Journalism is all about telling stories. but squeezed by the straitjacket of news -- who, what, when, where, how -- there are many tales that are never told. they fall by the wayside in the race for the headlines. these are stories which reveal more than the everyday news does, because they primarily deal with human emotions. some are amusing, others are heart-rending. each provides additional insights into the people and places that made the news as you saw it unfold. a pick of some of the most memorable experiences that INDIA TODAY's reporters had during 1997.

Laloo Yadav's Last Stand

By Farzand Ahmed

The voice comes bellowing defiantly down the stairs. "Don't allow U.N. Biswas (CBI joint director heading the probe into the Rs 950 crore fodder scam) or his men to enter my doors. Don't allow them, come what may! Laloo will himself surrender before the court tomorrow ... he is not a coward ... he is not a chor (thief)... he has not committed any crime except fighting the centuries' old Brahminical order .... Remember, Eklavya too had to sacrifice his thumb and Jesus was crucified." It is the night of July 29, the CBI is closing in, and Laloo Prasad Yadav's dramatic last stand has begun.

At around 11.30 p.m., the iron gates of his 1 Anne Marg residence clang shut. I stroll towards the mango tree, Laloo's favourite spot, where he often held court. Half an hour later, one of his aides emerges and whispers: "Sahib has called you. Please follow me." There, in his first-floor bedroom, decorated with a silver replica of Sher Shah's tomb, he sits on a sofa, facing a fading picture of himself being handcuffed by the police during the Emergency in 1975. Wife Rabri Devi, already anointed as his successor, stands nearby fighting back tears. "Ghabra mut. Kuch na hoi ... CBI ke baap bhi inhan na aa sakt ba. Yeh mukhiya mantari ka ghar hai (Don't worry. Nothing will happen. Even the CBI's father won't dare come here. This is the chief minister's house)."That self-assurance does not last long. "Sir, the CBI has been seeking reinforcements to arrest you tonight but the administration has told them point-blank that their request will be considered next morning," says chief secretary B.P. Verma. "Besides, we told them that since you have announced that you will surrender in the court at 10 in the morning, there is no need to arrest you." Laloo's face reddens with anger. He mutters: "Sab pagal ho gaye hain ... kaise Laloo ko phansao, pakro aur beizzat karo... (They have all turned mad ... implicating Laloo, humiliating him)."

The phone rings, breaking his soliloquy. He refuses to answer it: "No, I will not speak. Who knows, those wicked people might be taping my voice and say Laloo still gives orders." So Verma picks it up and tells Laloo: "Sir, DGP (S.K. Saxena) is on the line; he says the CBI is pressuring him to provide security forces." Laloo calls for khaini (chewing tobacco) and mutters darkly. "What do they think of themselves? Is there no rule of law in the country?" Ever the politician, he suddenly turns towards me and asks considerately: "Bhai, kuch khaila hi ki na? ... Arre, inka khatir kuch lao (Have you eaten? Oh, bring him something)."

Silence reigns. About 1.30 a.m., there is panic. Birbal Yadav, an MLA from Champaran, wearing a torn kurta, followed by a number of Laloo's men, races upstairs, shouting: "Saala ghus gaya (They have entered)." The family starts weeping. Laloo clutches Rabri's hand and is enraged again: "How dare they enter? What have you people been doing?" False alarm. The hysteria was caused by the entry of seven white Ambassador cars with flashing red lights -- just Laloo's faithful bureaucrats.

Laloo cannot sleep. Neither can the thousands squatting outside his gates and screaming: "Police (CBI) can arrest our Raja only over our dead bodies." By early morning, Laloo is told that the CBI has asked for army help to arrest him. Rumours fly thick: the CBI plans to waylay Laloo on his way to the court and kill him in the crossfire.

Laloo is unruffled. At 10 a.m., he consoles his wife, pats his children, waves to his supporters, and zooms off in a white bullet-proof Ambassador to surrender before the court. His people scream, "Laloo Yadav zindabad." The last stand is over. The CBI is thwarted. In Laloo's mind, he has won.

© Living Media India Ltd