The “Bada Sahib” Farmaan

So the Rajasthan Government has issued an Order under its authority postulating the requirements to be fulfilled by the government employees for offering proper respect to the MLAs and MPs. Now, what dya make of that?

There was a huge debate on Times Now, an open fight (I daresay) between Mr. Arnab Goswami, the host  who ridiculed the order and Mr. Manish Tiwari, Member of Parliament who was called for defence. Now all the while they were arguing (cross-firing, is more like it), the thought that kept on crossing my mind was that isn’t this a democracy? Isn’t India a democracy? And moreover, aren’t we the country who would climb the tallest mountain to declare our ‘Sanskriti’? Our roots.. “Shishtachaar”, “Namaskar” and all that..

So why the need of such an order? And may I kindly highlight that it has been clearly enumerated in the order, the method of offering proper respect to the MLAs and MPs too! You got to stand up whenever the MP/MLA enters the room. You have to greet him/her in the proper manner. You have to stand up and pay respects whenever he/she leaves…. Blah blah blah.. I was unable to read the rest as I was ROFTLMAO.

Next they’ll want is a twenty-one gun salute as they walk by! Okay, I’m gonna be serious now. Let’s have a debate over this. *muffled laughter*

Okay, I’m serious now. Like, serious serious.

First of all, who are they to demand respect? Most MLAs in India can’t even converse in more than two lines in English. They have criminal records (look up the percentage). They don’t look smart, they don’t talk smart. Okay, fine. So they are special?! Yes, they are the public representatives. Public representatives. They are the persons who are elected by the public of India. They serve the people of India. They are Public Servants. I repeat, Public SERVANTS.

Secondly, I have never come across any incident where an MLA/MP has been outrightly disrespected by the common public, let alone the Govt. Employees. Whenever they enter any place, be it an official gathering or even a mall – their presence never goes unnoticed. People stand, people cheer, people chant! And even if they don’t, it is absurd to issue an order for this! I mean, if I become an MLA tomorrow, would I want to issue a written and authorised public order to make people stand and open doors for me? Greet me properly? And who is not doing that? Isn’t this childish?!

Thirdly, there is a difference between civility and servility. Need I say more?

Fourthly (lastly), it has come to this. After 62 years of flaunting their power (tum jaante ho hum kaun hain!!), travelling in laal-batti Innovas and wearing the standard white dhotis, if they still have to issue an order to demand respect (“in the proper manner!!” I sound like a broken record but I simply can’t get over this sentence), they really think people will respect them?

Politicians should command respect. A public order should be issued to the MLAs and MPs asking (make that ordering) them to conduct themselves in such a manner that people automatically stand for them when they make an entrance or exit. Because the bottom line is that you can command respect, but never demand it. Even the ignorant lot of pre-independence India followed Gandhiji half-way through Gujarat for the Dandi march, and blindly followed Lala Lajpat Rai on a single call. We know how to respect, and whom to respect.

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