The title should not surprise you. Dogs in an Indian stadium are not a new sight nor news.
However, all dogs are not so privileged like this one. This isn’t a sundry, stray dog – it’s a VIP. No Police or security guards would be shoo-ing it away – they are at its service, actually.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
I keep saying IAS is India’s national obsession. Some of the brightest and best Indian youngsters chase this dream and a miniscule of them gets through – rest switch to lesser mortal jobs (continuing their quest nevertheless as long as permitted), get frustrated, (boys) see their girlfriends marrying qualified IAS or IIT/IIM/MNC folks, on the extreme end commit suicide. Some even feature in OTT, movies, tv serials on this exam.
After qualifying, you must read their interviews in Competition magazines providing gyaan to later aspirants. Each one of them professes ‘Service above self’, ‘country before self’, ‘burning desire to change the system’ as the reason for their choosing this noble profession.
Reminds me of Miss Indias and Miss Universe who talk about girl empowerment, education, changing the universe, humanity, global warming, et al and most of them end up in movies, singing around trees or treated as doormats in regressive movies.
So, most of it is hot air.
Once in the job, the perks are too much to expect. You are a king or right hand thereof. Your mindset changes from a public ‘servant’ to a ‘master’. You just need to keep your bosses and political masters happy to maintain and excel in the job. This happens to a significant number of officers – once power gets to your head, there’s no end to it.
What happened in Delhi a couple of days back is a very normal, routine thing for most Indians. Such acts and deeds by government officers are taken as routine matters. But for social media, not many people would have taken cognizance.
Since childhood, we have seen sarkari Ambassadors carrying ‘Mem Sahibs’ to markets or taking the dog (alone) for a ride.
The caretaker of one of the biggest stadia in Delhi (built with millions of dollars of taxpayers money, dammit) asks the guards to flush out athletes and coaches and let the IAS officer, his family, his dogs to get in and enjoy the stroll and the weather. The caretaker unashamedly claims that he leaves by 7 pm (typical sarkari babu, I guess) and doesn’t know what happens thereafter. Really ? Who comes and uses the stadium after 7 pm is not your business? I’d be concerned about cleanliness, safety and security of this massive stadium left in this person’s hands. I think this officer should be taken to task before those misusing / abusing their clout.
You leave the stadium to dogs, literally? What are the security guards and other officers doing at the property after 7 pm – looking after your boss’ dogs? A dog is allowed to run on the track, football stadium, urinate, defecate or do whatever wherever.
Exactly, what business does this IAS officer, his family or dog have in this stadium?
Is this how India will become a sports superpower?
And what happens when someone points out? You extend the time for athletes and transfer the officers. As if posting to Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh is a punishment enough. Demoralising the ones posted there already.
Accountability for the misusers/abusers of public property and money, anyone? Public memory is short – will be forgotten and forgiven in due course.
We are still in colonial hangover. Sarkari Babus rule – well, a lot of them have this mindset. Nothing here is intended to demean the most distinguished officers servicing the nation courageously and selflessly.
Bless the nation.
The more we change, the more of the same.
A concerned taxpayer would feel – is my money going to the dogs?
P.S.: The biggest question the country is debating today – where will the dog go (replacing why did Katappa kill Bahubali)? I guess the dog will enjoy more in Ladakh or Arunachal Pradesh than Delhi considering the temperature, air quality, open space etc. – blessing in disguise for the dog at least. The lookout for a good stadium must have begun by now and I suggest exact timings for players and coaches (if allowed in stadium, at all, that is) should be notified so that no Press reporter disturbs officers or their dogs.
Written on a lighter note as a concerned citizen with no malice towards anyone.
