The Marx Brothers gave us classic comedy. That was when cinema was black and white, and even earlier when it was silent. Now, comedy hogs TV serials. Sometimes it's really good. The Marxist Brothers are considered as funny as the Marx Brothers were. Why, some even think Karat and Yechuri to be funnier than Groucho and Harpo!
Their serial has been running for months now. It keeps the audience in stitches. The early episodes were hilarious. They were shown fighting the government on the beaches, fighting it on the streets, fighting it on the fields. For fishermen in the south, for workers in the north, the Marxist Brothers were out there fighting, fighting, fighting. And then they would confront the government in Parliament, in UPA meetings, at lunches and dinners. Then they would start hugging, hugging, hugging. People couldn't stop laughing.
Now they are in the middle of a popular episode in which they have been gassing so much that people have forgotten all about the Iranian gas pipeline! The Marxist Brothers fought for Iran's right to deal with Pakistan's Dr A.Q. Khan by making sure India couldn't deal with America's George Bush. "Don't vote against Iran in the iaea," they yelled.
"Okay, we won't," the government said, after making sure there would be no vote in the IAEA meeting. The Marxist Brothers refuse to rethink. Alas, Uncle Putin did rethink. He evolved a compromise formula. Now, Iran has time to rethink. With Uncle Putin, Europe and Uncle Sam ganging up, only China is thinking about whether Iran should rethink or not. If Iran doesn't, should China rethink? And if China rethinks, can Iran continue merely thinking?
During this fierce thinking and rethinking, the Marxist Brothers negotiated with the government and reached an agreement. The government solemnly agreed not to vote against Iran in the IAEA—where no vote was on the agenda! In return, the Marxist Brothers allowed the government to sell more shares of public sector units to nasty domestic and foreign capitalists.
Viewers are waiting with bated breath for the serial to unfold its plot. If China rethinks and Iran rethinks, will the Marxist Brothers also rethink? Gambling establishments are giving odds against them ever doing that. The Marxist Brothers will fight for Iran's independence till the last breath. But not rethinking didn't stop them from questioning. One Marxist asked: "Who said we must support Iran?"
Someone replied: "Hu said that."
"If I knew that, I wouldn't ask you, dummy!"
(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)
