Pseudo patriotism

Surge of seasonal patriotism is round the corner. It is created. I don’t see a natural surge. The question is why do we need to create such feeling? We live in a high context culture society and we need a celebrity or hero to ignite patriotic feelings. We remain dormant for most of the year but come January and August we get a booster dose to show the patriotism. The effects and side effects of this booster dose vary in different age groups, like Kal, Aaj aur Kal. We are divided in three categories. We have those who were born before the independence or born till mid-fifties. I dare not call them old. These are our senior citizens. This generation has seen a different India. Their expectations of present day India were so different. The present day ABC (Anarchy, Bureaucracy, Corruption) in governance is far different from dream that they cherished for India. This generation is the one that is most disappointed. They have lived their life with struggle. The Nehruvian socialism made them stand for hours in a queue for a kilogram of sugar or rotten wheat or adulterated rice. The politicians failed to deliver India the abundance. One had to go around Fountain in Mumbai or New Market in Kolkata or Burma Bazar in Chennai even to buy a smuggled blank audio cassette. One would have endless wait to get a scooter booked by depositing Rs.500 at the post office and pledging same in favour of the dealer. The generation grew old with hope for abundance. It Things improved, but it came with a price. Inflation, corruption and criminalization came hand in hand with the abundance. The sum total was the same. The generation paid a heavy price for what they had desired.

The second generation was born post republic till mid-seventies. This generation made best use of the situation and grabbed the opportunities. Some from this generation changed the definition of politics. Social service laced with political ideologies turned in to profession. The poisonous ivy of state reorganization on linguistic basis that was planted in Nehru era had grown. Differences between the communities started becoming more prominent. This generation made best use of this. They grabbed the opportunity and furthered the British policy of divide and rule. They acquired what they desired, not necessarily deserved. Looking at the opportunities some from the earlier generation also joined the bandwagon. Some of them even became mentors for the younger generation to guide them to loot the society and the government under the disguise of social work aka political activities. This generation was on a different platform. They never contributed for the freedom struggle; they got the freedom and poisonous ivy on a platter that resulted in greed and hatred. This generation saw abundance for themselves. The abundance was at the cost of sacrifice of values and morality. Some from this generation still rule the country and play dirty politics. Some make such statements that one feel as if they are the ministers of enemy nation. This is done just to please the vote bank. The systems and politics resulted in brain drain. India lost many talented people to the developed nations. Their aspirations could not be fulfilled by these selfish mediocre politicians and the systems that they developed and propagated.

Fragmentation of political ideologies and the parties, emergence of new political parties resulted in this generation. Political nudity was at its low and unfortunately this became the benchmark for the coming generations. Corruption took its root and politicians started turning shameless (there may be few exceptions). This was the era that started marketing patriotism twice a year regularly and frequently if needed. Celebrations during national holidays became rituals.

Now comes the third generation that I referred to. My heart goes with them. Struggle for the independence and post-independence era are only a text book matter for them. This generation has observed the second one. They saw the higher magnitudes of corruptions and scams. Scams that were of few crores were up at lacs of crores. Murders and rapes that were sporadic became routine. Respect for law that was high during the independence era and declined thereafter is almost extinct now. Now it looks like everyone is above the law, especially the politicians. There is a great deterioration of law and order. There is politics everywhere, be it suicide of a farmer, or rape of a minor, or even expressing respect for Hinduism.

This generation has been fortunate to see the technological changes, the advancement. The comforts that were elusive to earlier generations are within the reach of this young generation. Their priorities are different. Social structure has undergone change. Individualism is setting in. One has become self-centered. Owning a house was last wish that a first generation male. Today owning a house has become first priority for any male or female in the present generation. Mobiles, bikes, cars, overseas vacations and many other things that were a lifetime ambitions in the past have become routine requirements today. Earnings have increased manifold and therefore the spending and resultant inflation. All this is fine and understandable, but not at the apathy towards the political systems and governance. Dynastic rule makes it difficult for a common patriotic soul to acquire political highs. The dynastic rule does not accept others in the system and this deprives the patriotic from joining politics that has been polluted more than the sacred Ganga. The way now Gangajal is unfit for consumption, the politics is also unfit for current generation. Those who stay at the banks of Ganga have no choice; similarly those who got dragged into politics, they too have no choice. They have to live with this reality. However those who can avoid this polluted Ganga, they stay away, rather than taking a plunge with motive to clean it. Lighting candles, conducting street plays, taking out morchas and many other innovative ways of protest are fine. These cosmetic activities cannot be curative. The movement against the corruption that was in the forefront has also lost its steam. Looks it’s going to be like this. A long weekend during national holiday is becoming more meaningful than celebrating the rituals and expressing pseudo patriotism. Mother India you have to live with it.

Jai Hind…. 

Erosion of Morality

During last six decades I have seen a drastic change in our society. This change has been more profound for nearly last two decades for whatever reason. The change has been both good and bad. On one side it has made life easy but on the other side we have become captive. There was a time when one could remember hundreds of telephone numbers, today we have to look into phonebook of our mobile to get the number of even dear ones. There is a change in culture, values and norms. Difficult to say whether good or bad. Some changes have unfortunately resulted in erosion of morality. I know its relative. Undoubtedly values of morality change with changing times, but certain basics or fundamentals have to remain unchanged. Honesty has to be honesty; there cannot be change in its value system. This has not changed but the way we look at it has changed. We don’t feel odd about dishonesty, corruption. We have started accepting it as a way of life. Long time back I had read somewhere that honesty is the biggest luxury. And that is true as not many people can afford to be honest. Over a period of time the number of people who can afford to be honest is dwindling and this affects the morality of the society. Greed has changed the mentality and lifestyle. One wants something that one doesn’t deserve and to get that morality is trampled.

There was a time when one would offer a bribe to government employee for a favour. Today one has to bribe even for legitimate things. Unless one bribes the files do not move. Sanctions are not given unless bribes are paid. Be it getting a ration card or a driving licence or water connection. Anything that is to be done as a part of one’s job, is done by the person only after gratification. Taking bribes for illegal activities can be understood, if not justified. But taking bribes to do the job for which one is paid salary is not understandable. This is unfortunate for the country and for every citizen. And I have seen this change in last couple of decades. It pains. These were not the moral values that we had. I havd seen a different world. I will share a true story of a young gentleman. In today’s world his actions would have been ridiculed but somewhere deep in the heart there would be unexpressed appreciation.

This gentleman was affectionately called Bhau (Bro of today’s generation) by near and dear ones and out of respect, Bhausaheb by others. After is B.A. and LL.B. he was selected in the competitive examinations to be Collector of Income  Tax, a position similar to Income Tax officer of present day. He was posted in Nagpur and carried out his duties honestly and diligently. Unscrupulous elements always existed in the society (in very large number now-a-days). One of such elements wanted to bribe Bhau for some illegitimate favour. Bahu’s personality was such that no one would dare to make such an offer. However one day this idiot sent a silver plate with an expensive shawl during office hours to Bhau’s residence. The messenger who carried this told Bhau’s wife that his Sethaji had been to Kashmir and has brought a memento for Bhau. The unsuspecting house lady refused to accept the gift, but ultimately the messenger could convince her to accept it. Telephones were uncommon in those days so there was no way to cross check authenticity of messenger’s version. Late evening Bhau returned home. He saw the gift and enquired about the same. His wife narrated the incidence. There was no tag or a business card to identify the person who might have sent the same. Bhau sat in the reclining chair closed his eyes trying to remember the assessies who might have done this unacceptable act. The word Kashmir was the key word that helped Bhau to identify the person. Few days back a businessman from nearby town Kamptee had asked Bhau if he would like have something from Kashmir, where the former had planned his travel. The offer was obviously declined. This recollection helped to identify the culprit. Bhau called his driver gave him the packet and told him to rush to Kamptee to return the same to the businessman. Driver left with packet and Bhau was restlessly moving around in the verandah all through the evening. He was at peace only when the driver came back and informed him of having returned the gift.

Where can we find such persons and the commitment for the values? It’s rare breed today. Certainly honesty is a very big luxury.

I consider myself lucky that Bhau was my father and eventually retired as Commissioner of Income Tax. I always remember him and his teachings, but more so on Jan 15^th which is his birth anniversary.