Gandhi Jayanti

Why is Gandhi Jayanti a public holiday? Shashi Tharoor thinks the Mahatma would have wanted us to work this day, for he advocated work to be worship. But Mr. Tharoor, we are so busy worshipping work the rest of the year that Mahatma's birthday provides the perfect opportunity to step back and reflect on whether our work is worth worshipping at all. Of course, most of us end up spending the day in the bed, in front of a TV, or in a movie theater, but it is not our fault entirely. The essential ingredient for such reflections has been denied to us on the day when we need it the most. Not everyone has the option to stock up liquor ahead of time or consume it in their homes. In any case, given the levels of corruption in our government offices, the holiday at least minimizes underhand dealings on Mahatma's birthday.

I am not quite sure why Gandhi is revered today. Whether his ideals still hold is questionable (and will need a separate post), but why cling on to something that happened 70 years ago? He gave us freedom, you say? Sure, thank you Mr. Gandhi. But it is time to move on. Why do I have to thank this man every time I breathe?

Granted that it is in the human nature to hold on to events and people because it gives us identity. But it is also what prevents us from breaking the shackles of the past. Drawing an analogy from the business world, organizations routinely shake up the top management when growth stalls. In fact, leaders are chosen based on whether their management style fits the need of the hour - aggressive managers for growth and conservative ones during bad times . Why then are we singing paeans of non-violence and truth when our neighbors are needling our buttocks with nuclear missiles?

Scarcity in Abundance

I was baffled the first time I came across a STOP sign in the US. Thankfully, it was before I started driving there. I saw vehicles approach the sign from all directions, stop for a moment or two, and proceed without any commotion or confusion. I tried my best to crack the code, but gave up, and asked an American colleague. She gave me a ridiculous look and said, well, whoever approaches the STOP sign first, gets to go first. #@$@##@!!

Of course, STOP signs will never work in our country, but even signals are under pressure. On my way to work, I stopped at a red light, put on the hand brake and waited for the signal to turn green. Obviously, I was a novice. The professionals don’t believe in relaxing. Rather, they are on the lookout for the signal to turn green for the cross-traffic, judge how long it would remain so, and slowly start inching towards the intersection as it turns amber, such that by the time our signal turned green, they zip off a clean 5 seconds ahead of us. That’s an important 5 seconds though for they manage to reach the next signal ahead of the pack, and in front of the line.

I am quite certain I have indulged in similar acts of desperation, either on the road or elsewhere, so I don’t consider myself any different. But what drives our behavior? I believe it is the deep sense of insecurity embedded in our national psyche. Generations have grown up in misery and scarcity where life was a zero-sum game. You won only if your neighbor lost. Although the situation has considerably improved, these fears have not been fully alleviated.

This is aptly summed up by Shashi Kapoor in the movie, Deewar. The scene shows Shashi Kapoor being interviewed for a manager position. The interviewers like him and offer him the job when a young lad barges in. He apologizes for the delay and explains that he had to walk as he was out of money for the bus fare. The interviewers turn him away because the job has already been offered. Unable to see the young lad in misery, Shashi Kapoor rejects the job citing poor pay. The job goes to the lad, who recognizes this gesture and is extremely grateful. Shashi Kapoor simply suggests that “Yeh zindagi ek third class ka dibba hain dost. Main baith jaata, tho tum khade ho jaate.”