the Independence Day and the day looked
beautiful and promising. One lady is seen
amongst the crowd. Though she looked
like any normal woman, her noble and
dignified demeanor set her apart from
everyone else in the place. Yet, people
went by without even throwing a glance at
the stately lady. For some reason, she is
invisible to their eyes. She is the Bharat
Mata. Yes, the Mother of India. As she
crossed a building, she heard some voices
and stopped to listen.
Man: Sir, I need a CC for my daughter.
Here is my ration card and the details of
the child’s background.
Narrator: The officer verifies all the
necessary papers.
Officer: Everything’s in order, but for
one….
Man: I don’t understand sir…
Narrator: The officer rings the bell. His
assistant enters.
Officer: Take him out and explain the
procedures here.
Assistant: Yes sir. [After coming out] Give
me 500 rupees. You know the procedure
or what?
Man: But sir… I am from a poor family
and I have enough money only to pay my
child’s school fee and today’s the last day
too. Please sir…
Assistant: Even I have a child who’s been
asking for a new cricket set and I have a
few rupees short. So either hand over the
money or else… well, you know the
process.
Narrator: The man gives away, half-
heartedly.
Assistant: You must attach 200 rupees
along with the details, if you want to get
it signed.
Man: But sir…I…
Assistant: If you are to argue with the
officer like this. He may even tear the CC
in anger and you will never get it.
Narrator: The man hands out the money
bitterly cursing under his breath
Man: They get salary from the
government for doing their jobs and yet…
Don’t know how I’m going to pay my
child’s fee…
Bharat Mata: Goodness… This is
outrageous!
Narrator: But then her spirits rose a
little.
BM: There’ll always be one or two black
sheep everywhere. Let me try some other
place. Surely it’ll be a better story there.
Narrator: She turns towards a building,
hoping it would brighten things up. It was
the Electricity Board Department.
Woman: Sir, I have telephoned and even
launched 3 complaints that the street
lights aren’t working in our street for the
past 4 months. People… especially
children, suffer a lot…
Officer: Sorry ma’am… your complaint
didn’t reach me.
Woman: What do you mean it didn’t
reach you? It was me who had filed them
directly to you, sir! I hope you don’t
expect me to believe what you say!
Officer [to his assistant] : You there…
take this woman out.
Narrator: Outside the office:
Assistant: What’s wrong with you ma’am?
Why don’t you just give him what he asked
for?
Woman: What do you mean?
Assistant: Bribe ma’am, bribe… as you
people call it. If you want your work to
get done, you must give him money.
Woman [indignantly]: This is unfair…
then what is he paid by the government
for? Next beggars will start demanding
coins from us!
Assistant: You don’t argue and waste time
here. Either give the money or move
away.
Narrator: Bharat Mata watched as the
woman gave a scathing look at the
electricity board and gave the money to
the office assistant. She looked near
hopeless and crestfallen. Just then, she
overhears a conversation between a rich
man and another officer from the income
tax department.
Rich Man: Tax… What the hell should I
pay the government for? It’s just like
throwing the money into a bottomless
well. I’m not dependent on them anyway…
Narrator: His cell phone rings
IT officer: Sir, there’s going to be an
income tax raid in your home, tonight at
8.00PM. It’s secretly arranged, so be
prepared, sir.
Rich Man: Right… I’ll see to it.
IT officer: Meanwhile pay some attention
on this poor man, sir…
Rich Man: Sure… It’ll be done.
Narrator: Later, the IT officer’s wife calls
him on phone.
IT officer: Hello?
Wife: Everything has reached us safely. All
the appliances are from good companies.
I think our child will be very happy with
her new laptop.
BM [forlornly]: I never expected this…
Even the family members, who are
supposed to advice these corrupt officials
against this vice, are supporting them.
Where are the leaders who are responsible
for all this disorder and chaos??
Narrator: Just then, she perceived a
crowd of supporters following a politician.
The throng was going from house to
house. In one house…
Politician [slyly]: I’m a candidate in this
upcoming general election. I need your
votes to win, so please do vote for me.
Here is a compliment from me, for your
support.
Narrator: He hands out a 1000 rupee
note and the poor man gets it, without
any expression in his face. At this, Bharat
Mata’s mind began to swirl. Politicians
bribing people, people bribing officials,
officials bribing politicians, politicians
bribing people… It seemed like a cycle
that will never end. But then, something
the poor man did made her look up.
Poor man: We’re not selling our votes