The problem with this acronym VIP is that if an individual falls in the VIP category than he or she is deemed to be a very important person. On the flip side it also means, those that could not make it to this exclusive club are designated as unimportant people by default. While there are many words that will describe the word unimportant, some of the leading ones are insignificant, irrelevant, and inconsequential. Since most Goans fall in the latter category its better we accept this fact fast, so that the problem can be fixed, before it goes out of hand. While there are some Goans that still consider themselves as important in Goa’s scheme of things, the fact remains that the control is slowly shifting to Delhi and Delhi’s VIP way of life.
In the name of security, Goa tasted a heavy dose of VIP culture at the recent BRICS summit. While these so called very important people moved around South Goa, the unimportant and irrelevant were forced to standstill in their cars or motorcycles. While many Goans and tourists showed their displeasure, there was no major flare up as the inconvenience was kept to minimum few minutes, with the police doing a superb job even after consuming sub-standard food.
Goa might have a lot of flaws in its political system, but one thing we are better off than most states in India, is that when our local politicians move around they rarely stop traffic. Fine, they might travel in a convoy and even buzz onward traffic to make way, but to bring the entire road to a standstill just because some convoy is on the move, is hardly seen on Goan roads. Some of this credit should be given to Goa’s previous Chief Minister who travelled light and set the tone for his predecessors to follow. Unfortunately they moved him to Delhi, and post BRICS he seems to also follow the same VIP convoy strategy of holding up traffic. The temptation of these VIP perks can get to the best.
Apparently it’s all psychological, a politician travelling in a convoy, is sure to get a high watching so many people waiting for him to pass by. On the other hand the person waiting as part of the road lockdown is sure to feel low. Don’t believe this, try taking a local train from Margao to Vasco and see the people’s faces stuck at the railway crossing waiting for your train to pass. For a second you are sure to feel your travel is superior then the people waiting at the crossing, even though you travel in a filthy rail compartment. This trick of keeping the voters morale low, might have worked for politicians in the past and in other parts of India, but Goans are not like that anymore. Like the last elections they are capable of silently showing the door to the arrogant.
Another example is when Goans give space to film celebrities that frequent Goa on holiday or work, the reason being they really don’t consider them VIPs and hence most of them can enjoy meals at restaurant without being hassled by the locals. Let Rajnikanth try this in an open restaurant in Chennai, he is sure to get engulfed in mob frenzy. If this is in our nature then what is it changing now that we have started giving so much importance to VIPs? Even our architecture is VIP centric now, for example the South Goa District Collectorate Office is designed in such a way that the main entrance is reserved for VIP cars to halt right at the doorstep, while the people that come to transact business in that building have to use the back door. An arrogant building design, that reflected the style and functioning of the previous government. No wonder the same arrogant government was shunned out of office.
Hopefully the present government will take cue and learn its lesson fast, so as to not fall into the VIP trap. Goans are naturally averse to all this VIP business and if politicians think they can get away by playing Kings, are going to give the office to the party waiting in the wings, which apparently represents the unimportant people or at least they project it to be.
Nothing can be done of politicians who come into politics just to enjoy the VIP perks that come along, the problem is that it can spoil the most frugal and simple individuals and if not nipped in the bud, can set the tone for future politicians to treat their citizens like dirt. BRICS in that way has set a bad example and our local politicians are sure to pick up a thing or two of this VIP culture.
By the way this VIP madness is not limited to only the present politicians in office, but has now moved to politicians of the past, present and the aspiring ones as they have now anointed themselves as VIPs. They have started placing posters of themselves just during Diwali and before Christmas festivals. If they think they are adding to the beauty of Goa, than they are sadly mistaken. On the contrary they have painted the towns and villages of Goa ugly. Leading example is Margao, where every Tom, Dick and Harry has placed posters in their quest to be VIPs. Unfortunately this is the price we pay for allowing politicians to infiltrate in municipalities and panchayats by placing their own people in top positions. How can you bring down ugly posters of your indirect employers?
Meantime, going by the results of the previous Goan election, the most arrogant politician is going to be punished the most. Hopefully some sanity will prevail in the present government. For starters, Prime Minster Modi scheduled visit to Goa can show the way, by cutting down his convoy protocols. Also a sincere thank you to Goans is in order from the Prime Minister for accommodating the BRICS summit and regret the inconvenience caused to the local people. If they chose to ignore these gestures, than it will be at their own peril because finally it is unimportant people that will have the last word.
(The author is a business
consultant)
