The Independence Day Column

The premier of a state is sitting in lustrously dark furnished office pondering and brain storming over the speech he delivered to the nation today. The secretary, a high ranking bureaucrat seeks permission to enter the office . The man in office asks him to get in without speaking a word. The secretary says- excellent sir your speech was a wonderful exhibition as a leader, visionary and orator of an independent nation. The premier acknowledges  just with a nod of head and continues to look into the blank.

Is something bothering you sir, can I be of any help. No answers just a humble stare, his eyes and eyebrows pointing down as he knows about the realities hiding in the speech. Then, he asks, how far have we achieved from last years speech? The secretary says- A lot sir, but tries to avoid eye contact. The boss says “yes a lot!”  with sarcasm on himself, “the economic growth rate is down to near abyss, the poverty has reduced only if we modify the some definitions, social security is almost negligible, corruption is rampant, only index touching sky is deficit and inflation and I am helpless. You know I am loosing the guts to face the people.”

The secretary is quite and sympathetic to his boss. Says the secretary- is it just your fault sir, were you corrupt? Did you plunge the economy this way? Did you redefine terms? were you involved in any natural calamity or crimes? You brought the economy onto the track when it was completely derailed. The premier looks at him and says- You ! What you are saying is like telling a chef that he did not spoil the cuisine but it was the oven. Could you tell this to the people? The secretary was quite. The premier continues- I want to act against corruption, bring economy to surge, a sense of security among people but I cannot. I am a hapless head of this well off state.  The state found its freedom 67 years ago when will I find mine.

With all due respect sir its not about you. This is how politics works in the country.  You are doing everything that leaders have been doing so far in the country with few exceptions. It not you who has to change, but the people. The politicos just use this nature of people. The past has witnessed  it and if nothing changes the future will see the same.

Ok sir we could talk about some future plans that we have for the country. The premier looks amazed and pleased. But then he gets frustrated and complains-You have some plans, you did not tell me, no one tells me anything and now even you ! The secretary replies-No sir its not my plan it will be  your plan this time.  People of the country themselves don’t know what they want. They still get sectored based on religion, region, caste and several other ‘isms’. They want everything to be in order but when it comes to their own interest they breach everything. You need to show ‘em  the way around tell them how to get over these isms.  You are the elected leader of the country and you can work it out. The boss gets enthusiastic. The secretary continues- tell people to stop thinking in terms ‘isms’ and get over short term personal interests. Ask your fellow politicians to stop this kind of politics just using it in public speech won’t work. Get strict with corrupt politicians and officers, show them the way out. You are the most powerful person in the country, if you don’t take initiative then who will?

The premier still has a doubt. He asks-will people forget the past? Will they start liking me again? The secretary smiles and says – people of the state suffer from selective amnesia, they forget every time a leader that fails them and this time it can be for their betterment. The boss is ecstatic with the  motivation. He gears up and say Yes I can, I will bring the change, I will not succumb to political pressure, not listen to corrupt and inefficient officers, I will do what I feel is good for the state. And then the telephone rings, they see a number flashing both are silent, look at each other, the boss gets dull and pensive again.