prasad1
Active member
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.
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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 people’s 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.
Read more at: http://www.sify.com/news/indias-bane-babugiri-babagiri-and-netagiri-news-columns-qksjWmahedcid.html
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.
.........................................................
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 people’s 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.
Read more at: http://www.sify.com/news/indias-bane-babugiri-babagiri-and-netagiri-news-columns-qksjWmahedcid.html
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