We, Indians, are very, very class and status conscious. We're only too eager to show off our "connections" with the people who matter. The other day, I was witness to an individual trying to contact the 'powers-that-be' while having been caught, for traffic violation, by the policeman on duty. Unfortunately for him, his cellphone refused to connect!
This class conscious behaviour of being above the ordinary gives extra ordinary qualities to those who make a habit of practicing it, like jumping the queue, speak in higher decibels while dropping names of famous(?!) people - and mind you, they dump you to be a total ignoramus if you aren't familiar with the names they happen to drop and in extreme cases, even threaten you with dire consequences at the hands of their 'godfather' if you were to ignore their request of taking a short cut! Less talked the better because it's an inherent Indian weakness!!
The clamour for the 'red beacons' on cars, coupled with a status upgrade, by our Members of Parliament stems from this unique quality that's deeply ingrained in us.
I can't help but agree to the Times point of view and I quote, 'MPs derive their stature and authority from being representatives of the people. The more faithfully they serve the people, the more they'll be respected. And they'll not need the trappings of power to be admired. If they fall, no amount of red beacons and warrants of precedence will make people respect them'. Unquote.
Tailpiece.
A lament that I'd heard the other day, 'I know Mr. Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister but he does not know me'.
This class conscious behaviour of being above the ordinary gives extra ordinary qualities to those who make a habit of practicing it, like jumping the queue, speak in higher decibels while dropping names of famous(?!) people - and mind you, they dump you to be a total ignoramus if you aren't familiar with the names they happen to drop and in extreme cases, even threaten you with dire consequences at the hands of their 'godfather' if you were to ignore their request of taking a short cut! Less talked the better because it's an inherent Indian weakness!!
The clamour for the 'red beacons' on cars, coupled with a status upgrade, by our Members of Parliament stems from this unique quality that's deeply ingrained in us.
I can't help but agree to the Times point of view and I quote, 'MPs derive their stature and authority from being representatives of the people. The more faithfully they serve the people, the more they'll be respected. And they'll not need the trappings of power to be admired. If they fall, no amount of red beacons and warrants of precedence will make people respect them'. Unquote.
Tailpiece.
A lament that I'd heard the other day, 'I know Mr. Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister but he does not know me'.
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