Maharajas and Vahans

Dard ki raahain nahi aasaan  zara aahista chal

Ay sobbak roe ay harreaf e jaan  zara aahista chal
Aabela pa tuj ko kis hasrat say taktay hain Faraaz
Koech to zaalim paas e humrahaan  zara aahista chal

The old adage The king is dead, long live the king reminds me of the last Dogra Maharaja of Kashmir – widely maligned for committing the ”crime” of purchasing the piece of land called Kashmir, at a time when occupation by sheer brute force was the accepted norm throughout the world (- recall French invasion of Algeria in 1830); who took to his heels when Dilli sarkar swooped down from higher reaches., forcing to leave behind what belonged to him, in somewhat legal sense, and saw with desperate eyes how his heir apparent, Yuvaraj K.S, took the side of the ushers of democratic set-up without any qualm for the crumbled regality or deplete-able khazana., as the latter gracefully accepted that it was the transition point in history, beyond which a new era was to begin.

The one destined to go left but what made an entry was the least expected. No doubt sensitive men have at times cried hoarse, wailing like Faiz Ahmed Faiz; “yeh daag daag ujala, yeh shab guzeedah seher, woh intizaar tha jiska, yeh woh seher to nahi”  but people of our land largely preferred to be duped to the extent that kumbkarans  don’t seem to have woken up yet, though seeing many regimes it was found that exit of one Maharaja always ushered in Plurals in the system where profile of vote-casters remains unanalyzed. Hats off to the enactor who brought the state into the fold of Indian Administrative Service and instituted K.A.S- selection based and conferred one, that gave birth to another type of Maharajas in our state of J&K.
         

Regality of these Scores of Maharajas, strutting in the guise of public representatives and public servants; Ministers and bureaucrats, is not less by any measure and complacence of people is such that unmoved they are by the ranking among corrupt states, unconcerned they seem about the system that allows the ilk to grow at the expense of common sufferers. The foul system is nurtured meticulously by the beneficiaries- both direct and indirect, and foolproof justifications are given to perpetuate it; convincingly befooling even the well meaning ones to shore the belief ki marz laillaj hai. Rebels who muster courage to voice concern out of synteresis are treated as outcasts and silenced by myriad threats - open and gloved. 

In this sad situation, where transparency, accountability, justice, good governance, pro-people deliverance and many such words are losing their purport as well as creditability, the hope pinned to young blood got a boost with the recent news that the government in place has decided to begin a head-hunting process for pooling a proficient team with impeccable track record, to implement developmental programmes. However one wishes the same could be applied to public representatives as well and conditions conducive enough for allowing the intentions to translate into reality should fructify with silence of ghamkhars of Qaum busy fishing in troubled waters. 

How postings into coveted department/ office -that changes attitude, status, life style and the assets are managed by lobbyism, recommendations, favourtism and many other tools are fairly well known. And naturally departure from such Jannet-e-Benazeer often turns to be a sad event for them. One sometimes ponders whether the world can go without these Tote Kouls? The shahi darbars our minister hold every morning & every evening are a sight to behold and the so called courtesy-calls of subordinate officers are good subjects for investigative journalism. Probably there is nothing wrong with these privileges of democratic setup as they are the wages and perks these sons of our soil have dreamt of ever since they started their forays in the field of politics with slogan-shouting front rankers and in bureaucracy. It is the fruit of their long toil. After all the period of selfless Gandhi has ended long back. Now it is a lucrative business wherein they have invested with the hope of manifold returns.

Without naming any specific person or department or even touching any mega issue even small areas of concern if addressed in right spirit would yield dividends, that too if initiated by any citizen journalist, investing a little time and energy. Just pan and zoom near the gates of four prestigious schools of Srinagar City or the  few market hubs and you will find that , not grey, but proverbial white  elephant like government vehicles  are for these Maharajas, their  queens(ranis & patranis ), nawab zadas, princesses and even kheinsamas & servants borne by state exchequer, - mostly under class IV  category  of employees. Be it marriage season, family outings or Taaziyet majalis these mahrajas and other royal family members arrive in Government Vehicles with puffed pride and all finery- unaffordable otherwise, while the poor driver curses his belly fire. Not to speak of pageantry of ministerial entourages of bee lined official vehicles thronging official functions of little worth.

The expenditure under POL, repairs & maintenance, T.A, D.A of all class I and II officers (note: rest, especially field workers, have long forgotten bus TA chapter) if computed would reveal how spend thrift we are; that too when little productive work is actually done. This staggering amount could be easily saved by ferrying them in super deluxe buses of SRTC as presently their residential accommodations and work places are not so scattered; besides the office timings are constant. Small vehicles should be permitted specifically for official tours/ work and frequent air travels to visit family on official pretext should be stopped. Logic says the expenditure on travel of all sorts should be restricted to 5-10 % of salary and misuse of official vehicle should be declared a punishable crime. Any vehicle allotted to government office, other than essential services, if seen plying after office hours, should be confiscated when found deficit of requisite permission and the erring officer as well as the driver should be punished. In this blighted and impoverished state of ours we need fiscal management in honest sense and beginning can be made with austerity measures.
Is any body listening?