Of a ‘wazandar’ (weighty) issue with our political class that’s back in glare

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent advice to former cricketer and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to reduce some weight may have sounded an alarm bell for other politicians

By Dheeraj Sinha (From Patna)

If we glance across the length and breadth of the globe, who are the faces we recall for their ‘weighty’ appearances?

A ready reckoner: Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, is one. The 38-year-old, who is 170 centimetres (5 feet, 8 inches) tall, was said to be previously weighing 140 kilograms (308 pounds), although, according to reports, he may have lost 10-20 kilograms (22-44 pounds). According to an AP article quoting experts, “Kim’s weight loss is more likely a result of efforts to improve his shape than an indicator of health problems, considering his regular public activity.”

Belgian politician Maggie De Block used to raise lot many eyebrows when the 20-stone (127kg) woman was put in charge of public health.

The former US President Donald Trump, too, looked obese although he may have been supremely fit physically.

Back in news

Back home, the ‘weight issue’ seems to have gained some traction of late. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent advice to former cricketer and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to reduce some weight may have sounded an alarm bell for other politicians.

Some saw it as a call for the political class to keep their wazan in curbs, physically, and not politically that is.

“Wazan kam karo (reduce weight),” Modi reportedly told the 32-year-old Tejashwi during his recent visit to the state capital Patna.

Prime Minister Modi was in Patna on July 12 to participate in a function to mark the conclusion of the centenary celebrations of the Bihar Assembly building.

Although film makers often banter on ‘khakiwalas’ (cops) for their bulging bellies and also succeed in drawing cheers from the audiences, no similar attention (sadly) has been paid to our potbellied politicians. It’s possible this lack of attention from people over the ‘wazandar’ (weighty) issue could be because they treating them (politicians) as a symbol of opulence.

Cricket background

Since Tejashwi was a professional cricketer himself, one cannot doubt his physical fitness but of late he seems to have gained weight, so catching the attention of PM.

Only last year in February, he rode a bicycle from his residence to the state secretariat to protest against fuel price hike. His remarkable energy level – both inside and outside Bihar Legislative Assembly – has impressed his political friends and foes and now it’s well expected from him to take PM`s advice with a sporting spirit.

In fact, only days after Modi’s advice to him to cut weight, Tejashwi was seen, in a video shared widely on social media, playing cricket on his bungalow and hitting massive shots. As Tejashwi teamed up with his staff at his sprawling bungalow to wield the cricket willow, the political class was playing its own guessing game – over the timing of the video.

Fitness regimen

When contacted, senior JD (U) leader and party’s chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said he practises yoga every day to keep himself physically fit.

“One cannot discharge one’s duties without maintaining a proper health,” he said. His boss, chief minister Nitish Kumar, also practises yoga every morning. It is said that he has learnt yoga asanas from teachers of the Bihar School of Yoga, Munger.

Senior Congress leader and party MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said, “I go for morning walk daily. In case I fail to go for a walk in the morning, I do it in the evening without fail.” Beside the morning walk, Mishra noted, he also practises ‘Anulom-Bilom Pranayam’ and other yoga breathing exercises.

However, when it comes to obesity, Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) leader and former MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav still steals the show despite his treatment for obesity. It’s another matter that his obesity has never come in the way of his movements as he has carried on his social services with great fervour and enthusiasm.

When the second wave of the COVID-19 was at its peak, Pappu Yadav used to reach out to people around hospitals and even went to cremation centres to offer his help. The portly leader has also been the most active politician, trudging through knee-deep or sometimes even waist-deep water in various streets of the state capital following the incessant rainfall in 2019.

(The main/featured image by LillyCantabile from Pixabay has been used for illustrative purposes only)

Also by the same author: Of Patna’s strong cultural bonding that has traversed through the ages – THE NEWS PORTER

The views are the author’s own and The News Porter bears no responsibility for the same