A New India
Chapter 268 - 268: Mockery of Indian Parliament

By the afternoon of July 16, 1955, the news of the unprecedented chaos in the Indian Parliament had spread like wildfire.

The printing presses churned out headlines at breakneck speed, their typewriters clacking relentlessly.

Across the globe, radio broadcasts, news columns, and barbershop chatter were filled with stories of the "Parliament Fight of the Century."

In India, tea stalls overflowed with gossiping men, bazaars buzzed with laughter and disbelief, and homes were filled with heated debates.

Across oceans, foreign correspondents found a fresh story to highlight India's struggles with democracy.

It wasn't just a political crisis anymore, it had become a spectacle.

The National Standard, known for its pro-government stance, led with a defensive but cheeky headline:

"Bharat ka Naya Tamasha: Opposition Wants Drama, Not Progress"

The editorial read:

"This chaos in Parliament was not the government's doing. It was the result of an opposition unwilling to accept change. If chairs are flying in the temple of democracy, we must ask: who brought the circus to the Parliament? Is this the behavior of leaders elected to serve the people?"

Meanwhile, The People's Sentinel, aligned with the opposition, unleashed a more critical angle:

"Kursiyan Uchi, Awaaz Aur Uchi: Is This Rohan's Unity or Partition?"

The article minced no words:

"The Prime Minister's arrogance has turned Parliament into a wrestling arena. Yesterday's scenes of fighting, yelling, and chair-throwing should leave every Indian hanging their head in shame. Leaders are chosen to lead, not brawl."

In Hindustan Today, a satirical cartoon took center stage.

It depicted a frazzled Speaker ducking under his desk while MPs flung chairs at each other.

A caricature of Rohan stood on the side, saying sarcastically, "Shayad Boxing aur Wrestling ko Olympic sports ki list mein daal dena chahiye." (Maybe we should add boxing and wrestling to the list of Olympic sports.)

People reading this cartoon in tea stalls burst into laughter. "Arre! Sahi toh likha hai! Ye toh akhada ban gaya Parliament!" (They're right! Parliament has turned into a wrestling ring!)

In Delhi's bustling Connaught Place, a group of young men stood animated around a newspaper vendor.

"Yeh log kya kar rahe hain Parliament mein? Hamare paison pe kursi uchhal rahe hain!" (What are they doing in Parliament? Throwing chairs on our money!)

Another man added in, shaking his head, "Bechaare Angrez galat waqt pe gaye. Agar aaj Parliament dekhte toh wohi rule karte!" (The British left at the wrong time. If they saw today's Parliament, they'd still be ruling us!)

At a chaiwala's stall, a middle-aged professor sipped his tea solemnly. "Democracy ka matlab debate hota hai, bhai, dangal nahi." (Democracy means debate, not wrestling.)

His friend, who seemed more amused than angry, laughed, "Woh Rajesh Yadav ka thappad ka scene suna? Thappad nahi, poore desh ka dil tha jo baja!" (Did you hear about Rajesh Yadav's slap? It wasn't a slap, it was the nation's heart being heard!)

Even those on buses and trams joked about the incident. "Bhai, kal cricket ka match chhoda aur Parliament ka highlight dekha. Full entertainment tha!" (Brother, I skipped yesterday's cricket match and watched Parliament highlights. It was full entertainment!)

But among the humor was disappointment.

An old farmer outside Lucknow sighed as he folded his newspaper. "Yeh log desh ke vikas ke liye baithe hain ya khud ki izzat todne ke liye?" (Are these people here to build the nation or destroy their own dignity?)

The chaos wasn't confined to India.

Across the world, foreign newspapers picked up the story and plastered it across their front pages.

The New York Times headline read:

"India's Parliament in Uproar: Fists, Chairs, and Shouts Take Over Democracy"

Their article described it vividly:

"What should have been a calm debate over state reorganization in India turned into an all-out brawl, complete with physical altercations and chairs flying across the hall. The Speaker of the House dissolved the session amidst screams and punches, a sight unparalleled in modern democracies."

The Guardian from London delivered a more biting critique:

"The Largest Democracy Acts Small"

It wrote:

"For a nation heralded as the world's largest democracy, yesterday's scenes in New Delhi were shameful. If this is the future of governance, India's claim as a rising power may need reconsideration."

In France, Le Monde ran a headline with a touch of sarcasm:

"La Lutte Indienne: Un Nouveau Sport Parlementaire" (Indian Wrestling: A New Parliamentary Sport)

Even the Soviet paper, Pravda, couldn't resist:

"India's Parliament Collapses into Bourgeois Chaos"

The article criticized the 'capitalist disorder' in India, using the opportunity to showcase its own "orderly" governance.

Across Southeast Asia, papers were more sympathetic.

In The Straits Times (Singapore), an editorial defended India:

"India is undergoing the painful process of modernizing an ancient land. Chaos is not a sign of collapse but a sign of transformation."

By the evening, the Parliament chaos dominated conversations.

At small gatherings, people imitated the chair-throwing and exaggerated the slap heard across the country.

"Arre, Rajesh bhai ne toh full Dharmendra ka scene kar diya! Ek thappad aur bas picture hit!" (Rajesh turned into Dharmendra! One slap, and the picture's a hit!)

But there were those who didn't find it funny.

A group of college students argued passionately at a street corner:

"Joke mat banao yaar! Parliament democracy ka heart hai, aur yeh log uska mazaak bana rahe hain!" (Don't make jokes! Parliament is the heart of democracy, and these people are mocking it!)

Another replied sarcastically, "Heart nahi bhai, Circus ka tent ban gaya hai!" (Not a heart, brother. It's turned into a circus tent!)

In homes, elderly grandparents sat shaking their heads, muttering, "Kahan ja raha hai yeh desh? In logon ko sharam nahi aati?" (Where is this country headed? Do these people have no shame?)

As the chaos reverberated through the country and beyond.

Rohan sat in his office late into the night, the newspapers spread before him like a battlefield map.

Each headline, each quote, was like a slap across his face, though his expression remained still.

Neeraj, his secretary, entered hesitantly. "Sir, it's all over the world now. People are....well mocking it."

Rohan looked up, his eyes dark.

He flipped one of the newspapers aside and muttered, "Mazak toh yeh log bana rahe hain jo sansad ko mandir nahi, tamasha samajhte hain." (The real mockery is being made by those who treat Parliament as a circus, not a temple.)

Neeraj stayed silent, sensing the deep frustration.

Rohan stood up, pacing the room.

Finally, he spoke, his voice a low growl, "Kal ka din in sabko yaad rahega. Yeh bill pass hoga, chahe yeh log kursi fekenge ya apna dimaag." (Tomorrow will be a day they'll remember. This bill will pass, whether they throw chairs or lose their minds.)

Neeraj nodded, whispering, "Aur desh kya kahega, sir?" (And what will the country say, sir?)

Rohan turned sharply, his gaze unwavering. "Desh ko sirf yeh samjhna hai ki main unke liye lad raha hoon. Yeh tamasha khatam hoga." (The country must understand that I'm fighting for them. This circus will end.)

Outside his window, the city of Delhi slept fitfully, waiting for what the next day would bring.

But the storm brewing in the heart of Parliament and the nation was far from over.