Self glorification of leaders when public pays

Much before commercialization began with the reforms of Narsimah-Manmohan time Indian culture placed value on humility and moderation in advertising one’s own credentials and achievements at the expanse of the public exchequer. I have no quarrel with Political parties who spend a lot of money to promote their leaders as the money is not from public exchequer but private donations. Government that collects funds from public by taxation has no right to spend it on its own leader’s self promotion. The money is meant for expenses of development and services to citizens who have been taxed. Lately this race for self aggrandizement by PM CMs and even minor functionaries like local bodies, have crossed all limits. The latest addition to this is Kejriwal’s unabashed publicity and even telling distortions to the public at the Government expenditure. He has budgeted 550 crores whereas previous government spent 24 crores. Delhi is bombarded with his self praise and casting aspersions at the other leaders or central government.

How this ruthless ‘pehle main’ sloganeering has caught the imagination of leaders and how they have disaster of blitzkrieg hitting the walls, roads and media with hoardings of their own praise? Before commercialization which began with opening of economy and rat race, there was competition but decent publicity of what the leaders is and what he claims he will do. But there was no such blatant ‘Main hi main’ .We were taught in homes that we should not thrust ourselves forward and we should respect others and we should not claim we are best that others may say. When I topped the examination in graduation and post graduation I was overjoyed but did not hit the streets with ‘Hi I am the top. My colleagues came rushing to me when I topped in Indian Institute of Public administration with a question how I did it. I merely smiled and told them ‘yar aise hi’. I did not say that I deserved as I am best. There was a degree of modesty that went with the culture of ‘Pehle aap’. I got a jolt when I started hearing children talking of ‘I am the best ‘.I soon learnt that actors and actresses in Movies or outside claiming ‘I am the best’. Political leaders beat them with pushing miles forward by splashing the roads with their claims to immortality.

Thousands of crores are being spent on inaugurations and functions of Government where CMs just appear for a short time and they receive applause.

UPA government spent 143 crores for only remembering their dead leaders. Last three years central government spent 30 crores in remembering Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar. Also at the same time it spent 22crores on Nehru-Gandhi family. Commemorating dead is also for political gain. Fortunately Supreme Court is putting some restrictions but not adequate enough to ban it. But it clearly said that public funds cannot be used for creating personality cult of leaders.

I travelled thousands of miles in China on roads last year but came across not a single hoarding showing their leaders except there were road signage. In our country some time inside the states there are no signs or are hidden behind hoardings of CMs. Travelers need signage but that is no one’s concern, rather    futile thanks giving or inconvenience regretted boards are put up on raods which are full of pits. No hoardings of leaders have been seen by me in Europe. It is sign of our primitive development and poor work culture which need to be redirected to more work rather than sycophancy. Leaders themselves should stop it but they see themselves everywhere and feel pleased with it.

Bashir badar rightly reminded such self obsessed politicians

’ Ae khuda mujhko na aisi khudai de

/ Jab apne siva koi na dikhai de.

Bus Stand (contributed by Ram Lubhaiya)

First Passenger: State government passed in Budget session that contract employees of five years service will be regularized but six months have passed and they are not paid. Ministers/MLAs raise their own salaries by 60% but they don’t pay poor employees.

Second Passenger: This how Government is recovering the loss.  They want to squeeze out teachers, clerks.

---Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India