It is all about perception!

Sashi Tharoor is in the news or should I say was news! While he is no more making the front pages, he is trying his best. Latest is that he is asking for a thorough investigation of the Kochi affair. We all know he is very smart with a long track record with the UN. But I hope he is doing the right thing.

He still maintains that what he and his 'J' did was just incorruptible mentoring! But, as I have learnt, it is all about perceptions! Reminds me of my own experiences. Mine was with the police not politicians!

A few times I have strayed by mistake into a one way street, a very common occurrence in Bengaluru! Experienced drivers seem know when the cops are not around to catch and fine them! Even school kids help by warning these errant drivers about cops hiding behind a tree ahead of them. Once I saw a lady driver, who heeded this warning, backing out of the one way street under the benevolent eyes of the cops ! I thought it was very chivalrous of them! It would have been easier on others if they had just let her go thru! Happily even I have escaped being fined a few times by acting confused, which I was, and contrite!

But I also had to pay a couple of times. Once I was taken in by the cop. I stopped at the junction as I was not sure which way to go. May be I was a yard beyond the line, but still within acceptable limits. The cop ahead made a sign and I thought he was allowing me to pass. As I neared him, he stopped me and fined me. They have blackberries to do this job!

I protested saying that it was not fair as he could have just asked me to turn left! But he was not in a mood to listen. Then I noticed that there were more of them on duty including a sub-inspector a little away on a motorbike. Which meant it was a collection day and there was no hope of mercy! Anyway my cop appeared to be a new recruit and I was probably his first Bhakra! (Victim). He looked very thrilled!

The other day, I was fined again and it was the day Sashi Tharoor offered to resign. It happened this way! As I just crossed the line at the junction the traffic light changed and I slowed down a bit and then thinking that as I had already crossed the line, I could go through! Wrong!

As I turned right I saw a horde of policemen hiding behind the pillars of the flyover and I was stopped! I tried to tell them I would have created more problems by stopping! I think they understood that but it was again a collection day and I paid up!

What did me in was the slight hesitation! It was an admission of my guilt according to the cop. He said that I definitely had jumped the light. 'I saw you slow down and then speed up to jump the red light'! 'Not expected of a senior citizen' he added! It was at this moment I realised that I was being as naive as our friend ST! The priorities are very different here, when we deal with either policemen or politicians!

In fact, I was very surprised at Tharoor's very smooth and successful return to India. I guess even the congress party leaders went naive! As any NRI knows, especially when trying to come back to contribute their expertise (Not money!) the path is not that smooth!

We are told frankly that our experience abroad has no meaning here.In fact, they may be counter productive! A typical NRI who is hired to work here has to go through a period of total reconditioning before he is vested with any real responsibility!

Anyway I have high hopes for Sashi, I am sure he will bounce back and do good in the long term! Our only hope of creating a Ramrajya in India is to people politics with persons who have values, which is at the moment is full of the other types. More of Ravanas and Shurpankas, people who play negative roles, as to day there are no villains!