After a long time of contemplation, I finally decided to get a car driving license. For the last eight months (since I started driving) I was complacently comfortable with my provisional license. Succumbing to incessant warnings and cautions by people around, I applied for the test, traveled 40 kilometers from my hometown to reach the track test, spent two whole days waiting for the 'break inspector' and finally returned back empty handed. In spite of an unhappy ending, this episode gave me an interesting insight.
I wrote an amateur academic paper on corruption exactly one year ago. I submitted this for a national level essay competition, won it, and traveled to the United States for free. In that essay I took a very 'objective' stance and denounced passionate idealism that many people offer as solution to corruption . I argued 'Corruption is Social Deviance which has got no idiosyncratic solutions. Only structural or systemic reforms are required to mitigate the costs levied by corruption on social well being'. When I take a quick re-look at this sentence, I find it fancy and wordy. I wonder how the judges chose me to make a trip to the US. However, in crux, I still believe, sporadic anger and frustration led solutions to corruption are impractical.
Coming back to the driving license test, I cleared all formalities and produced all relevant documents. I did a good job on the test track and then approached the 'break inspector' for his decision on the outcome of my test. (FYI, Driving Test results are highly discretionary and are not subject to appeal under any circumstance). He expectantly stared at me for a couple of moments and, after grasping my unmasked persistence, failed me (of course, also, he didn't find the identification mark of a 'broker' or 'agent' who collects and passes on the emoluments to him). I was, for an instance, flabbergasted, not because of my the two day wait crashing into a failure, but because of his stoic response to a genuine 'ungreased' application.
I got 'Indian (Bharateeyudu)' movie inspired spurts to assassinate the license officer on the spot. (Not that I have the guts to actually do something like that).
After some inadvertent cold stares I was given an option to pay my way out (not a very steep sum). Given my 'objective' outlook on corruption, I should have 'objectively' bribed my way out. But I categorically refused. I didn't have control on my mind's processing and consequently my body's actions. However, I am still of the academic conviction that 'corruption' in many cases is a systemic failure and not an individual feature. I know I cant get my license unless I have a high profile recommendation/pay a few hundred bucks/reinvent the system. I, currently, find the first two closer to my capacity but I refuse to employ them !
Many a times there is a distance between your objective beliefs and subjective actions. I think this distance is heteroscedastically distributed at different instances. I only wish I develop a metaphysical power to reduce this gap. Until then, probably I will not hold a Driving License :).
I wrote an amateur academic paper on corruption exactly one year ago. I submitted this for a national level essay competition, won it, and traveled to the United States for free. In that essay I took a very 'objective' stance and denounced passionate idealism that many people offer as solution to corruption . I argued 'Corruption is Social Deviance which has got no idiosyncratic solutions. Only structural or systemic reforms are required to mitigate the costs levied by corruption on social well being'. When I take a quick re-look at this sentence, I find it fancy and wordy. I wonder how the judges chose me to make a trip to the US. However, in crux, I still believe, sporadic anger and frustration led solutions to corruption are impractical.
Coming back to the driving license test, I cleared all formalities and produced all relevant documents. I did a good job on the test track and then approached the 'break inspector' for his decision on the outcome of my test. (FYI, Driving Test results are highly discretionary and are not subject to appeal under any circumstance). He expectantly stared at me for a couple of moments and, after grasping my unmasked persistence, failed me (of course, also, he didn't find the identification mark of a 'broker' or 'agent' who collects and passes on the emoluments to him). I was, for an instance, flabbergasted, not because of my the two day wait crashing into a failure, but because of his stoic response to a genuine 'ungreased' application.
I got 'Indian (Bharateeyudu)' movie inspired spurts to assassinate the license officer on the spot. (Not that I have the guts to actually do something like that).
After some inadvertent cold stares I was given an option to pay my way out (not a very steep sum). Given my 'objective' outlook on corruption, I should have 'objectively' bribed my way out. But I categorically refused. I didn't have control on my mind's processing and consequently my body's actions. However, I am still of the academic conviction that 'corruption' in many cases is a systemic failure and not an individual feature. I know I cant get my license unless I have a high profile recommendation/pay a few hundred bucks/reinvent the system. I, currently, find the first two closer to my capacity but I refuse to employ them !
Many a times there is a distance between your objective beliefs and subjective actions. I think this distance is heteroscedastically distributed at different instances. I only wish I develop a metaphysical power to reduce this gap. Until then, probably I will not hold a Driving License :).
Well my dearest Pandu.. What u need is not metaphysical powers.. but 500 bucks...
ReplyDeleteHowever what would i do without idealists like you.. Muah..:-)