From Firebrand to Torchbearer: A Tribute to Ka Bel

Transition

And in the twilight of his life, he made that smooth transition from being a firebrand – who in the minds of the conservators of the status quo meant being an arsonist who would burn anything which stood on the way to liberating his fellow workers to a torch bearer who in the minds of all well meaning citizens meant illuminating the path of those who search for the better life in a democratic and peaceful manner.

That is a most difficult thing to do. Not too many men could do it but Ka Bel certainly did it.

Not only that. He did it with finesse and with verve and vigor unmatchable by ordinary mortals. And he kept his nose clean even as he fought his parliamentary battles in the putrid environment of transactional politics.

Sui generis

Ka Bel could have been bought by the interests of the rich and the establishment. He could have succumbed to threats of the mighty and the powerful.

But he resisted all that. And that by itself is sufficient to say that Ka Bel was a sui generis kind of man. A man alone. A man in the mold of heroes.

His life puts to shame many of our brethren in politics and in religion who claim to love and serve the poor.

His word, his bond

Even his widow with whom he had 11 children says that Ka Bel was a man worthy of his word as a married man and as a father. Not too many politicians deserve that accolade from their spouses.

Of Ka Bel, it can truly be said that he was of the poor, stood by the poor and was for the poor.

I can say a thousand more words about Ka Bel but they won’t add any thing substantial to our tribute to him. Let me, then, just address these few last lines to Ka Bel: You are a martyr to the cause of the poor. You belong to them and only they can rightfully claim you as their very own.

God speed Ka Bel and may you enjoy the rest that you never had in this world but may the example of your life now as torchbearer give faith to our people that all is not lost in this coutry and that there is hope for the better as your life has shown.