Mug shot machismo

Mug shot machismo
Tara Sinha

Over many years, vast sums of public money and vast reams of newsprint have been spent on ads intended to serve our interest. These ads are generally large-sized even full pages inevitably boring and sanctimonious, designed and released with the singular and dedicated purpose of pleasing the boss.

Today, despite the initiatives being taken by governments, both at the Centre and in the states, to cut out waste and bring in a culture of accountability under the rubric of globalisation and modernisation, bad habits persist. The recent spate of `Praise the Leader' ads are graphic examples of this expensive practice. Who really cares and, indeed, who benefits from them? Other than the media, ad agencies, if involved, and the powers-that-be, who sanction the releases and decide who gets what, nobody else, it would be safe to assume. We citizens, who end up paying, are certainly not benefiting from this largesse.

Here are some recent examples to make my case. The Society of Petroleum Laboratory, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, GOI, grandly announces an inauguration by its Hon'ble Minister. (I wonder if we will ever free ourselves from bondage to these archaic tiles and slavish institutions such as abdars dutifully following a few steps behind, ever ready to serve our new rulers). The headline reads: `Yet another endeavour towards preserving the environment for future generations'. Perhaps one would be forgiven if one asked, which the other `worthy endeavours' were.

The mug shot gallery features four Hon'bles, following strict rules of the official pecking order, both in terms of size and placement. Somebody up there is certainly studiously serious about getting these finer points of protocol right!

Similar servile ads appear featuring the PM, a variety of CMs, and not to be left out, the `Hon'ble Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha' - complete with enigmatic smile and head discreetly pallaued! Another ad released recently on June 5 World Environment Day really angered me. The concerned ministry, which now sports a website, had the gall to proclaim: `Let us dedicate ourselves in (sic) the Protection and Improvement of Environment'. How can those most guilty of neglect assume this mantle of `dedication'? The mandatory mug shots follow, laid out with mandatory status-size differentials.

The equally mandatory lists of Achievements, Initiatives, and Special Emphasis... are displayed in language and layout that only babus would read and, possibly, comprehend. Others, like me, would find ourselves lost in a weird world of doublespeak.

Another area of gross waste and indecent sycophancy is the plethora of garlands and bouquets offered to sundry netas, snugly ensconced in throne-like, velvet-padded chairs. Tossed aside with little appreciation of the natural beauty of these floral tributes, our netas demand and receive special seating facilities to make sure we recognise their importance. A sure sign of their insecurities, sorry reflections of a belief that their job is to rule not govern by serving the people. It would be interesting to have some keen young researcher guesstimate the monies spent for both these indulgences. Monies that could be much better spent on providing education, health and other civic amenities.

Finally, what if any need is there for government ads announcing this, that or the other? How would governance suffer if the funds and energies spent on these self-indulgent activities were allocated to grassroots projects? Think about these questions and let your local politician know how you feel.

Impress upon them your demands that these resources must be used to better serve our interests. Now, at long last, public opinion is having an impact on politics. Our netas are running a little scared. Let's make them know that bombast will no longer suffice: we want action!