Ceasar's Wives, All!

The year 2010 is coming to its very end. It is that time of the year when one begins to wonder how this year has been with us. But how have these times been for us as a whole? How have our citizens fared - netizens, tweeple and the man on the street deprived of bandwidth - in our country and the world in which we live today? Have things changed? Or has nothing changed at all?

Amongst success stories for India, the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, which finally ended as a spectacular show and the winning streak of our cricket team this year; and the much talked about aspirations for a permanent seat at the UNSC. [Much talked by ourselves, we are told by a certain Wikileaked cable]. The continued run in the economic growth measured by our GDP is another reason to be pleased with ourselves as a nation on the move. At a time when much of the world has been struggling with their economy, this feat means in effect that India is the most happening place (next only to China), where the action really is!

From the highs of the moon-landing last year when India planted its flag on the moon and the high-pitched crescendo of the cheering for our athletes’ record-breaking performance at the CWG, we also landed low on the revelations of financial irregularities, besides nepotism in postings reportedly committed by all those associated with the Organizing Committee of the CWG. If that was not enough, what followed were reports of the Adarsh Society scam, Land allotment scams in Karnataka and the mother of all scams, the 2-G scam, followed by revelation of lobbying for the ministerial position by corporate lobbyist Niira Radia through the tapes leaked to the Indian Press. [Pardon me if i have missed any scam]

The inclusion of Army officials and judges in scam tainted has achieved in some sense our wish to have “inclusive growth” in our country – we don’t leave out any one out of the party! Finally the Radia tapes also pointed to the possible involvement of journalists in engineering ministerial berths and currying corporate favoritism. These findings were followed through by various retired editors posting blogs about their experiences about how industrialists wooed media even in their times and bribes offered and paid news is not, after all, a new phenomenon. It has been proved beyond doubt that the very media - that character assassinates suspects without so much as a fair sound-byte in defence - indulges in wrongful practices themselves!

So what is new is that we have begun talking about it – and acknowledging that it exists. The rot can’t be hidden anymore - the stench tells us about it’s existence. Gandhiji’s Teen Bunder [Bunder - Hindi, for monkey] could well be Chaar Bunder with another holding his nose to avoid the stench emanating from all around!

hey,we employed another bunder!)

A Raja is not yet questioned inspite of losing 20+ days of business in the Parliament! Even our own Prime Minister is facing charges of inaction in the telecom scam, although the PM, like Ceasar’s wife, wishes to be above the law.

So much like all of us, no? Everyone seems to want to be, or already think they are, above the law.

Everyone bears the “holier-than-thou” approach, while erroneously believing in it. The media wouldn’t have to explain their role, but for the tweeple who incessantly demanded an explanation. We don’t like being frisked, being asked questions, asked to show our identity cards or PAN cards or any such document. Anywhere anytime! “You suspect me?”, we ask scornfully. In that sense, we are all aspiring to be Ceasar’s wife!


The year is drawing to a close with food prices rising unabated - onions bringing tears without even peeling them. Petrol prices, which were de-regulated only this year, have also risen quickly. Traders seem to be enjoying the freedom offered by pricing decontrol to their full advantage. Leaving us ordinary folks struggling to beat the inflation (which could be another scam, I guess) all our lives, without indulging in scams or swindling others in our society - unless of course, you are tempted to beat the inflation by acquiring the necessary skills by joining this institute – A C-School here.

We can certainly hope that the New Year 2011 will clear the prevailing stench and bring new aspirations of belonging to a cleaner society in the world around us.

After all, hope is all that remains!

Bloggers’ Post-Script – What according to you is the Indian Word of the Year 2010? Do write in the comments space with your suggestions and why you chose that word!