As we know, proverbs are short and crisp clichés expressing a truth or a piece of advice based on wisdom, teachings or experiences of earlier generations, generally accepted over a period of time. They are metaphors which summarise and communicate a deeper and comprehensive meaning or messages like certain recommended ground rules of good conduct or virtues. School children are taught about proverbs because examples simplify understanding of the underlying meaning or message and are not easily forgotten.
But in today’s world, have these age old proverbs retained the same meanings or have they started to become irrelevant? Has the deep-rooted cynicism thanks to decades of rule by incompetent, myopic, arrogant and brazenly corrupt governments made us interpret the ‘truth or pieces of advice’ rolled in proverbs in a manner altogether different from the known or intended ones? Here’s a ‘funny side up’ look at some of the well known proverbs.
1. Proverb: Ask no questions and you will be told no lies.
Interpretation: Despite overwhelming - and at times, conclusive – evidence, including that captured on camera, politicians accused of corruption always blatantly lie, vehemently deny any wrongdoing and cry out loud that all allegations are false, baseless, intended at character assassination and opposition’s conspiracy. Some even throw a challenge that if allegations are proved, they would quit politics! So, if public, activists, media or Courts do not ask any questions to politicians about their involvement in corruption and scams, they will be told no lies in reply.
2. Proverb: Charity begins at home.
Interpretation: Politicians and their families set up NGOs or trusts for philanthropic purposes and betterment of society, which collect lakhs in grants from the government’s social welfare departments and even donations from public. These NGOs / trusts which are controlled and managed from ‘home’, exercise complete control over the funds and use them first for betterment of the lives of the ‘home’ owners. At times, some portion of the funds is also spent on the purposes for which they were raised! Charity thus begins at home and even ensures praise for the politicians and family for their acts of philanthropy.
3. Proverb: A black hen lays a white egg.
Interpretation: Expressing very strong anti-racist sentiments, this proverb seeks to drive home the message that money is money, irrespective of its colour! The most prominent followers of this teaching are politicians, business tycoons, anti social elements and other powerful people. They firmly believe that value of money has zero correlation with its colour. That is why they regularly and effortlessly convert black money into white and vice versa... and in the process, multiply it too! Sadly, this non-discriminatory approach towards the colour of money is looked down upon by everyone else!!
4. Proverb: A man is known by the company he keeps.
Interpretation: Corporatisation of politics and politicisation of corporations is today the norm. Powerful politicians grant favours, approvals, concessions and exemptions to companies of friendly businessmen, notwithstanding the rules and satisfaction of eligibility criteria. They thus wield the power to determine a company’s fortunes and consequently its value. A politician, by virtue of his position, snaps up equity in such companies at par in the initial stages, as his 'fee' and offloads it once the value soars up. He remains invested and mints money from profitable companies and gets rid of companies which start losing value for any reason. He is thus a man well known for the 'company' he keeps.
And finally...
5. Proverb: Practice makes a man perfect.
Interpretation: Not everyone in a plum posting can do full 'justice' to it and exploit its 'potential' to the fullest. To actually do it without raising suspicion for a long time or to deftly handle storms that kick up, cannot be learnt in a jiffy. It takes years of hard toil and possibly some not so successful attempts before one can claim to have mastered or perfected the art. The ability to remain unfazed and unruffled during crisis when the whole world is asking for your head is equally important and can only be painstakingly learnt. Seasoned politicians are therefore able to pull off corruption, scams and scandals with style and consummate ease and also get away unscathed from the clutches of law, having perfected the modus operandi by years of rigorous practice they have put in!
Haha! Superlike :)
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