Pramod and Pravin.
Times like these I am glad I am a single child.
Look at Pravin Mahajan. His elder brother, Pramod brought him up after their father died. Found a bride for him. Used his influence to land plum contracts (Balasaheb’s humble abode) for his construction business. Why, as IT minister, he even took him along to Germany as part of an Indian delegation (needless to say at government expense)—the official excuse (rumoured) being that Pravin was a “developer”. He later gets a job for Pravin in the telecom sector and periodically loans him money.
And what does Pravin do? He shoots sugarbrotha in the stomach—and that too multiple times.
No it’s not pre-meditated (according to Pravin’s lawyers): it was something he seemingly did on the spur of the moment fed up with big brother’s mistreatment and refusal to return calls.
Which conjures up a very scary thought: does Pravin Mahajan go around everywhere, gun-in-holster, like a cowboy from the wild West and on finding someone reading the newspaper while he talks, says “You find that newspaper interesting eh? Well here’s a magazine” before he unloads a full magazine of bullets into the said person’s liver ?
Just like the invisible man who shot Jessica Lal. Or the poor newly married bride into Devi Lal’s clan who accidentally shot herself while playing with a loaded gun.
I am not saying some relatives do not deserve to be shot.
Oh yes, they do.
That snobbish snotty cousin who thinks he is “superior”—the one whom your mother points out and says “Why cannot you be more like him?” The “inferiority-complex” cousin , the one that always sulks in the corner and refuses to come out of his bedroom when you visit. The “know-it-all” uncle who volunteers guidance by stating the obvious, again and again (Study harder, The computer “line” is good nowadays, Management is a nice “line”). And the one who keeps on saying how hard their generation had it and how easy it has become for today’s kids.
These people, without doubt, deserve all the lead they can get.
It’s just that Pramod Mahajan did not deserve to– he had done more than enough for his brother. A little less might have been better for the country, because seeing how his brother is—he would have shot him all the same.
Let’s conclude with an anecdote that precisely captures the mindset of people like Pravin Mahajan.
When it was pointed out to Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar that Mr so-and-so was spreading vicious rumours about him, the great man gently replied:
“I wonder why he is doing so. I never helped him in any way.”
The Greatbong Blog & Podcast 
I dont think highly of politicians anyways, but Pramod Mahajan was (errr… is) supposed to be a “dynamic” politician – whatever that means. I am just surprised that he survived this!
Your ending anecdote, however sums it up very well. Not that I care for who Pravin or Pramod are. Actually it didnt even make a difference to me – but the other news about Jesicca Lal’s father did. Somehow the media missed that a week ago, Jessica Lal’s father too died, waiting for justice. Her mother died 2 years ago I think. I guess her sister is the lone soul now, waiting for things to justice to be delivered.
I wish Pravin Mahajan had shot Manu Sharma instead 😦
Suyog
Bhaloo Prasad whacking Laloo Prasad once in a blue moon- rare ecstacies we followers of Indian politics are allowed.
Brothers nowadays are landing in trouble more than they are expected to. You forgot apne pyaare bhai, Anil and Mukesh. My dad is already making arrangements to make everything clear in his will least my brother and I erupt into a high-family drama battle. But I don’t see that happening.
From what I read in the newspapers, this Pravin dude actually used to carry his gun around and had earlier too threatened people with it. I however doubt that he carried it like a cowboy from the wild West in a holster… probably the nozzle in his undie with the butt(pistol’s of course) sticking out from the pyjama 😉
“You find that newspaper interesting eh? Well here’s a magazine†– Priceless!
Well, if this deed of Pravin Mahajan was a really a result of his being fed up with big brother’s mistreatment and refusal to return calls for the past one year or so (as he himself had told the Police and the Press) then this case is kind of unusual. Not the usual bro-v/s-bro kind which we get tio see everywhere.
Even without getting into the bio-data of Pramod Mahajan the person and Pramod Mahajan the politician it goes without saying that Pramod Mahajan, the big brother didn’t deserve this treatment from his own brother who he made a life for. Whether what Pravin did would eventually benefit the country in the long run or not is another thing but if all ‘frustrated’, ‘depressed’ and ‘hurt’ brothers all over get inspired by this incident and decide taking the Pravin mahajan route to solve their problems once and for all, then all I can say in this regard is repeat what Arnab said : “Times like these I am glad I am a single child”.
“You find that newspaper interesting eh? Well here’s a magazine†– Hilarious.
YOURFAN writes:
@GB: I know that you light heartedly wrote: “I am not saying some relatives do not deserve to be shot.†But on a serious note, the case of sibling rivalry (or as you mentioned cousin rivalry) is not so clear cut. There are many many factors (just to name a few like socio, economic, backgrounds of parents, relatives and of course all pervading factor called luck) in a person’s life which form his mindset and emotions too. All these are extremely complicated and no easy and quick observations about the behavior can be made simply because there are so many parameters in a person’s life some of which are not even known to say the spouse or the parents. Besides human reactions to a particular factor is so person specific. Thus a quick opinion is being judgmental. Of course I am not saying that one should kill someone because he has grouse or hatred against him. All I am saying is that we don’t know all the facts. All we know is from the media about which lesser said the better. Do we know whether Pramod discriminated between brothers/sisters – or did he pamper and thus spoiled the younger brother and “handed†him the “expectation parameter†from Pramod that Pramod should be the one who will “look after his younger brother†all his life? If so, then Pramod is to be blamed for not being strict at the “right timeâ€. Besides, the concept of older brother taking charge of the siblings after father’s death or retirement is not very common now a days as it was used to be say few decades back. So do we know whether it was Pramod’s wife (who may not be from that socio background) was objecting to the ‘expectation factor’? These are just a few that came to my mind. I am sure there are a hell of a lot others.
Just the fact that there is a big difference of age between the brothers should also be a parameter. For each half a generation the concepts of expectations, demands, duties, responsibilities, rights and wrongs, outlooks regarding behavior with parents/relatives/siblings change like the medical/psychological concepts of what we should do or not do keep on changing. I understand why you wrote “the one whom your mother points out and says “Why cannot you be more like him?†I faced the same situation when I was growing up (I had the “inferiority-complexâ€). But now after I left the nest and had a better (I think!) understanding of my parents, I realize that they used it as ‘the motivation factor’ for me (I am sure they did not want to hurt me). But now this ‘motivation factor’ is a strict no no for bringing up kids. So, going back to what I was saying is that analyzing anybody’s action/reaction is extremely complicated. But again I should emphasize that I am condemning the shooting / killing or any violence (in case I start getting hate comments!) no matter how grave the allegations are.
“Times like these I am glad I am a single child †– priceless! I just love your one liners.
Atleast from the comments on this post, it is clear to me that Pramod Mahajan wasn’t liked by many. Most find this event , err … comic.
Also, tells me that BJP as no future. One of it’s most prominent personalities is fighting with life and there’s only a casual , even funny trivialising of this incident.
If for nothing guys, atleast acknowledge his contribution to telecom sector during the NDA rule; one that was acknowledged even by his opponents [including Jairam Ramesh]. Before long TOI and IE punctured his achievements and tainted it with corruption charges. { As if Congress-men are holy cows]
I am sure at a time like this when his family is fighting a battle of a lifetime, this son of a poor teacher from a remote village in Maharashtra may find some wishes if not support.
Me and my brother used to fight a lot and once totally exasperated my mom came up with this gem, ” Thats it, I am tired to moderating between you. I am partitioning everthing equally among u two….. U pay off the 30 lakh sib loan and bro pays the 30 lakh state bank loan” 🙂
@kaunteya : Atleast from ur comment on this post, it is clear to me that you do not grasp the concept of satire and that nobody here is laughing at the incident.
Kaunteya, awright it’s clear you are a Pramod Mahajan fan. And agreed that since he is fighting for his life, we should be respectful. But please do not elevate him to the status of a great man just because he is in hospital. He might have created the image of a dynamic and tech-savvy person, but the fact remains that he is essentially a foul mouthed, crass, vulgar politician, as bad as any of the other rural lumpens that abound in Maharashtra politics.
One doesn’t gain class because one learns to use a laptop, remember that.
The class of politicians I am referring to includes his brother-in-law Gopinath Munde who, as everyone in Maharashtra knows, also has a concubine (a lavani dancer) in Pune for whom he has bought a flat. This is an accepted fact by none other than Pramod Mahajan himself, and is evidently considered normal behaviour. Certainly there is no outrage shown by the “modern” Mahajan.
You should also probably revisit some of the pre-election rallies addressed by Mahajan and read his vulgar comments on Sonia Gandhi’s sweat stains in the armpit area! This is a politician we should respect? Please!
I wish he recovers soon and is well again, for the sake of his family. But no way am I going to respect him just because he had some “contribution” to the telecom sector…
“You find that newspaper interesting eh? Well here’s a magazineâ€
Was that your creation, or a line made immortal by Prabhuji? If it was yours, then you have a bright career prospect as a movie dialogue writer, you know! 🙂
As for the incident… I hope I am safe as long as sisters don’t start shooting their brothers.
*sniff* *sniff* Thank you for exposing these people. You can add the aunt, the one whose only obsession seems to be finding a suitable girl/boy for any unmarried adult in the family. These people do deserve to be shot.
Although I had wished some politicians to be shot(not a very charitable thought I know) Pramod Mahajan was not one among them. He along with Arun jaitley was among the sensible of the BJP flock. I wish him a speedy recovery.
Now if it were only Naerendra Modi/Mulayam Singh/Mayawati/Laloo Yadav was shot… *sigh* A man can only dream.
Maybe Pravin was inspired by Sarkar – the movie where the ‘bad’ brother was bumped off. Pramod allegedly has bumped off many people so his brother chose to give him a dose of his own medicine?Anyway this thing is so crazy it doesn’t have an explanation
For all I care, the politicians can all shoot themselves- saves us the effort…
…but having said that: How can you murder your own sibling? Even one that treats you “like a dog”? Don’t your fingers tremble at the thought of what might go through your parents’ hearts when they find out? Don’t the faces of your innocent nephews and nieces, most of whom you’d have dandled on your knee not that long ago, flash before your eyes as you pull the trigger? How can a relationship based on so much that is wonderful be reduced to one so barbaric?
You know— you may be glad you’re an only child, GB. All I feel is immense sadness and fear that someday my own relationship with my sibling will go the same way. Maybe we won’t shoot lead at each other, but the hardness in the heart is enough to cause a lifetime of pain. So starting today, am gonna be a little extra gentle and considerate when Didi calls. I hope she realises it too and lets up a little on her little brother!
It was a shame that Pramod Mahajan had to be shot by his own sibling.
I am surprised by the comments of ppl not just here but everywhere on the blogosphere as well as the news sites. I know ppl do not like the average politician. But Mahajan was not your average politician.
Well, he was not Rin Supreme white. But at least he was a little progressive. We wouldnt have our zero cost incoming calls and dirt cheap mobile telephony but for his reign as the IT minister. Before ppl even say “RIL kickbakcs”, think abt the fact that Airtel and Hutch are doing well right now but Reliance is stuck in the mud.
I just feel that people are going overboard in their reaction and sort of venting their frustration on this incident.
It was interesting, though to see Shabana Azmi and hubby (perennial RSS baiter) visiting a grassroot Swayamsevak in hospital.
@Ichatteralot
> Maybe Pravin was inspired by Sarkar – the movie where
> the ‘bad’ brother was bumped off.
Or maybe Rang De Basanti. I havent watched the movie, but know the story. Like aamir khan himself judges whether anupam kher and the defence minister are guilty or not, and decides the judgement and dispenses it himself.
Folks
I am THANKFUL to Pravin, yes he showed me the way to be Pro Active.
I am an elder brother and suporting the younger one for a while, from now on if i sense slightest doubt that he is going to take the wrong(PRAVIN) path I am gonna bump him off before he makes his first move.
I cant just spend rest of my life helping him as well as expecting him at my door to kick my butt.
Suri
When it was pointed out to Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar that Mr so-and-so was spreading vicious rumours about him, the great man gently replied:
“I wonder why he is doing so. I never helped him in any way.â€
Getting truer day by day!!
HP
Btw Arnab,
The Goratna After Shave is too good..
ROFL!!
Cheers,
HP
When it was pointed out to Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar that Mr so-and-so was spreading vicious rumours about him, the great man gently replied:
“I wonder why he is doing so. I never helped him in any way.â€
that was classic!! enjoyed the post a lot..
I started reading this post with several other things on my mind- wasnt concentrating much…then I came across-
==”That snobbish snotty cousin who thinks he is “superiorâ€â€”the one whom your mother points out and says “Why cannot you be more like him?†………
The “know-it-all†uncle who volunteers guidance by stating the obvious, again and again (Study harder, The computer “line†is good nowadays, Management is a nice “lineâ€). And the one who keeps on saying how hard their generation had it and how easy it has become for today’s kids.”==
….and a chill went down my spine….so my mind had been read…and I had nowhere to run…till I slowly but cheerfully realised that it was the blogger o’ our times describing Brother against Brother.
…….and sometimes I too am happy and grateful for being the only child. 🙂
Hope all these moral stories about the fate of Bhai-Log’s fighting and finally burning in the flames they have lit themselves, will not make them realise their follies and start “Sticking Together” coz if they are of the types “come what may, do whatever you do, never say break -We are Brothers in Law (illegally) like laloo-sadhoo”, then you know what the destruction that it can cause.
Once they had loved each other like brothers; now they fight like brothers (You shoot my Pancreas…see what i shoot off yours!!) is better for us the audience of this great “Brother’s in Arms” dramas.
Too good, Arnab da!
I wonder why all shooters turn ‘insane’ after they have shot?
“You find that newspaper interesting eh? Well here’s a magazine†before he unloads a full magazine of bullets into the said person’s liver ?
That was too good.Poor Pravin,first he was ignored by big bro and then mistaken for newspaper boy.I am pretty sure even the servant when questioned by the police gave the same account of the conversation.BTW despite of the extra kilos we put put on since our days in JU, you are still recognizable as the same old Arnab.After all we have had the same memories of enduring Dhopa Bose’s IIT and JU compares day in day out.Happy blogging.
newspaper Vs magazine…incredible imagination!and the classic ending anecdote.
write a book soon.
Reminds me once when my dad said as many children as many problems.good excuse to give up the idea of one more labor [aptly called]pain ordeal.
but sibling rivalry is an issue even without money matters.
even liked ur list of worth shooting characters in our life.
And so the moral of the story is never play with a gun when somebody is watching TV and reading newspaper…
All this would not have happened only if Ekta Kapoor gave some mileage to this aspect of a family. Saas-Bahu is ok, what about Bhai-bhai?
@Satish, Hmmm so someone else also didn’t like the concept of Rang De Basanti just like me. I think ‘Hu Tu Tu’ starring Sunil Shetty & Tabu was much better but again the movie reminded me of Rajiv Gandi assasination & I thought immediately what if everyone starts taking the Law in their own hands?. But again I found basic flaws in Dil Chahata Hain so maybe its just me who thinks Aamir Khan has lost his plot.
Pssst, someone told me Mangal Pandey was a Bhojpuri movie for the front benchers & whats thsi with ‘Goris’ falling in love with Aamir (Lagaan & RDB)?
Sorry guys / gals to have been off topic 😦
Like Vibhishan, I guess Pravin demands respect. We just need to find out who is the Ram in this Ramayan.
Ok, may b calling back at home and saying dad, “Is he still alive!!! too bad” is bad.
But then if some one is struggling for life doesnt mean he or she is innocent.
Sibling rivalry is not a new issue.
I have a sis and she will shoot herslef before even thinking of giving me a slap. M Lucky.
@Suyog: Yes that would have been so nice—a good use of a bullet if I may say so.
@Anon: 🙂
@Patrix: Fighting for property is fine. Boring. But fine. When bullets however are flying, then we have gone to a whole new level.
@Ranjan: Nozzle sticking out of his pyjama…ahem. No wonder Ms. Mahajan has gone into a state of shock.
@Shruti, Shubendu: 🙂
@deBoLiN: Its because people like Pravin, no doubt because of elder brother’s connections, are allowed to have a gun that such things happen.
@yourfan: Well of course. There may be many layers to this story that meets the eye—-however from what we know Pramod has done more than enough for Pravin. For which needless to say Pravin expects even more. One thing he really shouldnt have done—gotten him a license for a gun. And as to the “motivation factor”—has it ever worked for anyone? All that it usually ends up doing is to make cousins/brothers end up hating each other.
@Kaunteya: We all feel Mr Mahajan’s pain and wish him a speedy recovery–noone is laughing at him getting shot. And indeed he is one of the better politicians in the landscape. However you cant blame people for not crying buckets—politicians don’t exactly, as a group, command a whole lot of sympathy from people.
@Rahul: Well said.
@Shan: Didnt know about Mr. Munde —learn new things every day.
@Joy Forever: Mine ! Imagine Mithunda giving these dialogues…uff…
@Anil: Yes Pramod Mahajan is among the slightly better ones….would need many rounds of firing to get through Mayawati…
@Ichatteralot: Govindaaa Govindaa…
@Noop: Blinding rage I suppose. And yes it is true—siblings and cousins, once close, drift apart and hearts become hard. Maybe not everyone of course..
@Dhananjay: Yes I felt it a bit odd too—-Javed Akhtar and Ms Azmi at Mahajan’s side.
@Satish: A subject of a future post—which I have been putting off for some time.
@Suri: Just be careful he does not have a firearm.
@HP: 🙂
@Mindcurry: Thank you..
@yourfan2: Amen to that.
@EMC3: Point.
@Rohit: Wonder so myself.
@Bishu: Nice to know that I can still be recognized. And now that you have reminded me of Dhopa Bose and his dhops about IIT, I am desperately searching for my Colt revolver.
@Varsha: Not a comprehensive list may I add.
@Abhishek: So it seems.
@Ashit: Ekta Kapoor would require an extra marital affair somewhere in the mix.
@Kumar: Lucky indeed.
Remember..Shivani Bhatnagar case???
As horrendous as it appears and sounds it would be difficult comment on this issue. Hard to guess what circumstances led to this.
But if it was only about mistreatment and not returning calls as Mr Pravin’s lawyers say – this is disgraceful. Still.. its obvious that there’s more to this story!
jEDI
Both borthers are good at shooting. One, mouth and the other lead 🙂
I dunno if you read my blog (in fact I’m fairly sure you don’t, but that’s ok) so you probably don’t know what I’m dealing with. But your story about Vidyasagar helps, in a way. Funny, because I’m not really into ‘inspirational’ stories as a rule.
@Stone: Oh yes sure do. Special friendships and all that.
@jEDI: Maybe…
@OS: Well said.
@Sue: Now I have visited it from time to time…thats not true..