The Sycophant (Jhole)
Carrying a bag—be it yours or another's—
Does not make one a 'Jhole'.
A Jhole is he,
Who has eyes, yet refuses to see,
Who has a tongue, yet refuses to speak,
Who has a brain, yet refuses to think.
That is the true Jhole.
He is the one,
Who calls a stone a potato, knowing full well the truth,
Who treats a leader as God, regardless of their character,
And deems any criticism a sin.
From his mind, no conscience escapes,
From his mouth, no question leaps.
That is the true Jhole.
He is the one,
Who lacks the courage to ask, "What is inside the bag?"
Who worships self-interest more than the truth,
Who protects the leader more than justice.
That is the true Jhole.
A Jhole Places his soul beneath the feet of others,
Entrusts his thoughts and conscience to another’s keeping,
And willingly walks into the web of blind devotion.
To be a Jhole is to say—
"Wherever the priest goes, there goes the sacrifice." It means—
Wherever the crowd gathers, there he stands.
The Jhole Talks much, but ponders little;
He blusters, but never rises.
The Jhole is a slave—
To power, to a party, or to some hollow glory.
A Jhole has no vision of his own;
His soul is always for sale.
He is, and remains, the true Jhole.
2 June 2025 London