VIP Culture: Delusions of Privileged Status
Major General Mrinal Suman
While on a walking tour of
Ljubljana (capital of Slovenia), a group of Indian tourists were surprised to
see the country’s President walking across streets to his office with a handbag
in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. No escorts, no red lights and no
sirens. He kept exchanging pleasantries with fellow citizens. The local tour
guide informed the group that the President was staying in her building and had
coffee in the neighbouring restaurant every morning.
Disbelief was writ large on
the group’s faces. Having been treated as second class citizens by India’s VIP
class, they envied the Slovenians and wondered if India could ever dream of
having a similar order and be rid of flashing red lights, speeding convoys,
large fleets, blaring sirens, blocked roads and rude escorts that make general
public feel humiliated.
Therefore, the country was
pleasantly surprised to learn of the decision to ban the use of red lights on
vehicles. Red light symbolises authority, muscle
and privileged position. It helps
VIPs whizz through heavy traffic and toll barriers. Craze for the red beacon borders on mania.
Prime Minister Modi tweeted that every Indian was a
VIP and the culture of beacon should have gone long ago as these symbols are
out of touch with the spirit of new India. Road and Transport Minister Nitin
Gadkari rightly hoped
that the decision would bring more credibility to the political class.
"This is a very important decision for the democracy because a lot of
people have a lot of hatred, with the behaviour of the politician," he
said.
Undoubtedly, India’s VIP culture is symptomatic of feudal mindset.
VIPs start considering themselves to be a class apart – a part of the ruling
elite that is above the law and closer to being demi-gods who dispense favours
to their hoodlum followers. They become arrogant and egotistical. Their innate
traits of self-aggrandisement manifest themselves in a number of ways. They
behave in a boorish manner, consider it below their dignity to await their
turn, demand precedence at every place and consider themselves to be a privileged
lot. In short, their behaviour becomes obnoxious and unbecoming of their
status.
Banning of red light is certainly a bold major step. But if the
government is serious about abolishing VIP culture, it needs to do much more.
Here are three suggestions.
The first one pertains to the cavalcade that accompanies a VIP and the
quantum of security provided. Importance of a VIP is judged by the number of
security men surrounding him, hence the race to extract the highest category of
security. Over 60 percent of NSG commando strength is deployed on personal
security duties. It is an obnoxious sight to see thugs masquerading as mass
leaders and protected by elite security personnel.
Many leaders intentionally create adversaries by their irresponsible
statements and thereafter seek state protection for personal safety. We have
states in which the leader of one party apprehends a threat from another party
and demands government protection, while the leader of the second party seeks
similar security fearing attack by the first party. Both leaders (who may be
petty gangsters) are provided state security. There cannot be a worse misuse of
taxpayers’ money.
Some citizens are of the view that like common citizens, dignitaries
should also learn to live with day to day trepidations and risks. If a leader
is so timid and cowardly with regard to his personal safety, he might as well
stay out of public life.
The second suggestion is about the practice of addressing dignitaries as
Honourable. It is anachronistic in a democracy.
By putting them on a pedestal, we give them a false sense of importance
that makes them arrogant. Such sycophantic addresses go to their head. Imagined
self-importance gives them delusions of privileged position. No wonder that
some Honourable dignitaries conduct themselves in a most dishonourable manner
by behaving like street goons. Subservience is not a sign of respectfulness.
Entry of the Rajya Sabha Chairman is announced,
“Honourable Members, Honourable Chairman.” And soon thereafter, we see the Honourable Members storming the well of
the house, shouting slogans, displaying placards, tearing papers, disobeying
the chair and impeding business of the house. Smug smiles appear on their faces on forcing adjournment of the
house. Prefix Honourable appears incongruent.
Why not refer to the dignitaries as Mr Chairman, Mr Speaker, Mr Minister and Mr
Member.
Similarly, why should courts and judges be
called Honourable? It should suffice to address them with due respect without any embellishments. In January 2014, the Supreme Court
had clarified that judges should be addressed in courts in a respectful and
dignified manner and it is not compulsory to call them ‘my lord’, ‘your
lordship’ or ‘your honour’. The observation was made during the hearing of a
petition which said that addressing judges as ‘my lord or your lordship’ in
courts was a relic of colonial era and a sign of slavery.
The third suggestion pertains to the most
abused term ‘privilege’. It divides the country into privileged and
non-privileged classes. The concept of privilege
is used as a smoke screen to misappropriate public resources and facilities and
to evade accountability. Every legislature,
every court and every office has privileges which they guard zealously.
Faulting them can land a citizen in serious trouble for ‘contempt proceedings’.
Why should it be the privilege of a VIP to delay a flight or
train, or demand specific seats? Why cannot they travel like ordinary citizens?
How are they empowered to usurp the rights of fellow travellers? Why should
there be VIP lounges at the airports? Will sitting with common people who
elected them reduce their status?
A few years ago, while on a visit to Copenhagen an Indian
visitor saw the Queen of Denmark doing her weekly shopping of household
requirements in a mall, accompanied by a solitary maid. The Queen was picking
up the required items from the shelves and the maid was pushing the cart. Being
used to seeing Indian leaders (accompanied by security personnel) causing
immense inconvenience to common citizens in public places, his surprise was natural.
Attitude is defined as a predisposition or
inclination in respect of something or someone; and it is not easy to change
attitudes. Therefore, VIPs will not shed their culture easily, banning of red
lights notwithstanding. They will certainly find a way out. Jugaad (innovative
making-do) is our innate strength. For example, some will insist that
their cavalcades be piloted by a police vehicle with blue beacon as an
‘emergency measure’. Let us see how the things unfold. These are interesting
times.*****
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