This is one thing that frustrates me to the core of my brain. I have always had a natural inclination towards truth, honesty and transparency. I feel comfortable in an environment governed by the previously mentioned words. But as I crawl more and more into the real world, I feel, I just can’t avoid a confrontation with this elite habit of our co-citizens.
2 days back: A hawaldar came to my house with the purpose of my identity/character verification. The ‘holy’ paper came from my alma mater which I had filled during the registration of my 4th year, II semester (31st Dec, 2008). I had every possible document to prove my identity: Passport, Driving License, IIT’s ID, Board Exams documents etc but, dear kaustuv, it wasn’t enough. In fact they were not at all required. There was a complete 100 seconds of silence while he examined my photographs, documents and my biological face. I thought he was trying to match those photographs but ‘dear kaustuv’ was again wrong. Then with conspicuous impatience, his statement arrived, “ humare khusi k liye kucho soche hain? Thana mein log intezaar kar rahe hain. Aas laga ke baithe hain ki berifikesun ka kaagaz aaya hai. Aaj kuch zaroor milega”.
The paper had nil significance as far as my Roorkee tenure is concerned. I doubt whether the paper had even a slightest probability of affecting my IIT Degree. My mood got instantly mercurier and I almost had decided to show him ..I. Then suddenly my eyes zipped through the text of the ‘paper’. It was written that the Inspector of police has to verify whether I have any criminal record or not. That statement combined with his attitude made me a puppet of my drawing room arena. Meanwhile he shot his next statement: “ aap kahe chinta kar rahe hain, saraa kagaj ka kaam hum kar denge. Aapko kucho na karna padega. Kya soch rahe hian”. When I informed him that this paper has come after an year n half and I am already a passed out now in order to convince him that its irrelevant to me, he felt the threads of his pocket getting loose. Then came the sweet threatening, “Agar koi kuch ulta pulta likh diya to gadbad na ho jayega”. Feeling ashamed to text but I gave up.
He rejected Rs 200 as if it has hurt his soul. “500 k neeche kaise kaam chalega. Munsi ko dena hai, register karne wale ko dena hai, gavah banane wale ko dena hai, itne mein to mera bhi nahi hoga”.
People and even I used to say that those who pay bribes or support it in any way are equally to be blamed. But where do I stand in this scenario. The situation is so bloody out of control that those glorious bastards would put you in such an impasse that you’ll succumb to their cocoon. More hurting than 500 bucks, he took away my personal stand and gave a sarcastic smile to my frustrated puppet face.
I am still feeling the heat inside while writing all these. Just wondering how these can be curbed; how can the sensible ones contribute; how can you, after reading this blog, contribute; Just wondering…
