Retirement ends an era

I thought of writing to you when I heard that you had decided to retire after a long, long innings and hand over your job to someone else. To be honest, Achchi, we were all surprised to hear of your decision which you said was due to ill health. Why, you had said only a week ago that you are able to raise both hands!

After all, Achchi, you were not in the best of health all these years- and there are only a few weeks more before this Parliament is dissolved and you seem to be in such a hurry to retire! In fact, there is already a lot of speculation that it was Podi Duwa and not you who wanted your retirement expedited.

There are stories, Achchi, that the person who looks after the fishes, who earlier looked after housemaids may have been a serious contender for your post especially after he took a stand against the proposed constitution which was a disaster for Podi Duwa.

They say Podi Duwa wanted to make sure that her man was the second-in-command and that was why you had to make way for the Planter. Anyway, it's a sensible choice and we have to thank Podi Duwa for small mercies: just imagine the Postman or young Seeni Bola being given the job!

Achchi, we do recognise that you did a lot for our little country. It was you who put our country on the map by becoming the first lady leader. And we now know that when ladies are given positions of power sometimes don't perform very well but you, in your own way did well for someone who went only to St. Bridget's and not to Sorbonne- at least they taught you punctuality there!

You crushed an insurrection, converted the country into a Republic and hosted the Non-aligned Conference which will remain your lasting achievements. In the late seventies, of course, you messed up managing the economy-as someone else is doing now- and that led to your downfall.

But for me, Achchi, your greatest achievement is holding the opposition together in the eighties, even after being stripped of your civic rights by you-know-who. Those were difficult times but you- with your son beside you- continued fighting until you were returned to power after a long time. For that contribution to democracy, we are grateful.

Anyway, Achchi, I think you made the correct decision in deciding to retire.

Achchi, what do you propose to do in your retirement? Are you keeping away from it all? Or, will you watch from the sidelines and give an advice or two to Podi Duwa when she needs it? I ask this because it looks as if those who are advising her are taking her for a ride- as what happened last week with the constitution so clearly demonstrated.

Anyway, Achchi, we wish you the best of health in your retirement and thank you for all that you have done. You may rest assured that you did very well in the job that was thrust upon you by destiny.

Yours Truly,
Punchi Putha.

PS- It seems a strange co-incidence, but the only two people who brought international fame to our country, Captain Cool and you, decided to retire on the same day! Anyway, are we setting a new trend where people are retiring when they are being asked why they are going, instead of waiting until people ask them why they are not going? If that is so, Achchi, can you drop a hint or two to Seeni Bola, for instance, that he may be overstaying his welcome?

The Jungle Telegraph

Editorial/ Opinion Contents