Social media is going ballistic with memes on Rahul Gandhi’s fast for communal harmony. A medium that is overrun with Right Wing trolls is enjoying its moment in the sun over the alleged failure of the fast. But before getting carried away with this negativity (which BJP thrives on and encourages), let’s stop for a moment and look at the larger picture.
Why did Rahul Gandhi call for this fast? Why would someone who could savour the best of culinary delights sacrifice his food for 5 long hours?
This was mainly necessitated by the need to undo the political and socially vitiated fabric of India since 2014.
Oscar Wilde once said, “After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives”. As we all know, Rahul Gandhi is all about love and forgiveness and it is to his credit that he is bringing Oscar Wilde’s words to life.
An Irish proverb too states that “laughter is the brightest in the place where the food is”. Can we deny the now often proven relationship between Rahul Gandhi and laughter? Contrast this with the sentiment inspired by the other brand leader in the race!
In fact, Virginia Woolfe went even further and said: “One cannot think well, love well and sleep well if one has not dined well”. Do we really need a leader (who prides his fasting prowess during the Navratras) when an empty stomach leads to lack of thinking and loving?
The great J.R.R.Tolkein once said “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world”.
And God, do we know how much of love, cheer and song we need in this Sanghi world!
Going forward, the Culinary Master Anthony Bourdain himself quotes “I’ve long believed that good food, good eating, is all about risk. Whether we are talking about unpasteurised Stilton, raw oysters or working for organised crime associates, food for me has always been an adventure”.
Rahul Gandhi has indeed proved his risk-taking abilities by focussing on food here, irrespective of what the haters say. Risk taking is an important attribute for a man desirable of holding the PMs chair.
Finally Julia Child succinctly wraps up the argument by saying “People who love to eat are the best people. Cannot really explain it better than that.
Credits: Nidhi R, Sadhvi K, Sadanand D, Pallavi G and 64 others.
