This is a real incidence. Though you'd find it mundane, ordinary and definitely not shocking, I still emphasize its real because otherwise the issue behind these significant yet mundane things is dismissed with everyday humor.
Last night, a white SUV drove-in straight (via the pavement) to the porch of a well-known south-mumbai movie multiplex. I was waiting there for the rain to allow me to hail a cab. My husband was on phone alongside me. Two white-kurta-pyjamas-clad politicians with visible security men walked out from the SUV that stopped inches away from the glass-door entrance. The first thing one of them did was to spit 'pan' or whatever he was chewing right in front of the spic-n-span entrance, in front of us. And in full public view, he also threw his cigarette butt carelessly around. "...Talk about civic sense..", I thought to myself and looked away. But, my husband who is a li'l more sensitive about these things couldn't help being sarcastic and that too aloud, "Mera bharat mahaan" he said in an even tone.
The guy turned around, posed for a while, like Mahatma Gandhi often did with an index finger pointed out at you, except for the fact that he was looking more threatening and angry. "MERA BHARAT MAHAAN?..." he asked, "DON'T try and act smart with me...". I just stared at the guy and his audacity(the politician's, of course). But, my husband went ahead and asked him why is that cigarette butt thrown there and that dirty pan-residue spit right out the door. Suddenly, the security men came forward. The man from this country's leadership fraternity kept reinforcing.."do not try to be smart with me..". I stood like a rock beside my guy [by all means I was not moving much less giving any signs that I was alive ;)]. The man goes "Pitwa dalunga.." in full view of the entire junta that can hear all this and go home and sleep peacefully.
Needless to say, the kind politician spared me and my unapologetic husband. Subsequently, I swore and abused the politician within the closed doors of the cab.
This morning a lot of questions popped-up in my mind...no great answers though, I have an idea...like we have those basic etiquette classes for management trainees, we should have some classes for politicians as well. For example:
>>Civic Sense - More and more educational institutes have started culturing kids on not littering etc to internalize these things. When they grow up & realize that they are the only fools who practice it..they will associate civic sense, rights and duties with the 'aam-admi syndrome'. Wouldn't that be destructive in the long run?
>>CRM as in (customer relationship management) - Who are the end customers of the governance in a country? Citizens, no? Then, when would we be treated with a little more respect like how a typical firm treats its customers? Or much less, may be. Are customers segmented clearly in politics? Why are most of these customers not heard or treated better? Is it a culture issue? Is this phenomenon pervasive?
Anyway, so that was that. Oh and I forgot, the movie was just alright.
