Dichotomy

One day, two guest lectures and I found my mood swinging from absolute happiness and pride to sheer disappointment. Both luminaries, of course, the one who disappointed was the bigger of the two.

When Vineel Krishna stood before us and went through his harrowing kidnap episode, our hearts went out for him. His unassuming persona, practical thoughts on how to deal with the most burning issues in the nation and the uncorrupted brilliant mind swept me away.   The presentation was pithy, though not presented in the most ‘charming’ way the other distinguished speakers say out here at the Sampoornanad Auditorium, but made the most sense of all talks I have heard till now. In the one hour long discussion he had, he proved beyond doubt that its little common sense and courage which are the only essentials to make a mark in the service. For the very first time since I made it here, I found a purpose. I found a reason to be proud and also a hope of going ahead and excelling in a field which I feel is fit to be my life’s purpose.

As though mocking my initial euphoria, the next session was by the editor of "the journalism of courage"- the same newspaper to which my loyalty is unquestioned, even though I know it sucks now, that too due to him. Now returned the ‘charm’ of public speaking, which poor Vineel must take tips from, and few bouts of drama to make the audience go gaga. The session smacked of moral arrogance and I was disappointed. Well, come on, we know who are the stooges of whom, but don’t test our intellectual abilities to such an extent that we have to see you take defence of your favourite ‘anchor superia’ with whom the buck , apparently never stops. Also, an audience of future civil servants does expect a balanced  and uninhibited view – that too from the editor in chief of a newspaper which stood for all the desirable values , which gave hope to the common man oppressed under emergency and which relentlessly brought out investigative reports, redefining journalism in this country. I really could not gauge the general acceptance of the lecture, but a certain question asked by a friend truly made me happy. I salute his guts to dislodge the hypocrite. I’m happy at least a few have views which do not augur to the conformist ‘bureaucratic structure’ here!