Hum Hoon Naa: Survivor!

Kanika Tandon & Allen O'Brien / TNN / Nov 23, 2005, 02:22 IST

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'The man with ideas' that helped him rule for 15 odd years! That's the GenX decode of the Lalu metaphor...

What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Lalu Prasad? 'The man with ideas' that helped him rule for 15 odd years! Surprised? That's the GenX decode of the Lalu metaphor...
The Survivor: Says ad man Prahlad Kakkar, "Lalu is the survivor in the real sense for he'll be back! Though we might think that he is a joker, our opinions really don't matter at the grassroots level.
Lalu treats us like a minority and does whatever he can to grab the kursi. Just look at what he did with Paswan. He'll now make Nitish a soft target as well."
Adds author Shobhaa De, "No matter what one might say, he is the ultimate epitome of the survivor in politics. Even as every Indian claimed that Lalu is to be blamed for the sad state of affairs in Bihar today, nobody could create a barrier for him during 15 years of his reign."

The Puppeteer: Thanks to his wife Rabri Devi, many feel that the politico qualifies as the "perfect puppeteer. He really knows what it takes to make the show run.
And when he could not play his own cards, he made sure to get someone �� his wife �� who would do exactly what he wanted," states image consultant Anil Thakraney.
Moreover, some feel there is more to come. "He is one man who has never accepted defeat and now one wonders what lies in store," claims CEO, Tops Security, Rahul Nanda.

The Joker: What could best sum up the saying that the first impression is the last one but the "persona of Lalu. There are 52 cards in the pack and Laloo is the fifty third one �� the joker �� mind you with the brains of a manipulator."
Agrees Nanda, "Had it not been for his looks, Lalu would have never got away with 15 years of nuisance. His joker looks are a feather in the crown!"
The Manager: In case you thought the 'joker' image was the only metaphor that best suited the politician, think twice.
As student Praveen Kumar of DU says, "There is just one metaphor that best describes the neta �� a shrewd politician. He knows his voters. He knows how to convince them. His image of a joker is only a facade to win votes."
Adds another DU student Barnana Sarkar, "Though he claims to be a funny politician, it is the media that has made him an item of spoof.
But he knows his job. He has managed his position excellently. In fact, he is a great management guru. Despite being portrayed as funny and foolish, he has a strong political hold on Bihar."
And so feels Puja De, a second year student of IP University: "Manipulative... Behind his comic mask is a great Machiavelli."
The Original: Yes, believe it or not, this man, the youth feels, needs to be applauded for his creative self. Says engineer Amber Saxena, "The man is innovative. His idea of introducing clay cups in Indian Railways was excellent.
He does not fear criticism if he is convinced of what he is doing. And it is this 'I don't give a damn' attitude that makes him a class above the rest."
Seconds Shyama Chaudhary, a teacher at Sardar Patel School, "Though the man is cunning, he knows how to play on the mob mentality though his great self-centred plans."

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