Tihar Holiday: The Curious Case of Kesto (Anubrata)
Discover the satirical journey of Anubrata Mondal, aka Kesto, in this witty political satire. From smuggling scandals to a surprising comeback from Tihar jail, this tale captures the quirks and comical twists of Bengal’s political theatre with a dose of humour.
Ah, Alberto Pinto Ka Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai—a cinematic relic from the ’80s where the notion of honesty leading to success was sold as some sort of motivational fiction. Naseeruddin Shah’s character might have fallen for that farcical illusion, but let’s be honest, it’s a story fit for a Thakurmar Jhuli tale, isn’t it? In the real world, well, let’s just say the ladder to success is more bent than a politician’s promises. For instance the curious of Kesto.
You see, in our beloved land, it’s not exactly a novel idea to smuggle a bit of this and that—whether it’s coal, cows, or, you know, the odd promise of “development.” If you can strong-arm your neighbours, pinch their land for a bargain, and maybe crack a few heads in the process, well, congratulations! You’ve officially graduated to hero status. Who needs honesty when you’ve got muscle, right? And, if you can guarantee a few wins at the ballot box, even if those votes are, shall we say, creatively obtained, you might find yourself being showered with blessings from those pulling the strings in Kalighat.
Now, I should really introduce the protagonist of our little saga. Enter Anubrata Mondal—or as the lads down at Birbhum lovingly call him, “Kesto.” A man of remarkable… shall we say, entrepreneurial spirit? His claim to fame, you ask? Well, he’s the local celebrity who somehow managed to guarantee his party’s electoral victories through a delightful mix of, er, encouragement and gentle persuasion—the kind of persuasion that may or may not involve a couple of broken bones, you know, just to keep the local enthusiasm alive.
But, alas, Kesto’s winning streak took a bit of a nosedive. The poor chap found himself in Tihar jail, and not for a short stay either! Arrested for allegedly amassing crores through some quaint activities involving cow and coal smuggling. I mean, really, who hasn’t dabbled in a bit of cross-border smuggling? It’s practically a rite of passage in some circles. But let’s not be hasty in our judgment—Kesto merely followed in the footsteps of his predecessors, diligently applying the same proven business model. It’s all about tradition, dear reader.
Yet, one mustn’t overlook the drama! After all, Anubrata’s dramatic arrest left Birbhum’s political theatre in shambles. The man was treated as a martyr—some even dubbed him the lone tiger of Bengal, though his tigress daughter, Sukanya, got swept up in the drama too. Talk about keeping it in the family! In fact, Birbhum should get a medal for producing not one but two illustrious stars of this political pantomime. You’d almost forget that this very district was once home to a chap called Tagore—remember him? Nobel laureate, poet, philosopher, founder of a university… oh, but let’s not get sidetracked by boring intellectuals when there are modern heroes to fawn over.
Anyway, Kesto has recently been let out on bail, and for a measly Rs 10 lakh at that. Imagine! A figure so laughably low for crimes so grand that it must have had him stroking his moustache in disbelief. “Just 10 lakhs for all of this?” he must have mused. “Surely, I’m innocent after all.” The great wheels of justice, after creaking their way through the corridors of the Supreme Court, saw fit to grant him bail. This, my dear friends, is what we call poetic justice.
And now, the man returns to Birbhum, where no doubt a resurgent Kesto will quickly resume his place, moustache freshly waxed, and ready to reclaim his former glory. After all, his party hasn’t stripped him of any posts; he merely took a short holiday, a brief sabbatical behind bars, before returning to the business of democracy. So let’s all raise a glass to our dear Kesto, for his inevitable return is as certain as another coal shipment going mysteriously missing at the border.
Jolly good, isn’t it?
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