Who is a VIP ?

There are currently a lot of discussions on the media regarding the rampant misuse of facilities by politicians , their kith and kin and entourage and the VIP culture. I fully support this campaign and wish well for the media in their crusade against this obnoxious practice that people in power of all hues and kind abuse in this country.

In one of the recent debates, there was a politician who was arguing about the status of the position making him VIP. Well I really wonder who actually is a VIP ? When I look at myself in the mirror in the morning after a shave the narcissistic bit in me actually throws back an image of the biggest VIP in the world. So I should also get all the privileges rather than waiting at endless queues and paying endless tolls and other taxes !

While on the way to office I see a mother escorting her small child to school. To her the biggest VIP in the universe is her little child. The street dog waits for the kind soul across the road to throw bits of last night’s dinner and scraps of bread- his provider of food and therefore the biggest VIP in his life.

So the status of the VIP is such that every one of us is a VIP at a given circumstance. But we neither get any privileges nor need any favours. But then why do the elected representatives , by virtue of their position , choose to behave as if they are from some crazy monarchy and behave like King Canute ? Any slightest hint of taking away these privileges sends them into a tizzy as if they cannot live life without crutches. Obnoxious to say the least and given that ultimately the law makers are these who actually abuse the law the most, this lal-batti menace is not easy to wish away. Many such crusades will be required to bring some semblance of responsibility in these Very Inadequately-educated Persons- a new type of VIP indeed. This society would well deserve a few lesser of them.