The Knack of Survival.....

                 

One of my friends just informed me that he has become more mature.

“How”? - I quipped?

Now before posting any message on Face Book, I think twice. Even I do censorship before publishing it.

It was quite amusing for me.  Something interesting.

 

“But why you do that thing?”- A natural curiosity from my side.

You know, keeping the eyes round he started; “now a day government is spying on each Face Book account. Not only government but private players are also active. You know what happened in Bihar, two employees had to lose job because they criticized government. See, why write, speak or like anything which may bring you in trouble.

‘Ya, I see your point.’-

He continued “not only this I even started liking all the programmes of central and state government on face book.  If any unscrupulous friend tag me in any unwanted anti establishment material, I either immediately delete that matter or untagged it.

Good- I encouraged him to continue.

He took a pause for some  seconds then he started ‘ You know dear, even if during Anna Andolan I kept myself off from the corruption issue , who invites troubles by sympathizing  with Anna ‘

Ya .. I responded,

“You know during that period even I supported corruption vehemently. In the support of corruption I did share some links also, who knows it may give me benefit”. He finished by this line.

“So, do you really feel, corruption is good for our society?” – I inquired.

Ya,   he quoted a line from one article: “corruption is the knowledge of survival, the fundamental rules of coping and survival.  Corruption is the link between government and common people.”

“If corruption is right so is dowry system and haftawasooli”, I rebutted.

“How”? -he was surprised.

“See, Haftawasooli is also a small amount what you pay to hooligan to buy peace and protection. Dowry also makes a link between the family of bride and bridegroom”. And……

He interrupted me with his teary eyes, “Dear, you know na, this is my fourth job, all the time…
(I remembered some eight or ten years back he had left the first job accusing the system.) All the time I had to leave the job. Two public sectors, one private sector. You know I do not have the knack of survival. Every time whenever I felt I was compromising myself I left the job, left the organisation. But when I ask myself did I do right thing, dear, when I introspect I feel, I feel…

I kept my hand on his shoulder to soothe him, he carried on “I feel myself nothing but a fool. You know dear, it is bitter truth that everywhere, you will have to work in grey area. If you are upright and honest your immediate boss might not, if your immediate boss is right, organisation’s supreme boss might not, if your supreme boss is right, political boss might not.  This system is made like that you are doomed to work in grey area. That what I learnt from the ten years experience working in different organisations,  now I am trying to survive , just want to survive, tell me friend “Am I wrong ?”

I had no direct answer of his question. I could only say that “You have really become  mature my friend “.

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 Ramanuj Dubey