When a popular leader demised <br />His fans and admirers amongst the common men lamented grief stricken <br />They could not forget his help <br />The ration cards <br />Emergency ambulance services <br />Free medical aid <br />Meager loans on low interest rates <br />Scholarships to their children <br />Not able to come out the shock <br />Hundreds of them died of heart attacks <br />Tens of them committed suicides <br />Their deaths found an disinterested inconspicuous mention in media <br />Their loss of life found scant coverage in remote corners of tabloids space <br /> <br />When a popular leader demised <br />His pals and followers mourned his loss in the glare of camera lights <br />They reverently digested his largesse <br />Coveted cabinet berths <br />Longed legislature seats <br />Privileged party posts <br />Lucrative project contracts <br />Gainful industry licenses <br />But not even one of them died of heart attack <br />None of them even remotely thought of committing suicide <br />Exhibiting a borrowed grief they issued press statements <br />Which found prominent coverage in national media <br />And their crocodile tears dazzled the TV screens all the day <br /> <br />When a tsunami comes <br />Only the poor and slums on the shore are washed away <br />But, not the millionaires and mansions facing the shore <br /> <br />When a cyclone occurs <br />Only cattle, poultry and street dogs die <br />But, not the pet dogs and thorough-bred stallions <br /> <br />When an old tree falls in forest <br />Only the squirrels and rabbits get caught and perish <br />But not the lions and tigers <br /> <br />Poor are the epitome of gratitude <br />Rich have a bland syndrome of egocentric attitude!<br /><br />Ch J Satyananda Kumar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mourning-a-leader/
