Career!

Dadaji was enraged over the repeated poor academic results of Mani, his grandson. This year Mani came 21^st in his eighth grade exam. Dadaji decided to talk to Murad, his son, over the ever deteriorating results of Mani. In the meanwhile he went to Mani’s room to have a chat with the kid to ascertain the real cause of the problem. Mani was as usual busy playing games on computer.

I’m gonna make complaint to your Dad, said Dadaji.

About what Dadu? Without taking his eyes off the computer screen, Mani asked.

You are not putting up serious effort in your studies. It won’t put you anywhere; you would never succeed in life and may end up doing some clerical job, Dadaji warned.

But Dadu! I overheard Abbu saying to Ammi that this country doesn’t need good, honest and hardworking people anymore. Degrees, attractive jobs and lucrative positions are on sale. One just need a degree, no matter it is real or fake to climb the success ladder! Mani replied.

You speak too much. Don’t listen to this rubbish and let me discuss it to your father. I’m afraid he’ll let you become a completely spoilt child, Dadaji said in a stern tone.

Later in the evening Dadaji caught his son over the supper and straight away asked him whether he knew about the poor exam results of Mani!

Yes Papa, I know. He is doing fine. He is far from being regarded as an excellent or brilliant student but then why should he put extra effort when the sole purpose is to obtain a degree. Murad said.

With a shock in Dadaji’s eyes, he asked Murad with sarcasm in his tone; so, what profession my grandson would like to take up as a career on your recommendations?

In a country like ours, career in Politics would be ideal, followed by Law and Judiciary; even joining Journalism or an NGO would be equally beneficial. Murad smilingly replied.

And you think these careers can be had without having a good educational background, Dadaji said.

Exactly; Mani will just need a push to enter any of the above fields and there he becomes a successful and powerful person. Murad tries to convince Dadaji.

And how will he earn the degree without studying in a proper way? Dadaji insists.

Abbu! You know that half of our parliamentarians have fake degrees. Those who were caught and disqualified are being re-elected through by-elections. If Mani fails to obtain a fake degree due to prevailing crackdown, we would easily buy him another student to appear for his exams. Even if that doesn’t happen, we can obtain Mani’s grades according to our wishes from the Educational Board.

What do you aim for exactly by planning to get him into politics? Dadaji asked him again.

Abbu! let Mani complete his so called studies and earn a degree. We’ll send him to England for a few months for learning English and other managerial / oratory skills. I want him to contest elections from our ancestral town where we have a large following of our servants, farmers, friends etc. Once he reaches the Assembly, fame, respect, and power will follow him, while abundance of wealth is just a by-product, Murad smiles meaningfully.

Good; that means all my moral education to you regarding service to the poor, honesty, patriotism, etc. went into vain, Dadaji said dejectedly.

Abbu; please try to understand. Times have changed. You can’t survive in this country without having grip over some institutions or power quarters. It’s a need of hour to have at least one family member inducted in any of the above professions. Even people prefer to send their children into Army and Police.

Now please, don’t speak of these noble professions aimed at serving the nation on internal and external frontiers whereas you are taking them as sources of influence and vice motives, Dadaji commented in a complaining tone.

Abbu, you are still living in older times. Do you know which institution has a larger stake in the real estate business across the country? Didn’t you hear the joke that longstanding issue of Kashmir can be resolved instantly once our government decides to go for allotment of plots to our “Jawans” in held-Kashmir?