Trade Fair and my 'State' of concern !

I have this one favorite one-liner that - DIN MAIN EK BAAR JABAAN PE SARASWATI VIRAJTI HAI AUR USA SAMAY JO BHI BOLO WO SACH HO JATA HA !!! I kept on pulling legs of scores of people for all these years but as some wise men have said, whatever you do in this world comes back as fate in this life only,I had the flavor of this the other day.

Here I was at IITF (India International Trade Fair) at Pragati Maidan, Delhi. Its a wonderful place to visit for a day long outing. There I was checking out all the pavilions when this close friend of mine suggested that we all should go and check UP's (Uttar Pradesh) hall, it being my state .I, a person who is totally in love with the idea of becoming a repartee expert, responded in the same breath by saying - "We only have political stunts and politicians to display. That is all we trade and expertise in."

Saying that, I entered the hall with a Nehruvian smile as if having delivered Tryst With Destiny. I was admiring my sense of timing when the gate through the corridor opened inside the halls. And lo! Here just before the first stall was a big hoarding saying - " CM Mayawati sitting with President Pratibha Patil". Then 10 feet enroute the Galleria was another even bigger poster saying - "CM Mayawati feeding polio drops to an infant". Just in front of the last stall was another poster saying "Behan Mayawati, UP ka bhavishya". After that I was too embarrassed to keep count. But there was no return from there because another specialty of UP is the crowd which is omnipresent. I just had to keep my feet moving. Directions and all were put in by the mass only. In all there were no less than 50 posters of Mayawati specifically and the ruling party in general. Now I simply could not make any sense out of it. Why do we allow events such as a TRADE FAIR to be used as a political podium? Why was there a need for the same? Why cant I tell with pride about my state to other people and why am I speechless when somebody asks me about specialties of my state. Why is it that when others specifically endorse their own states, I just say I am from North India and all that.

Am I amiss somewhere or is it a loss of character within my roots. Have I not inherited the pride that comes with one's place of birth? Or am I ashamed to discuss it ? I am not sure if I would be able to find the answers but one thing is for sure, its important to find them. It is important for me and for those who are not able to connect to their states.Ayodhya,Babri Masjid, Rampur Tiraha, Kanpur Riots, Meerut Riots, Gandhi Park, Make shift governments,Taj Corridor,Hawala Scams.Well.I wonder when did we last contributed to the society other than supplying it with hoardes of news bites and politicians.

Anyways, see, again I was about to say that it is none of my concern. It bloody damn is. That is the whole problem. It very much is my concern.It is my State after all.