‘IDEAL’ BUREAUCRAT – AN ENDANGERED SPECIES

A bureaucrat in India is often viewed in the eyes of the public as someone who has a monopoly over the enterprise of corruption and is responsible for all the misgovernance and lack of development throughout the country. Politicians and bureaucrats are often painted by the same brush. One fails to differentiate between the elected representatives and the functionary executives. Therefore, all the rant that is directed towards the politicians is often deflected to the bureaucrats. The act of 'bureaucracy-bashing' is something our country has never grown tired of.

Today, for a change, the entire country is rallying behind a brave, young officer of the Indian Administrative Services by the name of Durga Shakti Nagpal in a fight between right and wrong. The news of her suspension for presumably taking on the sand mafia sent shock waves across the country. She, in a way, epitomizes what bureaucracy actually stands for. She justifies why the bureaucracy is considered “the steel frame of India”, as dubbed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. She is the ‘ideal’ bureaucrat.

While there are many Durga Shaktis throughout the country in the form of officers who go beyond the average call of their duty to protect the interest of the country, the kind of treatment meted out to them by the so-called 'political masters' is disturbing. A generalization cannot be made in this regard as there are many parts in the country where the political establishments work hand-in-hand with the bureaucrats for the betterment of the society. But, the fact that an unholy nexus between the mafia and the politicians exists in most parts of the country results in deterring the honest bureaucrats from discharging their duties appropriately. Most bureaucrats then shed their 'honesty' and join hands with the unlawful authorities. Some of them, like Ms. Nagpal, fight the system from within. They are the ‘ideal’ bureaucrats.

The recent course of events has highlighted the need to have safeguards in place for the bureaucrats who are willing to go the extra mile in fighting tooth and nail against those who violate the rule of law. There should be strong mechanisms to ensure that honest officers are not suspended, dismissed or harassed by the arbitrariness of the political authority. Our country is vehemently confronted with the challenge of preventing the ‘ideal’ bureaucrat from becoming extinct.

As I write, the fate of Ms. Nagpal is yet to be decided. One can only hope that better sense prevails and her suspension order is revoked. But, irrespective of whatever happens, what this saga has done is it has aptly demonstrated the power of an ‘ideal’ bureaucrat.

Also published as my editorial at STIMULUS INDIA !

IRONY EXPRESS

Ved’s life had reached a dead-end. Poor grades, failed relationships, low self-esteem, all amalgamated into something which made his life more miserable with every passing second. He desperately needed some time off. So, he was going home. Sitting in an empty compartment in a weekly train to Bhubaneswar on a Friday evening, Ved was busy contemplating how his life had become so miserable.

Train journeys and self-introspection often seem to go hand in hand. With the earphones plugged in, one often tends to wonder why life can’t be as simple as the flushing meadows passing by. And to add to that, the sentimental music playing through the earphones often mix with the emotions joggling inside the head to give an exaggerating effect. Ved’s case was no different. As the train chugged along, the voices inside Ved’s head too gathered momentum. The contemplation was soon approaching alarming level when he saw a tall, fair-complexioned man, probably in his early thirties; take the seat in front of him. The man was dressed in plain white shirt and black trousers and appeared to be from a well-to-do background.

Ved was a social introvert. On any other day, he would have continued listening to the music and indulging in his thoughts irrespective of anyone coming or going. But, today was different. He needed to vent out his emotions to somebody, preferably a stranger. He was tired of explaining things to known people and seeking advice. It seems god had listened to his inner desire. Soon, he removed the earphones.

“Are you going to Bhubaneswar?” asked Ved.

“Hmm…Yeah”, replied the stranger, sounding a bit unsure.

There was a brief moment of silence.

Then, the stranger asked, “I can sense that you are visibly upset with something.”

Ved was astounded. “How on earth was he able to figure that out barely seconds after they had met?” he thought.

“Can you read people’s minds?” Ved asked in amazement.

“No. But, I can certainly sense sadness. That is what I had been carrying throughout most part of my life.”

“Well, yes. I am passing through a tough phase. There is no point denying it. In fact, I was secretly hoping that I get someone who listens to all the tragedies of my life without having an opinion on them.” Ved said in a straight-forward manner.

“I have seen too much of life. Listening to the problems of others is not new for me. I don’t mind listening to yours too. And, as I don’t know you, I won’t have an opinion on them as well. So let’s get started.” said the stranger.

The train was gaining pace, and so was their conversation.

“I was truly, madly, deeply in love with a girl. We were in a relationship for the past four years. I spent too much time with her. As a result, my grades went from bad to worse. But, I didn’t care. She was more important to me than my grades. A few days ago, she came up to me and said that she did not want to be in a relationship with me any longer as I was “failing to meet her standards”. My world crashed. I had sacrificed everything for her and what she gave in return was pain and agony. I don’t know what to do with my life now.” elaborated Ved.

 

“I hope you are feeling better now. Sometimes, venting out is all that one needs.” said the stranger.

“Yeah, sort of. It doesn't solve the problem though. But, anyways, thanks for listening.” said Ved.

 The stranger took out an envelope from his pocket.

“I need a small favor from you. Can you post this letter when you reach Bhubaneswar tomorrow morning?” asked the stranger.

“Yes, I can. But why do you want me to post it?” asked Ved, looking perplexed.

“Well, I just remembered something. It seems that I have to get down at the next station of Palasa. Have some work there. There is no post office nearby. So, it would be great if you can post my letter.” explained the stranger.

“Ok, I will post it as soon as I reach Bhubaneswar.” said Ved.

“Ok, then. It seems I have to get going. The station will arrive in an hour or so. I need to go to the other compartment to charge my phone. It was nice meeting you.” said the stranger.

“Nice meeting you too.” said Ved.

They shook hands.

“And yes…do remember to post the letter.” said the stranger in jest.

Yeah, sure.” replied Ved, with a subtle smile.

And soon the stranger departed.

Now, Ved was back to his loneliness. He was just going to plug in his earphones and return to his world of contemplation when he saw the envelope he was holding. It was not sealed. His curiosity got the better of him and he snatched the letter out of the envelope to have a look at it. Soon, he started reading it…

Dear Stuti

I wanted to thank you for breaking up with me last year. Yes, those 10 years spent with you were fun. But, after you decided to move on, I realized how much more I was capable of doing. I learned to take nothing for granted, gave my 100 % in each of my endeavors, and stopped thinking too much about things that are not in one’s hands. Probably, we won’t meet again but I just wanted to thank you for letting me unleash my true potential in every domain of life.

Amar

Ved kept re-reading it until his eyes were tired of doing so. The words of the letter sank into his subconscious mind. The answer to all his questions lied in the piece of paper that he was holding. He had got a clear idea of how to approach things from now on and make his life worthwhile.

The night had beautifully set in and soon Ved dozed off to sleep.

The clattering of footsteps, the sunlight indicating daybreak and the huge commotion outside forced Ved to awake. Bhubaneswar had finally arrived. Ved, along with his luggage, moved out. His first duty was to post the letter lurked in his pocket. Thankfully, the post office was adjacent to the station. He sealed the envelope and posted the letter to its intended place.

He then took a newspaper from a nearby vendor and called an auto-rickshaw. The wheels of the auto-rickshaw were set in motion as Ved approached his home. While browsing through the newspaper in his hands, a particular piece of news caught his attention.

MAN JUMPS OFF MOVING TRAIN, DIES

Railway officials discovered the body of a man, supposedly aged between 30-35 years, on the railway tracks near Palasa station in the early hours of Saturday morning. The identity of the man is yet to be established but the officials have confirmed that the first name of the man was Amar. The deceased man was dressed in plain white shirt and black trousers. Although no suicide note has been recovered, it is being viewed as a clear case of suicide.

GROWING UP WITH HARRY POTTER

I grew up listening to the cliché that, “Books are a person’s best friend”. But, it was actually when I stumbled upon The Harry Potter Series that I realized what a delight books can be. I had the life-changing encounter of getting introduced to the magical world of Harry Potter purely by chance. I was all of 12 years old when I read the first Harry Potter book. Little did I know back then that it would mark the beginning of a life-long obsession. If I remember correctly, the first five books of the series were published by then and the first two had already been converted into movies. I could have watched the movies first and read the books later. But, as I had no access to the movies, I turned to the books instead. The fact that I read the books first and then watched the movies is something I consider as a blessing in disguise.

The Harry Potter books offered me a chance to delve deep into the world of Harry, Ron and Hermione. A world in which “love” and “friendship” existed in their purest forms. It has been close to 6 years since the world of Harry Potter was brought to a fitting closure by the one who created it at the first place – J.K. Rowling. But, it continues to flourish in the hearts of millions of Potter-maniacs like me.

There were so many moments in the series when one would simply be in awe of what had been written. Whether it was Harry seeing his parents in The Mirror of Erised or Draco’s predicament while killing Dumbledore, each moment had its own speciality. And to top it all was the breathtaking climax in which the proverbial notion of victory of good over evil took centre stage. Also, the manner in which the characters were developed throughout the seires is something astonishing. My personal favourite character of Severus Snape had so many layers embroiled unto him that it was a treat to see the various facets of him unravel in the way it did. The character of Albus Dumbledore was also remarkably portrayed. “The only one you-know-who ever feared” came across as the wise old man who knew everything. The duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore at The Ministry of Magic remains to be one of my favourite sequences in the series.

Two of the greatest wizards of all time engaged in a fierce duel

"I show not your face but your heart's desire." ~The Mirror of Erised

"Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe." ~Albus Dumbledore to Draco Malfoy

The final battle

The fact that I was reading Harry Potter books at a stage when I could connect with the emotions of the adolescent characters enriched my experience appreciably. Puppy love, conflicting thoughts, risk-taking impulse – Was Harry facing the same dilemmas as I was? It is amazing how books can influence various aspects of your day-to-day life. Using 'Alohomora!' in front of locked doors, mistaking every other black dog on the street as Sirius Black, wishing you could apparate to places instead of going there normally, developing a crush on Hermione Granger (or, rather, Emma Watson)  – these are things only a Potteraholic could have experienced.

Every generation is associated with certain things which cast a spell (no pun intended) on it. I will always feel that I am lucky to belong to a generation which saw the advent of Harry Potter. 

IN RETROSPECTION OF THE WALL

It has been exactly one year since Rahul “The Wall” Dravid finally bid adieu to the “gentleman’s game”. Most of the people of my generation have watched cricket being played in a vehement and agitated manner, often involving unnecessary display of external aggression. But then, there was a true “gentleman” in the form of Rahul Dravid, who proved that there is still place for old-fashioned classicism in modern-day cricket. He showed the world that it is possible to be successful by channelizing your aggression into your performance and conducting yourself in a graceful manner. As somemone beautifully put it,

“Every father would love to have his son like Rahul Dravid.”

Coming to cricket, the world has seldom seen a batsman so technically sound as Rahul Dravid. The sheer ability to bat for long hours is what made him special (and often ridiculed too). In a team game, he was someone even Hitler would have vied for as an ally. The fact that he could package himself into multifaceted roles according to the needs and necessities of the team made him an integral part of Team India. Starting from keeping wickets to leading the team, he has been there done that.

My earliest memory of Dravid is watching him bat during the 1999 World Cup in which he emerged as the highest run getter. Who can forget his historic partnership with VVS Laxman in the Kolkata test which changed the direction of Indian Cricket? The fact that he has been involved in such mammoth partnerships adds a lot of value to his contribution. My favourite knock of Rahul Dravid will always remain his match-winning 233* against Australia at Adelaide. Having watched Dravid bat that day makes you proud to be an Indian.

The second wind of Rahul Dravid is what underlines his greatness beyond dispute. The three test hundreds in England in his penultimate series distinguished him from mediocrity. The fact that all the other batsmen failed makes his knocks even more special. And who can forget those 3 consecutive sixes of Samit Patel in his solitary T20 International in the same tour? The decibel levels in my hostel went through the roof the moment the final six came of his bat. It was perhaps because of the uncharacteristic element attached to it. The perception of Rahul Dravid in the minds of most people is associated with defensive batting. But, having witnessed some of his attacking knocks, I feel it is unfair to stereotype his batting. He holds the record for the second fastest 50 by an Indian in an ODI. His 75 off 36 in an IPL match for RCB was as attacking an innings as it can get. He is easily one of the most complete cricketers to have played the game.

One year on, Dravid’s big shoes have been partially filled in by Cheteshwar Pujara. The double hundreds he has notched up in the recent past give you an impression of “another brick in The Wall”. But the de facto parameter to judge his credibility would be his overseas performance. He needs to notch up some fine performances abroad to be somewhere near his great predecessor.

Rahul Dravid will always be remembered as the proverbial “good boy” who re-defined the game of cricket. He remains to be the epitome of integrity, determination and sportsmanship. The cliché that went viral during his retirement aptly justifies his legacy as a cricketer and as a person:-

“People say that Sachin is God,

Ganguly is God of off side,

Laxman is the God of 4th innings,

But when the doors of the temple are closed, even God is behind The Wall”

ELECTIONS 2014 – A GAMECHANGER?

India is slowly but steadily gearing up to celebrate the biggest festival of democracy, i.e., the general elections. How many months the great Indian voter needs to wait to make his/her voice heard is yet to be finalized but one thing is certain – change is in the air. I believe that the right to vote is the single most powerful instrument of change. We, as Indians, should be grateful that our forefathers have empowered us with such an indispensable fundamental right via the Constitution. But, what remains to be seen is how it is being used when it matters the most.

The battle lines are slowly being drawn between the two principal national parties, namely, the Congress and the B.J.P. While the Congress party is hoping that a certain Yuvraj will come out all guns blazing and lead the party to power even as it faces some serious credibility and morality crisis, the B.J.P. is banking on NaMo to ride on the wave of anti-incumbency and form the next government. Each party has its own set of challenges. UPA – II has been a complete disaster and the image of the Congress party as a more secular alternative to certain right-wing parties has been lurked under a series of scams and poor governance. The B.J.P. has failed to gain from the loss of the Congress due to its inner turmoil. The acceptability of Narendra Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the next general elections is still under a shadow of question mark. However, after the third consecutive victory in Gujarat, the clamour for NaMo as the next PM has been growing across different sections of the society. Therefore, in all likelihood, it will be Rahul Gandhi v/s Narendra Modi in the next general elections.

India, unlike U.S.A., is not a presidential democracy where a certain Barack Obama can charm his way to the White House. It is a parliamentary democracy where the single largest party or alliance gets to form the government. Hence, it will precisely be Rahul Gandhi-led Congress v/s Narendra Modi-led B.J.P.. If the election is fought on the same old lines of secularism v/s communalism, it will be hard for the B.J.P. to challenge the so-called secular parties. But, if the election is fought on the planks of development, B.J.P. can showcase the model of several states like Gujarat to boost its claim to form the government.

However, the next elections will not be only about Congress and B.J.P. We live in an era of coalition politics. Several regional parties like JD (U), AIADMK, TMC, BJD, NC, SAD, etc., have gained prominence over the last few years. They are expected to pose a strong challenge to the principal national parties and will play a decisive role in who forms the next government. In my home state of Odisha, Naveen Pattnaik-led B.J.D. is so strongly poised that it is hard to dethrone it any time soon.

In this dystopian world of politics, Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party or the A.A.P. is like a glimmer of utopia. The highly idealistic approach of the party regarding the selection of candidates has struck a chord with many, especially the youth. However, to win an election you need votes. The complexity of the Indian electoral system makes me cynical about the future of the A.A.P. in politics.

It is high time that the citizens of the country understand the importance of their vote. Shouting slogans, participating in candle marches, staging dharnas will not bring about change in the true sense. Only if we vow to elect our representatives based on their credibility, India can truly be transformed.

As Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt once said,

“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.”



Also published as my editorial at STIMULUS INDIA !

GOD OF ALL TIMES

1999 Cricket World Cup: As a 6-year old, cricket seemed too complex a thing for me way back in 1999. I used to wonder what was so special about the game that hooked the attention of all grown-ups. My association with cricket was restricted to the plastic bat I owned which was used by me for purposes other than batting. There was something called the World Cup going on then. It was the topic of discussion everywhere around me. And there was this guy called Sachin whose surname I could not pronounce properly for a long time. I remember breaking his surname into parts, as in 10-dool-kar, and pronouncing it. I had no idea who he was, what he did, where he was from. All I knew was he was omnipresent. In the discussions of every cricket fan, on the front pages of every newspaper, in every TV commercial, on the walls of every other shop, one simply could not ignore the enigma called SACHIN TENDULKAR.

1999-2003: Soon, my knowledge of cricket became better and better. Those were interesting times in Indian Cricket. The entire batting order used to revolve around Sachin Tendulkar. The manner in which he used to hold the innings together match after match was something special. Being a novice cricket fan, it really hurt to see India lose at times because nobody supported Sachin at the other end. It was also a time when I realized that I have missed some of the greatest knocks of the master blaster. The Sharjah knocks against Australia, the hammering of Shane Warne in the home test series which reportedly gave him “nightmares”, the fighting century against Pakistan in the famous Chennai test in which he almost won the game for India single-handedly, the 186* against New Zealand at Hyderabad which remained his highest ODI score for a long time, are some of the finest knocks of the master blaster. When I watched those innings’ subsequently, it was hard for me to contemplate how a human in flesh and blood could play cricket in a manner in which he did.

2003 Cricket World Cup: This World Cup was a turning point in the history of Indian Cricket and also in the way an average Indian cricket fan perceived the game. Team India’s road to being the runners up itself was astonishing and the way in which Sachin played throughout this World Cup stamped his authority on the game. The game against Pakistan is one of my fondest memories till date. It was on the day of Maha Shivaratri and at Centurion, Sachin was batting as if he was doing a modern day rendition of the Tandava of the Mahadev. The likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar were at the receiving end of a Tendulkar blitzkrieg. The six off Shoaib Akhtar over backward point, which is heralded as the “shot of the century”, remains to be my favourite sight in cricket.

2003-2011: This was a period of a roller-coaster ride for Team India. Many overseas victories, some embarrassing losses, a shock WC exit, leadership changes, back to winning ways, the #1 ranking – Team India experienced everything during this phase. But, it was also a time when the master scored some of his finest masterpieces. Who can forget the 241* at the SCG? And what about the series winning knocks against the Aussies in the CB series finals? Every knock of Sachin seems to be better than the other. It is hard to comprehend that a man of 36 years could score a mammoth 175 runs against Australia while chasing a towering total at Hyderabad. And if this was not enough, a few months later, he went on to make history by becoming the first cricketer to score 200 runs in an ODI. I vividly remember that match against South Africa at Gwalior. Right from the first ball one sensed that history was about to be re-written. Having said that, one feels the same way every time the master blaster comes to bat. “Sach” is the impact of Sachin. A billion hearts palpitate every time he comes out to bat. The tricolor on his helmet, the fiery eyes symbolizing the intense desire to represent the country, the emotional connection he makes with the fans, all amalgamate into something called the idea of India. It gives you a feeling that “Sachin is India, India is Sachin”.

2011 Cricket World Cup: The only thing missing from the master’s cabinet was the coveted World Cup trophy. By his own admission, it was something he dearly wanted. Several critics wrote him off but as they say, “man proposes, god disposes”. Destiny beckoned him on April 2, 2011 and after a long wait of more than 20 years, he finally lifted the World Cup with tears in his eyes. The entire country cried with him. Only a god-like figure can move a nation in such a manner.

24^th February, 2013: As destiny had it, I too had my opportunity of seeing Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. It was at one of his favourite hunting grounds – M.A, Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai. One simply cannot understand certain things unless one feels it oneself. Watching Sachin Tendulkar come out to bat on Day 3 of 1^st Test between India and Australia, it was as if time stood still. One could sense that something was special. The line between humanity and divinity was blurred like never before. It was, as they say, “The Tendulkar Moment”.