Lalu Prasad turns 75, party and family celebrate

Excitement was palpable as the RJD leader, whom incarceration and ill-health frequently keeps away, was physically present in the party office on his birthday after many years

The opposition RJD in Bihar erupted in celebrations on Saturday when its founding president Lalu Prasad, one of the most colourful political personalities of his generation, completed 75 years of age.

Excitement was palpable among the rank and file as their leader, whom incarceration and ill-health frequently keeps away, was physically present in the party office on his birthday after many years.

The party, which completes 25 years in less than a month, was observing the day as ‘Sadbhavana Diwas’ (day of harmony), tweeted Mr. Prasad’s son and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in an attempt to apparently underscore that here was a political outfit whose founder had kept communal passions in check in the thick of post-Babri demolition riots.

Posters have been put up calling the former Bihar Chief Minister the ‘bhagwan’ (God) of the poor and Mr. Yadav, an ex-Deputy Chief Minister himself, gave a thumbs up to the attempts at deification by referring to his father’s birthday as a day of “avataran” (incarnation).

The residence of Rabri Devi, wife of Prasad and a former Chief Minister herself, where the RJD supremo is staying, teemed with visitors since morning who brought along gifts and good wishes.

One of his fans brought along 75 ‘dauras’ (wicker baskets) full of “khaja”, a sweet dish made of white flour which has come to enjoy the status of a cultural symbol of Bihar.