India’s Bane
– Babugiri, Babagiri and Netagiri
Major General Mrinal Suman
Choosing a career for
one’s children is always a challenging responsibility. Medical, engineering and
business management are generally the most favoured vocations. A few years ago,
a chance meeting with an elderly co-passenger in an airport lounge proved to be
quite enlightening (pun intended).
According to him, only the ignorant ask their progeny to pursue such
professions. “There are only three worthwhile professions in India – Babugiri, Babagiri
and Netagiri,” he declared loudly.
Noticing attentive
listeners, he carried on, “Let me explain. In case your son can put in one-time
effort to pass a few papers of the civil services examination, he is best suited
for Babugiri. Let him become a bureaucrat and rule the roost. Power, prestige,
privileges and wealth are assured for life. He will also get a rich man’s
daughter in marriage. It will be a dream job with no responsibility and no accountability.
Raj karega.”
“If your son is useless
in studies, encourage him to become a Baba – a God-man, Swami, Guru or Sant.
Dressed appropriately with flowing robes and garlands, he should master the art
of addressing public gatherings with half-closed eyes. What he mutters is
irrelevant. In case he dreads public speaking, he should proclaim himself to be
a Mauni Baba (the one who has taken a
vow of silence). Soon, he will own ashrams with hundreds of acres of land. It
is by far the most lucrative profession and requires no investment”, he added.
Encouraged by the
captive audience, he continued, “Finally, if your son is good-for-nothing; keeps
company with hoodlums; and remains on the wrong side of the law, he is ideally
suited for Netagiri. To start with, he should append himself to an upcoming
political leader. Ideology and loyalty matter little. Remember, all top Netas
started at the bottom, doing errands for their mentors. Even a tenth failed
person can become a Minister, with police providing protection rather than
filing cases. It is a highly rewarding career – a petty corporator earns enough
to sustain next seven generations.”
His parting shots were
prophetic, “Unfortunately, all the three professions are growing like malignant
tumours and devouring the vitals of India’s body-politic.” His choice of the
term malignant tumours appeared inappropriate at that time. However, today one
realises that no other taxonomy could have delineated their destructive character
and disposition so very aptly.
Many feel that it is incorrect
to club Babagiri with the other two professions. For, people follow Babas of
their own free will. There is no compulsion or coercion. In many cases, Babas do
provide much needed solace to the disconsolate and hope to the depressed. To
that an extent, they do fulfil a social necessity.
On the other hand, Babus
and Netas belong to a very distinct self-serving genre. As they have many
attributes in common, they are natural allies and readily join hands to further
their own interests in an unabashed manner.
Babus and Netas:Scroungers in Tandem
Babus and Netas:Scroungers in Tandem
It was in 1985 that the
then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, at a public rally at Kalahandi, acknowledged the fact that only 17 paise
reached the common man for every rupee spent by the government, hinting that
the unholy Neta-Babu nexus devoured the bulk.
A few years ago, some
bureaucrats were ordered by the then Defence Minister Fernandes to visit
forward areas to get a feel of the ground conditions. At a social gathering
soon after the above incident, a few service officers were eulogizing Fernandes
for ‘sorting out the bureaucrats’. Overhearing their conversation, a senior
retired bureaucrat told them that their euphoria was misplaced. “Politicians
need funds and only Babus can help. Hence, both are always hand in glove and
thrive in tandem. Soon Fernandes will be singing Babus’ tunes,” he added
candidly.
Netas and Babus have many
other traits in common as well. Here are some.
**Unabashed
Selfishness
Sadly, India’s Netas
and Babus do not suffer from any pangs of public morality and scruples. Demonstrating
extreme narcissism, they flaunt their arrogance and selfishness with unconcerned
abandon.
Netas keep voting higher
privileges, perks and allowances for themselves. They have granted pension to
themselves for five years of shouting, screaming and sloganeering in the house.
They defy rules openly and decline to vacate government houses. They want
subsidised canteen food when millions of their constituents cannot get two
square meals a day. Some shamelessness!
Babus suffer from
similar affliction. They can stoop to any level to protect their self-interests
without any qualms. Every pay commission is manned by their hand-picked protégé
who readily connive to promote their interests. It is done in such a blatant
manner that one wonders if Indian Babus ever realise the depravity to which
their selfishness sinks. But then, it is too much to expect such soul-searching
from a self-serving cadre.
Perhaps, the biggest
scam in Independent India’s history pertains to the sanction of Non-Functional Upgradation
(NFU). One always thought that the pay was related to the job being performed. But
Babus have overturned the age-old connotation. They have contrived a subterfuge
through which they get pay for a higher appointment without getting selected
for the same or performing corresponding functions. Some cheek!
NFU defies all logic
and is unmistakably contrajuris. Knowing
the collusion between Babus and Netas, acceptance of such a dishonest proposal by
the government was only to be expected. However, what is really surprising is
that no one has gone to the Supreme Court against this unabashed loot nor has
the Court considered it necessary to take up the issue suo moto.
**Refusal
to Quit Gracefully
Fading away gracefully
is not a trait that most Netas and Babus can be accused of suffering from.
They, by their very nature, are ‘lingerers’ and hate the sight of an exit door.
They get so addicted to power, importance and privileges that they refuse to
quit gracefully. Whereas most employees are considered past their productive
age by the time they turn 60-65 years. Netas and Babus want to continue to
occupy some office or the other till they kick the bucket, a la ‘chair to cemetery’ syndrome. In the
process, they make a spectacle of themselves with senile behaviour and tottering
gait. After becoming electorally irrelevant, most Netas seek residence in a Raj
Bhavan. Death in harness assures state funeral.
Similarly, Babus dread
loss of power, recognition and perks that they had got so used to during their
long innings. Every retiring bureaucrat undertakes a highly systematic exercise
regarding his future prospects. Extension of service is generally the preferred
option. Other avenues include governorship, missions abroad, job in
UPSC/CEC/CAG/CIC and other such establishments. In case none of the above
measures work, many functionaries initiate proposals for the constitution of expert
committees and regulatory commissions to create suitable slots for themselves. They
cannot live without office, staff, telephone, car and other perks.
**Chameleon-like
Traits
Their capability to
change colours can put even a chameleon to shame. It is a common sight to see
Netas going around seeking votes with folded hands and making tall promises
before elections. For photo-shoots, they visit poor villagers’ huts and squat
on the floor for meals (although meals and bottled water are specially brought
for them). Once elected, their
personality undergoes a total transformation: servants of the public become
rulers of the country. Pre-election promises are brazenly dismissed as election
jhumlas.
Babus are ‘survivors’ by nature and swim with the tide. Netas come and
go while the Babus go on forever. While interacting with their political masters,
they become the most servile, docile and obedient human being. They bravely
face worst degrading treatment without a whimper of protest. However, when
dealing with the public, their persona undergoes a total make-over. They
consider themselves to be the dispenser of favors; and hence behave in a
haughty, pretentious, condescending, pompous and supercilious manner.
Finally
It is commonly said
that cinema reflects the society at large. Of late, villainy has become the
exclusive domain of Netas and Babus. They are shown as the most unscrupulous
and scheming individuals. The moment a character in ‘khadi’ and white cap
appears on the screen, the audience recognises him as the chief villain. Misusing
his ministerial position, he patronises all unlawful activities in collusion
with corrupt Babus.
Undoubtedly, both Netas
and Babus enjoy a very poor public standing. People consider them to be the
fountainhead of inefficiency, corruption and illegal activities in the country.
Every survey carried out by different agencies shows Netas and Babus to be at
the bottom of peoples’ choice for probity, loyalty and selflessness. Many
amongst the present crop of Netas started as petty ruffians and today command
wealth worth hundreds of crores of rupees. In no other profession can so much
be amassed in so short a time.
Netagiri and Babugiri
have rightly come to be identified with everything depraved and decadent. People
are aware of the abysmal character of India’s Netas and Babus but cannot free
themselves of their stranglehold. However, what is more worrisome is the fact
that both Netas and Babus have become too thick-skinned to bother about public
perception. As self-aggrandisement continues to rule unabated, they are
becoming more audacious, brazen and fearless in their deviousness. And, that is
India’s tragedy.*****
