CONTRADICTIONS-2

 

 A certain Vijay Mallya, wearing dark glasses (perhaps a reflection of his dark deeds) draping his arms around bewitching semi-clad gals, has the gall to cry foul and play the ‘victim/witch-hunt’ card over the legal steps taken by bankers and the Indian government against him. Cooling his heels in his snow-covered mountainside luxury villa in London, (what if he owes a mountain of debts!) mocking at the Indian law and the judiciary, sipping and savoring the choicest brewery, Mallya is watching every move of the hapless bankers and the ED and their wringing hands in sheer frustration. His arrogance defies description.

 The same bankers, the very same Officers of the ED throw the law book with clock-like precision at lesser mortals and bring them to knees! The contrast and the contradictions are impossible to escape the attention of the discerning.

 Corporate conglomerates and who is who of the Bollywood went hammer and tongs, bidding and outbidding, offering heaps of money to overrated cricketers for the IPL masala. The hype and the frenzy with which it is followed, jam-packed stadium, the swinging hips of the cheer girls, the bursting crackers, non-stop commentary, from pre-match analysis to post-match postmortem lasting well past midnight, all of which combine to make a diet that is simply irresistible to young and old alike. It is raining everywhere – fours and sixes, that is. Drenched from head-to-toe, it is raining everywhere – ‘money’ that is. For 46 days, India will witness torrential rain of money power that will quench the ‘super rich greedy’ leaving the ‘needy’ high and dry! While the spectators erupt in joy, the cry of the poor and the needy goes unheard, unnoticed. With their urge to splurge in IPL masala, the super rich are scoffing at the coffins of the poor and the needy – their aspirations hammered and nailed! Biting contradictions.

 For the Gates, the Buffets, the Zuckerbergs, charity begins at home. They have pledged unimaginable portions of their wealth for charities, for the common good of the society. Their concern for the downtrodden, for the most backward section of the population irrespective of geographical area, caste, creed and religion is unmatched. The fact that it is done voluntarily, of their own free will makes it even more admirable. Mind you, none went to them with a begging bowl. Their humane gesture is governed by simple philosophy of ‘giving back to the society’ which has given them so much. It is a life lesson which we don’t seem to learn, much less practice! It is irony of outlandish proportion that people thousands of miles away with absolutely no cultural ties having such noble thoughts while the wealthy within sniffing distance of the ‘hungry and the needy’ choose to turn a nelson eye. And even build a bungalow – sometimes as high as 30 odd floors – without an ounce of guilt. Startling contradictions.

 No one grudges the rich and the wealthy. They are being human too. Would they spare some for the ‘lesser human beings’? if not for equality, at least for the sake of humanity! Otherwise these cruel contradictions will haunt them for eternity.