By Syed Hurairah
Hyderabad: Hyderabadi humour is known across the world, courtesy its Diaspora, as both acerbic and delightfully self-deprecatory. And when one combines Hyderabadi humour with protests, in this case the anti-CAA, NRC and NPR agitation at Dharna Chowk, what ensues is a delightful, yet devastating attack on the system.
The so-called Million March on Saturday was abuzz with placards which carried slogans taking swipes and potshots at the Modi-Shah political duo. And to add to the hilarity, the word ‘baigan’ was thrown into the batter of protests.
A group of youngsters carried a banner with a large picture of a degh (cauldron) which is synonymous with making biryani.
‘Biryani mangoo toh aur detaun, aur document maangey to wahi degh mey daalke teen time detaou, nakko baigan ka CAA, NRC, NPR’ (Ask me biryani and I will give you more, ask me for documents, I’ll put you in the same cauldron and give it back to you again and again).
Another one, against a pink background, an allusion to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, read thus: ‘KCR Moo Kholo NRC No Bolo’ (Open your mouth KCR, say no to NPR).
A woman protester carried a placard with just two words and an illustration. Simple, direct and dismissive, it read: ‘Documents hona?’ with a sketch of a brinjal or eggplant.
Another, with yet another baigan reference, read: ‘Pichhle saal ki thand ki topi nahi mil rahi, Baigan 1971 ke documents kahan se laana’ (Couldn’t find last winter’s warm cap, baigan how will I get documents from 1971).
And finally, a placard which equates the sanctity of ablutions with national integration, albeit with a touch of humour: Hum to wazu bhi nai tootne detey mulk kya khaak tootne dengey (We don’t let our ablutions break, letting the country break is a far cry).