True Lies

In a country where a vast populace does not get three square meals a day, where the laborers do back breaking work, the bread winners in the family toil hard in offices to support the families there is a small section of super privileged ones who have easy access to the wealth stashed in banks to pursue a live style that make everyone red with envy. If this happens once in a while one can understand but the story keeps getting repeatedly like the ever changing fashion which fades with time but returns yet again like the proverbial ‘Sphynx”.

The legal system, the procedures, the entire system becomes a mute spectator when these are tweaked to favor the rich and mighty. Those in chairs of responsibility squirm and indulge in the blame game , on realizing that they have been taken for a ride. Imagine the number of forms, guarantees, surety one is asked to submit when seeking petty loans. The rules book are hurled at the face explaining why the same cannot be sanctioned when the amount is a few thousands or lakhs. As the amount in question gets bigger with greater number of zeros, the time to sanction the same is in inverse proportion and the ease with which the individuals walk away, with a smirk makes one wonder if the rules are only meant for the honest. Honesty does not appear to be the best policy in the brazen world!

This is equally true for other crimes where the petty criminals languish behind the bars for years whereas the ones with might walk away by signing bonds and lead lives as if nothing ever happened. The ease with which they get reprieve makes the mockery of the law. Agree,   that we do not live in a Utopian world but then the sense of fair play, or semblance of the same should at least appear to be visible.

We talk so much about the environment these days to preserve the city, rivers, and air clean but do not give a thought when razing a forest, or by the river front for holding huge rallies that leave a trail of destruction in its wake. It takes years to make the land green and conserve the rivers but systematic plundering keeps adding to the scars.

Unfortunately, the commercial gains, personal ambitions, greed, and petty politics are the primary motives behind most of the prevailing ills. People want to live a life as if there will be no tomorrow! One thing that is assured is that with repeated frequency of such events , there is very little future for the next generations to feel proud of. There is always a hope and for which, one has to make a beginning in small ways to restrain the desires.

As a nation we have to learn to demonstrate setting a level playing field and those not playing by the rule book be shown the door. No matter how high or mighty one may be, the law must prevail and justice be delivered in reasonable time for people to have the faith in the system.