‘Gandhi’, ‘Modi’ on nationwide yatra for unity

“#MeToo should have begun 40 years ago,” says ‘Bapu,’ alias Augustine D’Almeida, in all earnestness. The resemblance to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is uncanny. One is tempted to pull out an Indian currency note to match the likeness, which is what the very observant two-year-old daughter of a friend from Andheri did, 13 years ago.

D’Almeida and Narendra Modi lookalike, Hireyadka Sadanand Nayak, walked in together, in their trademark attire, to the Free Press Journal office and wanted to speak about their mission -- to unite India, to ask people to buy Swadeshi instead of ‘Made In China’ goods and root for women empowerment.

They have a third companion, Gopal, ‘Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’, who unfortunately, has been unable to accompany them on their travels, as he is taking care of his ailing parents.

Both ‘Gandhi’ and ‘Modi’ were brought together by Shobha Karandlaje, Bharatiya Janata Party, Member of Parliament, UdupiChikmagalur constituency. She asked them to go around the country to spread the word of unity, for the BJP. On their first mission, both went to Gujarat in 2017, just before the assembly elections.

Everywhere, ‘Gandhi’ and ‘Modi’ have received a rousing welcome. People are curious and feel these two personalities in different generations should have been together. “They ask me, itna late kyon aaye?” says D’Almeida, swimming in the midst of this ocean of goodwill. The retired underwater welder says, “If I were to die working under water, the insurance company will have to shell out a hefty compensation, which will leave them broke. And I can only work for two hours, but now that I will not get insurance coverage, I cannot work anymore.”

Nayak is a retired chef who also makes chai. He worked for 24 years at Manipal’s Kasturba Medical College (KMC). He was on the last leg of his stint in the catering car of a train bound from Mangaluru to Haridwar, when he first got a taste of fame. “We were travelling from Mangaluru to Haridwar, three years ago, and for 10 days, I had no time to shave. With my white beard, many thought I resembled Narendra Modi, so I continued with this look,” says ‘Modi’, with that familiar, broad smile.

He wants to give back to society and before leaving on his unity mission, has pledged his body to the Manipal University’s anatomy museum.