A sordid drama hinged on greed

Away in the depths of Madhya Pradesh, one is spared the speculative tidbits of news that adorn the newspapers in our country. Local papers talked of a discord in the Ambani family which, like all family disputes, would end either with a reconciliation between the brothers or a division of the spoils.

It was refreshing not to have to read vague speculation based on company handouts, something our press has gotten used to, about what was happening within the empire…no one really knows and there has been no real ?investigative? story.

All the reports, in all the newspapers, are similar. Boring, with noth-ing new, no different interpretation.

What comes across the footlights in this sordid drama themed on greed is a Mukesh Ambani consciously having said what he did, asserting his big brother status like all-Hindu joint family big brothers do, wanting to call all the shots, allowing for no dissension whatsoever, with a board that appears to have fallen in line with the diktat.

Is this the big bully syndrome? Anil Ambani?s quiet, dignified reaction to his bro-ther?s statement seems to have got him many brownie points, and is in sharp contrast to happenings in Act 1, Scene 1. Being exploited by an elder brother is not something that is applauded by most. Wanting to ?grab? it all is looked upon with disdain.

Why shouldn?t they split? Why shouldn?t Anil Ambani be given his due and share?

If the family cannot sit across a table and solve the issue, get an international arbiter. The story is becoming monotonous, with a trifle too many self-proclaimed arbiters.

Today, support groups are forming on both sides, preparing for the tug of war, selfishly for their own spoils. Insin-uations about which brother the Congress party is supporting are flying about the corridors of Delhi. Mythical meetings are being dissected with authority! The question is, why do the Ambanis need any such political support? They are much too successful to have to descend to scurrying about for political acceptance.

A gigantic contemporary international company should set new parameters of corporate governance and transparency and not be seen squabbling over the division of the spoils. And if big brother is playing big brother, he should be ensuring that, not orchestrating what appears to be a grabbing of controls.

Back into ?uncivilisation,? from a pristine time on the banks of the Narmada, Indore airport was a rude reminder of an urban India that just does not work the way it should. Municipalities are dead and do nothing at all. Streets are sewers. Traffic is a perpetual snarl. A cacophony of car and bus horns envelop the space around. Policemen in uniform stand about aimlessly, constantly scratching themselves.

Once in the aircraft, the freeloaders who travel on the taxpayers money, the politician and his/her bureaucrat, get the aisle seats and are treated like VIPs while full fare-paying passengers are treated like dirt.

It is pathetic that our leaders do not recognise the crassness of their manner and style and continue to be oblivious about their unfortunate beha-viour. One cannot look up to most of them with any sense of respect, one can only look down upon them and hope that the future will bring some grace and dignity into public life through civilised and appropriate behaviour of our representatives.

Small wonder that no correctives happen?politicians and bureaucrats have everyone fawning on them and are never confronted with the horrors of everyday life and living. They are more feudal than the royals of yore.

The second lead story?that of the seer?has left Hindus across the country indifferent and cold. They see it as a part of life. They are philosophical about his alleged shenanigans. Some seers do it right, others do it wrong.

That is the greatness of the faith. Rabble-rousing on this issue, trying to garner political mileage, does not go down well with the average Hindu. Mercifully, the seer has be-come just another story. And, thank the lord for that.