Aam Aadmi Ki Baath

SCENE 1:The cabinet minister in charge of backward classes in Uttar Pradesh, routinely smuggles narcotic drugs to Delhi in his official car; and he charges a reasonable amount of 20 lakhs for transporting 1crore worth of drugs in a single consignment. He admitted so on TV in yet another cash-on-cam exposure by CNN-IBN channel.
SCENE 2: The Minister-cum-smuggler cannot be dropped from the ministry, informs the Chief Minister, since a Committee appointed by the Speaker has to first investigate and submit a report. The CM has promptly sent a letter to the Honourable Speaker, of course through proper channel, requesting him to appoint a Committee to investigate the issue.
Now, can you just imagine the dimensions of injustice meted out to this Minister?
The poor man will have to continue as a minister without getting speedy justice. Ordinary people however would have got instant dismissal and remand to jail. You see, India’s system is heavily loaded in favour of the Aam Aadmi (also referred to as Mango man). it doesn't provide timely justice to the previleged.
This is despite what the government refers to as democratisation of all sectors including crime. We have given the criminal elements an equal say in the maintenance of law and order while other nations have always ignored their rights, instead solely focusing on the policemen. We’ve also voted the criminals into the Assemblies and the Parliament and then proceeded to make them Ministers. It ensured direct democracy to the most under-represented group, viz. criminals.Previleged criminals continue to remain the target of injustice as they do not get their rightful government accomodation and food.All these steps have empowered the Aam Aadmi (mango man again) and reduced the voice of the wealthy classes in governance.
The World Bank funded developmental loans have always referred to consultation and involvement of the affected parties and stake holders. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are to be actively involved in all activities including crime. According to an unnamed official, India has now successfully developed an implementation model of these proposals in both letter and spirit. According to Prof. Duryodhan Nambiar, noted management expert, this could also be seen from a system- perspective and be labelled as a bottom up approach where the ugly bottom of the society is displayed prominently. (Ugly is a subjective concept and it lies in the eyes of the beholder. It is also a relative concept. For example, if the top is uglier, the bottom becomes pretty.)
But as explained below, the system is favouring a section called the Aam Aadmi.( mango men) Injustice is rampant in every sector of the society as far as other sections are concerned. Though we have succeeded in introducing crime in the entertainment industry, we have not yet succeeded in ensuring speedy justice to the protagonists at the top. And at the top it is pretty lonely.
We’ve a famous music director by name of Nadeem, who as per Mumbai police records, arranged to kill a Music company owner. Obviously they had some difference over the back ground score and the percussion to be used in the next album. Mr.Nadeem is currently enjoying his stay in London from where he continues composing music for bollywood films. He of course takes time off to fight his extradition case. He assured us back in India that he’ll return, provided he is guaranteed of justice from the Indian Courts. But the point to be noted is that on account of his wealth, he is still craving for justice. If he were a poor Aam Aadmi (mango man) he could have speedily gone to the jail. His right to use a gun shot instead of the drum as a percussion instrument is also unjustly questioned by the Mumbai police. Speaking of percussion, it should be noted that the prosecution system is heavily biased towards the Aam Aadmi and thus against the affluent.
Meanwhile the police officer who had investigated and charged the crime against this talented musician is himself now behind bar. He is facing charges of conniving and conspiring with Telgi (Tel lagi), a fake “stamp-paper printer” and “distributor”. But of course, Mr. Telgi and the officer were only helping the government by taking over the burden of printing. And the quality of print wasn’t bad either. The government was considering out-sourcing of printing of currency notes as well, when some pest in the police administration made a big issue out of it.
Speaking of police officers behind bar, Daya Nayak( compassion leader) the famous encounter specialist based on whose life, a bollywood flick, “Ab Tak Chappan’ was made, is now charged with owning assets exceeding his known sources of income. This after noon, his bail application was rejected by the Supreme Court. God knows how long this high profle man may have to wait for a proper jail term.
Another wronged man, Salman. Today at around 3 o’ clock in the afternoon, our Salman uncle was convicted of poaching Chinkara (black buck), the holy animal of the Bishnoi tribe. That’s a crime under section 6 of the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 and the endangered black buck falls in schedule one of the Act which can invite imprisonment up to 6 yrs. But since he is a rich man with good antecedents, he was awarded one year internment and a fine of one thousand bucks (not black). The crime was committed in 1998 during the shoot of ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai....’ Even eight years later, he has not been able to take his rightful position in the jail and another eight years may lapse on account of appeals to the Sessions Court, High Court and the Supreme Court. Meanwhile he will have to act in so many films and earn so much money to fight the case. The injustice meted out to the rich and famous is enormous in India.
"The function of socialism is to raise suffering to a higher level." Norman Mailer. ( finally a real quote!)
Maybe the Indian State literally buys this quotation and wants injustice to be meted out to the socially and economically ‘uplifted’ people. Alternatively, the rich and the famous could go to a higher plane of contemplation on account of the innumerable instances of injustice.
The rich may get food, water, electricity and what not. But a timely FIR, a proper charge sheet, a death sentence, a decent jail term, or even a fine is far beyond the reach of the richer or influential people. Their oppression and injustice is a long drawn affair. The Aam Aadmi (mango men...) meanwhile continue to get fines, death sentences, charge sheet and all other services of the State.
But the perfect Socialist State thus established in India and forever the envy of our neighbours is not entirely safe.
History has shown that the upper class youth will not bear their perceived injustice forever for the mangoes will soon be ripe....the mood is vibrant and really 'smelling' of revolution.The very same smell was evidenced in Russia and China in the last century.In Poland and Afghanistan though it did smell momentarily, some capitalist pig sprayed a deo.. In India, comrades tell me that the smell of ripe mangoes pronounce an imminent change...
After seeing “Rang de Basanti” in the multiplexes (with cola, pop corn and girl friend), the enlightened upper class youth will rise in unison to challenge this oppression perpetuated by the intolerable mango men of India.