Jealous of Meloni

Free Thinker *

“Melody khao, khud jaan jao,” is a 1983-84 Parle ad. Melody is a chocolate toffee popular among the youths and children. It is a Parle product.

This cute tiny chocolate has suddenly become more popular due to a rendezvous that took place in the ancient city of Rome.

Credit goes to Meloni Ma’am for accepting a pleasant lovely gift (melody packet) from the hand of another ancient civilization.

We really don’t know whether this Parle product is knowingly launched or relaunched. But it is a fact that after that a remarkable market event has taken place - retail investors have begun aggressively buying shares of Parle Industries Limited.

Actually this company has nothing to do with the melody toffees and its maker (confectionery manufacturer). Because of the melody revolution this Parle Industries Limited is hugely benefited. Its market share surged.

Actually, melody is a product of Parle Products Private Limited. It was started in 1929 by Chauhan family located in Vile Parle (East) Mumbai. Its products are very popular and sold all over. Some of their popular brands are Parle-G, Hide & Seek, Monaco, Melody, Krackjack, 20-20, Milano etc. Its net income is about 1000 cr a year.

Again, we really don’t know whether the Company had given any advertisement fee to the global leaders to popularize their brand product. Nevertheless the place, the persons and the product have hit the minds of millions of people.

If the publicity was done free of cost the Parle Company must be very grateful to the leaders who made the product world famous; and not only that the declining melody market is once again robustly rejuvenated. Somebody from Kolkata told me that melody toffee is all sold out in the city.

There is a standing unspoken instruction to the cadre that one should follow the leader. This is the position in the largest Political Party of the world (only second to the Cockroach Janta Party – yet to be registered).

Suppose 18 crore workers have started giving melodies for their loved ones – certainly there will be short supply. The Company might have started making this toffee nonstop day and night in the last few days; still the demand exceeds the supply.

A boy in his teens was standing in front of a grocery shop waiting for the rain to stop (I was also doing the same thing) started talking to me – ‘Sir do you know why melody candy is in the news? Yes, I said, a gift given to a PM by another PM. But the boy made an enigmatic remark saying that ‘melo’ stands for the lady and ‘dy’ stands for the gentleman. What an innovative mind !

World leaders like Putin Bhai, Jinping ji, Trump Sir, Netanyahu Saab and many others must be jealous of Ms. Meloni. She is still good-looking, attractive and leading an ancient civilization. And she is just 49 years old – and now single.

Though the protagonist of the ‘melody moment’ is a septuagenarian he is still energetic, agile and always carries mind-blowing ideas. This Yogic leader can challenge any leader of the world in all fields including everything.

The idea of giving Meloni a muga silk stole with the Shirui lily embroidered on it - was really touching; who has given this idea ? Great. The exotic beautiful Shirui lily from Ukhrul is also the State flower of United Manipur.

Incidentally, Manipur and Italy have a similar historical background. Thousands of Italians fled Italy due to their own ethnic internecine fights in the 19th and 20th century; so, they ran away to other countries including America – where they set up mafias like La Cosa Nostras; had you gone through the Godfather ? – wonderfully written by Mario Puzo; he immortalized the Corleone mafia family of Sicily.

Some Italians might have entered India also; may not be from Sicily but may be from some other parts like Lusiana.

We accept ‘bahus’ from Italy and other countries. It is not a new thing for us. It has been our culture – to integrate with other cultures. Our Buddhas (images / status) are basically the creation of Greco-Roman art. Bharat accepts all cultures of the world – and people too. This sub continent still believes in the Upanishadic concept of ‘Vasudaiva kutumbakam” (world is a family). Another Italian bahu is not an issue – of course, jealousy will be there.

The Melody event reminds me of “Love in the Time of Cholera”, an epic story by Garbriel Garcia Marquez of undying love spanning over 50 years in a Colombian port city. It is about a pledge of an eternal love between Ariza and Daza. Her parents forcibly married Ariza to a wealthy Doctor. But Daza remained single though having many affairs in desperation.

Finally, after Ariza’s husband passed away she and Daza rekindled their love in their twilight years. Old age romance lasts forever because there is no lust in it (they used a yellow flag on their boat – indicating quarantined Cholera patients – to keep away ‘buri nazar’ - while enjoying the ride).

In the name of BRICS Summit Putin ji & Jinping ji are coming in September to learn the art of ‘Melody’ from the concerned.