23rd March 2006. Sir Satcam Boolell dies at the age of 80. Tributes flow like the Ganges from the Himalayas and from unexpected quarters also. Why do people take the life out of a full-blooded person when paying him tributes on his demise?

SSB was larger than life itself, packed with ingredients both good and bad, which made him the kind of super dynamo he was. But, all that our politicians and some journalists could say about him were cliché-ridden eulogies, spouted about every celebrity when he departs, ?great son of Mauritius?, ?great loss for the country?. More than the real cause of death, it is these banal homilies that killed SSB after his death.

Now what! Political mileage has to be earned on his name. Commemoration of the Great MP that he had been in constituency No. 10, Great Son of Gros-Billot, New-Grove, where his son is standing MP; and so on and what not. Every time is party time for some.

The latest dead man to be disturbed in the grave is Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed. All of a sudden, it has dawned upon the political class that SAR would have turned 100 this year. On 5th May, it will be time to commemorate the death of SGD, another Great Son. Then SVR and back in September that of SSR. Be it as it may, we do not always bear in mind that death is inevitable. Momento- mori ?remember you must die?. Without brooding over it, we must be prepared for it. Nothing is eternal, everything is illusion.

This applies to all situations in life and all beings. Everything, good or bad, must come to an end. This will also apply to Navin Ramgoolam, who is today at the pinnacle of popularity, concentrating almost all powers in his own hands. He must be happy watching the riots raging in the opposition ranks.

At this juncture, his best allies are Pravind Jugnauth and Paul Bérenger himself. The bickering of these two proves that Ramgoolam?s victory was after all not bad for the country.

Here we have Paul Bérenger insisting that Pravind Jugnauth is not cut to be the prime minister of the country after having predicted a bright future for the latter nine months earlier. Either he was lying then or he is lying now.

But knowing the man, one would be right to think he was rather using Pravind Jugnauth to further his own ambition of keeping the PM?s seat for another three years. It was therefore essential to pamper the boy. But then Bérenger not only lied to Pravind Jugnauth, but he rather lied to his own electorate about his ability to retain power. Those who could see greener pastures moved with Ramgoolam, while the die-hards are finding it hard to die now.

Now that the MSM-MMM alliance is dead for sure and that the PMSD has crossed the floor, it is time to devote attention to what the political scenery is likely to look ahead. The biggest collateral victim of this opposition warfare can be none other than Navin Ramgoolam.

In accommodating the PMSD within government ranks, Ramgoolam has probably committed a significant tactical blunder. So long as Bérenger was in the seat of leader of opposition, he could always brandish the spectre of white domination to continue rallying his troops. A few drops of Bérenger bashing would have been enough for him to disarm his disgruntled junta, which is called upon to increase with the passing of time.

The two additional seats obtained, thanks to the PMSD, will be of no use to him ultimately. His one move may have precipitated Bérenger?s exit as leader of opposition, but not from the political scene. Bérenger has more liberty of action on the field than before.

On the other hand, Ramgoolam has created the opportunity for at least three Hindus (vaish of course) to stand up against him. Pravind Jugnauth as the new dominant figure of the MSM. Nando Bodha, the actual leader of the opposition. And of course Ashock Jugnauth, who is already promised a bright future by Bérenger.

Ramgoolam should know that, next time around, the fight for the post of prime minister, will be between himself and another Hindu, and not Bérenger because the latter has already given up the idea. By tendering the olive branch to the PMSD, Ramgoolam may run the risk of drowning himself.

There are also rumours of a lot of discontentment and sabre rattling inside government, where each partner wants to grab more than he can chew. Valayden, the attorney general of government is becoming a national embarrassment often trespassing on the ?PM?s? own territory. Dulloo is always breathing on his neck and Baichoo preparing his saffron revolution. But, if Ramgoolam seems able to contain them now, this does not mean that, a year from now with the economic conditions, things will remain the same. Who knows how many of his present allies will be in the other side at the next poll.

On the other hand, the Jugnauths, whether Ashock or Pravind, will want to make their nth comeback. Bérenger has for certain, nearly finished off any dream that Pravind Jugnauth could have entertained of becoming PM. The long term loser of this move is Ramgoolam. Bérenger has already drafted a rosy future for Ashock Jugnauth, the man of enormous potential.