A Parable for Our Times
(It’s Set in the Future say 2020)
By Dinesh Kumar Kapila
In a certain State in India a senior Bureaucrat in the rank of an Additional Chief Secretary informed the Chief Secretary of the State that on Principle he could not Report to him. He stated that since their pay scales were equal their equation was of a Senior amongst equals. He had therefore a right to dissent and refuse to implement policy decisions. Moreover all important policy decisions as related to his domain were to be taken only after consulting him. He thereafter went public with his grouse and was even applauded by a section of politicians for being so aware about his principles and devotion to important State issues. Many however were saddened by this episode and viewed it as uncalled for.
In the meantime at the Central Government level a Secretary rank officer stated that he by virtue of his seniority deserved to be heading an important Ministry such as Finance or Home or Defence and his current assignment at a Development Department was below his sense of seniority and ability. He deserved to be consulted for placement and the senior amongst all the Secretary level officers were by implication more talented and deserving for sensitive or high profile departments. To top it all he invited the media to inform the nation about the perceived loss it was undergoing by virtue of his not heading a sensitive department. Quite a few political parties went absolutely vocal about the need for all officers to speak up as else democracy and governance were in danger in India. Many observers however felt compelled to point out a certain hierarchy had a right to earmark assignments as per its judgment.
Just then the media channels went almost hysterical. It seemed that senior Army Commanders had decided only the senior most amongst all Army Commanders ( there are eight Army Commands I believe) deserved to head Northern Command and Eastern Command. The senior amongst equals in that rank only had the capability to head such s Command. There was stunned silence now as nobody knew what to say.
In the meantime the malaise spread to quite a few other sectors such as Banking and Industry. Many citizens now stood up and started saying the internal mechanism for grievance settlement should handle all such cases. Moreover individual egos should be subservient to a hierarchy as required by established protocol. Lofty statements and lengthy letters could not camouflage what seemed apparent and actually the reason.
(Note - this is set in the future in our Nation and has no resemblance or inspiration from any incident. It is purely hypothetical and a product of imagination and a thought process on impulse).
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Today we had a lunch hosted by a few colleagues at office. As we were eating, I was being cautious. The food was good, it’s just with each doctor warning about God Knows what may happen, I decided to take it easy. Now as one of the hosts pointed out I was not indulging myself, the debate shifted to other issues, chiefly how to rank food. Here is a short summary-
Wheat Roti - Safest if without ghee (clarified butter) can be boring at a function.
Dosa - Mildly not safe but overall can be indulged in.
Puri - The oil or ghee does not drip inwards. Safer than parathas and Bhature
Bhature - If property prepared and fermented then overall safe. Our resident expert believes it does not allow the oil or ghee to seep in.
Parathas - Avoid. But they are the tastiest. No doubts.
Sugary Foods go to the heart. Parathas Puris and bhature to the waist. So sugars need to be controlled. That was one major issue hotly discussed.
Another discussion was on sugar versus jaggery in any form. I believe jaggery-it’s sugar maybe with some iron and some micro nutrients but many claimed it’s much superior to sugar.
I wonder if we were accurate. Any views.
Dinesh
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Interesting Perspective on Arranged Marriage-Overheard- As Usual in the Park.
There is a lady, middle aged, carrying prayer beads and apparently praying or looking to God while walking. Today she was discussing with a friend the imperative need for finding a match for her son, it seems the young man has completed MBBS and was now trying for a Specialist line, and ready to go just about anywhere for Studies.
The lady had her priorities sorted out, once marriage was done with no distractions and no possibility of someone not compatible with her and her comfort zone or culture walking in. Secondly her son would be focused upon studies.
The Best is yet to come. The girl had to be nice, homely, from a good family but definitely NOT Pretty. A pretty wife would only distract her precious son and keep him preoccupied. Now was the time to study, work hard and start earning well. So a just average girl for the son!!
I wish I could meet the son now !!
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Are we cynical as a people or is negativity embedded in us. There are small success stories specially of micro entrepreneurs and at the next higher level. Hardships abound and amongst all levels of entrepreneurs too but so do Si many Successes. Yet we tend to believe the worst case scenario only. Our Nation is nothing. All initiatives amount to nothing. What is this collective malaise which is so hardwired deep inside us. Is it 800 years of slavery which makes us under confident or believe a crisis is around the corner. I at least believe that The Argumentative Indian is buy a reason to discuss beyond what is a logical unit of time and impacts action and a focus on results.
On the contrary we have to focus on the positivity and successes. It's around us.! Let us celebrate Success and the people who bring about success, by reaching out to them. If nothing else then compliment them. Encourage them. In your own office exude the happiness of success and positivity. It will lead to better results and generate its own momentum. Sometimes the sheer negativity is tiresome and I am sure it impacts us even if at the subconscious level. Practice positivity and specially of the micro entrepreneurs and social capital builders. DK Kapila
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The perils of FB Friendships ! Or for that matter on any social media platform. A retired professional, not really old, say early sixties, sent me a friend request. This was maybe more than two years ago. I also accepted. And why not. He is from Chandigarh ( that time I was assigned to another region) and we shared certain interests on Management as also in a professional association by virtue of being it’s members. He is active on it, I attend off and on it’s Meetings. Plus we had certain common ‘friends’, mainly on Facebook.
Over time I had responded to some of his posts and very recently extended greetings on his wedding anniversary which were ‘liked’ too in response.
We met in the real world recently at a meeting of our professional association. I recognised him and as luck would have it, found myself sitting next to him during the session. We exchanged pleasantries after that awkward moment in time when you read whatever texts your mobile dishes out ! He stated his name. I stated mine. Then it was where you studied and where do you work and so on. There was no hint at all he had placed me.
Then I smilingly sort of stated that I was actually his Facebook friend. He did not have a clue as I could clearly make out. There was a pause while he digested the information and then he polite inquired if we had ‘liked’ each other posts at all. I confirmed this part readily ! Well then what could be the response except that this is what Facebook can really do. We laughed it off and chatted on and I got to know others sitting around me too.
But there is certainly a lesson in there somewhere for us. Get Real.
DKK
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