At least my observation so far makes me believe this.
They don't need to worry about parking as their vehicles are parked everywhere and anywhere on the roads, they don't bother to queue up for anything as their escorts (policemen) will do the needful for them, they can conveniently use their office cars for taking their families for shopping and not only that, there too they will be escorted by a fleet of at least 20 policemen.
My recent visit to Agra and to Taj Mahal gave a fresh insight to this belief of mine.
It was December 25th. Christmas Day. Obviously, the Taj Mahal was buzzing with people who had come from far away places to see this 17th century wonder of the world. It must be over 500 people (men, women and children from different parts of the globe) who had lined up in two neat rows waiting for their turn to enter the monument.
And mind you, all of them with their official admission tickets (Indians : 20 Rupees and Foreign nationals : 750 Rupees). No one was fretting, no one was pushing, everyone happily making friends with their neighbours in the queue.
Whilst we had been waiting for our turn, I spotted a battery operated vehicle stopping bang in front of the Taj Mahal gate. (These vehicles leave the lesser mortals - people like you and me at least 100 metres before the gate.)
Jumped out of that vehicle a family of 7 or 8. No tickets, no queue, they enter from the passage which serves as exit for the commoners (who have bought tickets to see the monument).
The security people, who had so far been throwing their weight at people standing in the queues, started bowing their heads and were saluting the officer. It was a bureaucrat - an Indian Administrative Officer and his family.
I happened to recognise the officer so went ahead to say hello to him. This officer carries an image of being good and efficient.
Keeping his image in mind I conveyed to him the feeling of injustice that so many people paying and waiting to enter whereas he, without any ticket, gets the privilege to enter without any wait. I expected him to feel at least sheepish of the fact.
But to my surprise, he with a smirk on his face, asked me, `Do you want me to feel guilty of the fact?'' and without waiting for my response, added, ``Don't worry, I will not.''
I was aghast and speechless. The security guards, reading my expressions said, ``Oh, he is on duty.''
On duty, with a family!!! Indeed....
At least he should have bought the ticket for the family and at least the family should have behaved like common responsible citizens.
Anyways...
Next day, we stopped at a shopping mall near Taj Mahal to get some food. Whilst coming out of the Mall I started talking to a few policemen standing outside. In fact, I wanted to ask them if there was any short cut to reach the highway to Lucknow. Suddenly I saw some kind of flurry - all policemen had started running towards the gate.
What I saw now was a fleet of cars with blue beacon on top. It was the senior-most police officer who had come to the shopping mall. The policeman who was talking to me, left his sentence in the middle and ran to salute the boss.
The officer was accompanied by his family.
The boot of the car was carrying his files. A policeman opened the boot and took out a few files which needed urgent attention of the big boss and carried them inside the Mall.
I stood there gaping at the whole drama.
I wondered - these are the people who are running our country. They are the one who are suppose to implement all the laws. They are expected to help the citizens and that is why they are known or referred as public servants.
Once again I was dumbstruck...
I didn't know whether to blame these officers for making a mockery of the system or blame us citizens for letting these officers get away with such irresponsible behaviour.
I stood there motionless for a while... when my daughter pulled me away and said ``let's not spoil our holiday. In fact, you are expecting too much from these officers.''
``Was expecting the officials to behave as decent, responsible, law abiding citizen was actually too much to ask!!!'' I think it is........
