I felt extraordinary.
So, it appeared the next day as the front yard brochure in Toi, Lucknow, and encouraged the protagonist to reach me asking about the story of King Lear (the CM office had asked for my telephone number from our head of our bureau, I came to know later).
Even though he asked me, I was sure that CM had discussed the story with his staff and a comparison with a tragic hero made him angry.
But, I still gather courage and try to make it as simple as possible.
“This is the story of a king betrayed by his own people and loses his kingdom,” I said.
Efforts here also justify the title of my report.
“Ekdum Sahi.
Aapne Bilkul Thek Likha (you have actually written),” he said firmly, ended my trip, and hung up after thanking me again.
Two months later, in November 1999, he was removed as the main minister.