Men, Women and Faithfulness

Yes, it happens in UK; there is sunshine and then all of a sudden it begins raining, though it rarely rains cats and dogs. And yet this has prompted people to believe that “English weather and women are unfaithful.” Why the poor woman has been dragged in, I do not know. But I have always wondered if English men are faithful. Won’t it be the biggest lie ever uttered in human history?

And why only the English women and men be singled out? Are the people across the English Channel, the French, German or Dutch men and women faithful to one another? And why only the Europeans be singled out? Is infidelity not common in India and America?

“Faithful” is a beautiful word; it is meaningful as well. But see how ugly or dreadful it becomes when “UN” is prefixed to it. I have called it “dreadful” because it (UN) makes fair unfair. By the way ‘UN’ also stands for the ‘United Nations’ which, in fact, is an unfair description for the “Divided Nations” of the World. Yes, you are right; in some contexts the United Nations has been as dreadful as the starting two letters of UN-fair or UN-faithful. See the U and N in the two words disfigure their shapes and kill their soul, the meaning.

So, let us go back to English weather…” It just so happens that we do say things in the heat of a moment which later on boomerang or backfire. This is what the vociferous elements of Anna Team are facing today. When Anna was on fast for a strong Lokpal Bill, his comrades spared no opportunity to paint the government of the day in black. The uncritical media was more than obliging and never questioned the integrity of some members of the Anna team.

But now the dust has settled, the media is back to its usual self. It seems to have taken upon itself the responsibility of unearthing the malpractices of some comrades of Anna Hazare. In the very beginning of the Anna-led anti-corruption movement, a section of media exposed the Bhushans to have benefited financially due to their political connections. After exposure they returned to the UP State the land they had purchased on a highly concessional rate. Well, you make a profit out of your political connections but give it up when exposed. Does this step exonerates a culprit fully and makes him fair, fair enough to criticise all others as corrupt.

They say not only Caesar, his wife must also be beyond doubt. But this is not the case with Mr. Kejriwal, the star campaigner of the anti-corruption movement. He was clever to take advantage of loopholes in service rules and now wants his former colleagues to behave as the proverbial Caesar and his wife.

The most startling case is that of the former IPS officer, Kiran Bedi. She took full money for air tickets purchased on concessional rates. Yes, it is small corruption, but corruption it is anyway.

It is said that people get the ruler they deserve. Sometimes I feel it is indeed true. But on other occasions I find it quite a harsh description for the common people. I am a commoner and have no claim to being an angel. Indeed I feel I have more demerits and weaknesses than any other body in the world.

But am I really that bad to be ruled by undemocratic officers?

Corruption is not only to make money through unfair means. Favouritism and nepotism are also corruption which we see in abundance in our high offices and university campuses.

We have recently seen that the high and the mighty have gone behind the bars on corruption charges. Many, including Vice Chancellors, are under scanner. But what baffles me that it has not deterred people from breaking rules and indulging in such malpractices as nepotism and favouritism! Should we believe that we, men and women, are more corrupt than fair? Disturbing question indeed! But in what other way we can describe the phenomena we are witnessing.

Often I ask if corruption, in all its varieties, can ever end? Some times I am so disturbed that I become a pessimist and start thinking in terms of legalizing corruption, at least to the level of charging full money for concessionally-bought air tickets. But the people will ask why nepotism and favouritism may also not be legalized?

Well, let us end this write-up on a lighter note. I have no experience with English women, so I really do not know if they are not faithful. But I have spent some time in England and some women, nay, girls are indeed like roses. This I write with the permission of my wife.

{September 2011}