KAJAL CHATTERJEE
As we reached the ‘Departure’ terminal of Kolkata airport to see our son off, found that the adjoining lanes are chock-a-block, courtesy the vehicles of the outgoing fliers and their relations. So, without our prodding, the driver gentleman halted the cab at the outermost lane as it was absolutely free of vehicles.
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As we were taking out the luggage from the boot, a vehicle arrived at breakneck speed and started honking repeatedly despite noticing that we are taking out a mere trolley bag. At the maximum, the vehicle behind us had to make a stop for hardly 10 seconds! Since we were in a hurry, that too with long queues in front of each entrance, we briskly moved towards the gate.
Still I could notice that an airport security staff literally rushing towards the cab driver gentleman in an extremely ferocious way by mouthing most vulgar expletives possible! Though the driver gentleman had already returned to the steering and about to start the cab, yet the security person still continuing in gesticulating and abusing mode! And amidst that one-way vulgarity, I could hear a sentence, “How dare you have entered the VIP lane”!
At last I realised why that outermost lane was absolutely free of traffic! Now it is not known whether the cab driver gentleman was aware of its status as “VIP lane”; still he had surely committed a “wrong” (not in terms of morality, but in terms of “framed rules”), even if done inadvertently.
But his “crime” was surely not of that magnitude that he got subjected to such vulgar obscenities and almost got physically hit! And this is nothing but vulgar effect of philistine “VIP culture” which is definitely in constant sharp increase with each passing day in supremely feudal India and so I vehemently endorse the opinion of the 14 per cent of the respondents (in the nationwide online survey by Local Circles, an online social media platform tracking citizens’ concerns) who believe the notorious “VIP culture” has increased significantly in recent times.
We were made to hear lecture right from the top “protesting” against “VIP culture” and that it would be replaced by “EIP (Every Person Important) culture”! But it was bound to simply fall flat right upon the face as all such dialogues are nothing but a play to the gallery catering to the lowest common denominator.
Yes, red beacons atop “high profile” vehicles have got reduced drastically, but only to be replaced with blue beacons! So the practical ground situation not only remains the same, even the privilege and undue advantage associated with the “VIP culture” getting increased drastically in public places.
Even in the first decade of the 21st century, our office complex used to witness red beacons of few incumbent ministers only. But now that very complex is packed with countless blue-beaconed luxury cars of ministers, Secretaries, Directors, Chief Engineers and who not!
Even if the complex had boasted an earmarked “VIP” lift, still democracy would have got assaulted. But in our office complex, there is no such demarcation; yet when a blue-beaconed vehicle arrives, promptly the security guards jump into action and take control of the lift even if there had been a queue of “Prajas” so that the “VIP” can travel upstairs solo or with his “army of stooges”!
Lastly, it must be pointed out that the vehicle honking our cab from behind outside the airport terminal in the “VIP lane” didn’t feature any beacon of any colour also! Actually “VIP culture” is not necessarily associated with red/blue beacon or its presence/absence atop the car! It is actually a very ugly feudal mindset which gets flaunted by anybody who is “somebody” and can afford to drop names.
Yes, “VIP culture” is nothing but the end-result of the feudal environment in Indian society, reluctant to discard the “royal” attitude of displaying “might” despite the Constitution vouching for democracy!
