I admire Yeddyurappa. He has taught me far more than my maths teacher who drilled archaic theorems into my thick head, all in vain

An Ode to Deadly Yeddy

He has contributed to language, to the arts and to becoming an inspiration to... well, to people less inspired than him.

He has single-handedly removed the swalpa in the phrase swalpa adjust maadi. To those uninitiated in the Kannada lingo, the expression is used every time somebody needs to turn a tolerant eye to a screw-up. The swalpa is a crucial "thoda sa" or a "wee bit", said with a wink in one eye and a shrug of the shoulders. Deadly Yeddy though, doesn't believe in the word swalpa. Adjustments are made in wide swathes of land or in horrendously huge bulks of bullion. Or in grand gestures like inducting three hundred new ministers, and eight hundred new corporators at one go.

The Kannada lexicon now has a new buzz word: corruption-u. It goes far beyond the meaning of its anemic English root. In Karnataka, it has a rich loamy texture, that has seeped into every sphere of our lives, and into even the most hardened cracks of our culture. Hats off to the only Chief Minister who has managed to add his own mark on day-to-day language.u00a0

He has even changed around "development". He has promised to concentrate on "development of the State -winning the Panchayat elections!"

The incredible man has put to shame some seasoned thespians. His histrionics in front of deities and before the BJP High Command would win anyone an Oscar. On him, it should garner the man The Lifetime Award! He cries without glycerine. He threatens his bosses when he has to. He acts the humble man of the masses when he takes a break from counting the day's takings. And he would have been a joke as big as Chaplin, except that he's a horrific tragedy.

In one fell term of his, he has managed to do what nobody else could have: changed geography around! Suddenly Bangaloreans wake up in Bihar. With crumbling infrastructure, audacious crime statistics and au00a0 paan-chewing, insouciant babu-dom that wouldn't be out of place in the cow belt.u00a0

Corporate czars would do well to take a leaf out of his book. He has managed to outwit the craftiest in the land. And has held on to his chair - and his millions. Newspapers have foretold his fall. Rival politicos have demanded his topple. The people of Karnataka have been rendered mute bystanders as the man rises like a Phoenix every time.u00a0 I admire the man. And now I get to see him even more with the aggressive campaign he has launched that extols all his virtues in full page ads.

My only question is: who is footing the bill for the advertising?

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels