Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The ‘Power’ Game

Every one is aware that ‘Power corrupts all’ but now we have also come to know that ‘Discretionary power’ makes the person more powerful. Discretionary power to allot prime land, government bungalows at prime location, allotment of petrol pumps and the list goes on like a never ending ‘Akshaya Patra’. A chief Minister having discretionary power can grab land and allot them to his kith &  kin at throw away price and no amount of hue and cry can challenge his authority. Their prerogative becomes their pride and prejudice for not so lucky one.

I fail to understand why opposition parties make such a noise, disrupting legislative assembly or the parliament. After all they too get chance to come to the power to make good the loss. Who else does not (mis)use his or her discretionary authority? Government officials and police personals use government vehicles for going to market, cinema or dropping their children to school, Theatre owners use their discretionary power to issue complimentary passes,  School/College authorities keep some seats vacant for hefty donors, journalist keep writing about somebody they want to promote hence why blame the politician alone.
The power of Tamil Nadu chief Minister/s is different from other states. Here who so ever is in power, the ministers and public alike, likes to treat them as powerful God having huge discretionary power and they like to fall on their feet again and again wherever they go. It reminds me of Emergency period of India when ministers were asked to bend, they started crawling!

If you think that only we are blessed with this discretionary power, then think hard again. Do not be surprised if I tell you that even our Gods have different level of powers. There is a ‘Visa Balaji’ temple in Hyderabad where if you go and pray the lord, getting visa becomes very easy surpassing all the hassles of going to consulates! There is no dearth of Balaji temples in our country but this one has special discretionary power to grant Visa. I heard that similarly a ‘Hanuman Temple’ exists some where in Northern India specializing in Visa.

There are some powerful Devi temples where a childless woman can get conceived after prayers there or a powerful ‘Shani’ Temple like the one at Thirunallar near Pondicherry to ward off all your problems. Not all Devi or Shani temple Gods have this charismatic discretionary power bestowed upon them. Who has not heard of ‘Siddhi Vinayaka temple’ of Mumbai which is patronized by our Bollywood fraternity for its super power which the next door/ street Vinayaka temple has not got. People throng the Tirupathi Balji temple with their long list of demands and wishes in lieu of all their ill gotten wealth in return, but the Balaji temple next to my house does not attract the same crowd.

In short, it’s all in the game-The Power game. More the power, more the powerful one is, be it a politician or the God.

16 comments:

  1. You are so right about the power games that people play. But since power also corrupts most mortals, today we have an overdose of corrupt people in all walks of life. As for the Opposition disrupting Parliamentary proceedings, it knows that there is no chance of it ever coming to power to enjoy the spoils of being in office, given the stranglehold that the dynasty has over the country's politics. So it is a case of sour grapes for them :)

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  2. Wonderful post. I liked the fact you stated that everybody will get their chance, why make noice.

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  3. Corruption has become ingrained in our system. It is just the matter of those who have power and those who don't. The same set of power-have nots will change like chameleon when they acquire power. Not everyone but most. We can see that in our own day to day life, when one has a little bit of power in his day to day life actions, they tend to take advantage of it.

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  4. The opposition raises a stink because they are saddened that they they lost out on their share.

    Is there a God who can bless me with discretionary powers? Any recommendations?

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  5. with due respect to all the gods and their awesome power, no comments :)

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  6. Suddenly Discretionary power is THE word!!

    And, yes, what analogy, great! from politicians to Gods! good one!

    RESTLESS

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  7. You raise a valid point with "discretionary powers".

    As for why some temples are more attractive than others is the publicity (through word of mouth or others) and the belief of the people. You may be okay to visit God (and not the temple!). But most of the people would love to visit a God who reciprocates. The reciprocation is merely a perception. :)

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  8. We still continue to try and bribe the GOD as wqell.

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  9. Power has always been misused by the people who don't deserve it at the first place. Nice read.

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  10. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power....
    Regards...irfan

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  11. i dont know about god but yes human will is sensitive and corrupt most.

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  12. well written
    Discretionary power equals to do legal corruption or rob own nation without punishment

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  13. an interesting way of looking at power games.

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