Thursday, May 2, 2013

To Kill A Rocking Word




Words can kill as good as a gun, but we seem to be killing words minus guns. While most kosher words are dead, others have lost meaning. Some have been mutilated so badly that they have become jokes. For example, look at what we have done to the word enquiry. ‘An enquiry will reveal all’, says supremely efficient Shinde in his signature bumbling style. Hello sir? Even the most naïve in remote Jharkhand is aware that an enquiry equals sham. Despite the grammar and spell check, if any worthwhile fiction is being written today, it is in the fact finding reports of investigations.No wonder people are on the streets and justice is gasping for breath.

Then we have more than generous sprinkling of secularism. Notwithstanding the thesaurus definition, secularism today means appeasement. “We will not allow ‘sampradayik takats’ to come to  power,” say the champions of secularism. Those singing the siren song of secularism have shoved such huge amounts of secularism in our eyes that we are now semi-blind with deceit.

This brings me to another dead gem - Principle. “Those are my principles, and well, if you don’t like them…..I have others,” said Marx. Did he have a premonition or what? The word has been trampled and mutilated so often, that it is officially buried. Try using the word in your speech and I promise you a Lok Sabha ticket from any constituency.

Accountability passed away recently. It was killed with help of a remote control. Accidental leaders say ‘Power is poison,’ and yet continue to hold the remote and drink copious amounts of poison. Since accountability died, we must be the only country headed by a silent man of honor presiding over the most inept government.

Debate is not dead. Yet. But it has lost meaning. Debate is synonymous with trading accusations, ending on a note that several wrongs make a right. If you hear a citizen laughing hysterically, he is either watching a debate in the house or on prime time.

The lashings of morality and integrity are the worst. Morality died decades ago, but has become a joke posthumously. When was the last time someone said, ‘I resign on moral grounds’? According to the contemporary thesaurus, morality equals total, unadulterated, hypocrisy. Try using the word in your daily conversation. People will think you are either an alien or Sherlyn Chopra.

Is it any surprise that after the demise of principles, enquiry, and accountability, governance is missing in action?

While kosher words are dying, rogue words stay true to their nature. Scam, injustice, rape, barbarism, brutality and terror are alive and kicking. Scam being the most popular, it is raining scams. Left, Right and West Bengal. Is it any surprise that the met department has promised a normal monsoon?

Why did we allow this to happen?

We can debate the issue. Or maybe an enquiry will reveal all.


Picture Courtesy: Google Images (www.someecards.com)
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38 comments:

  1. Well, what can one add to that? You said it all by using living and dead words!

    Though I must add this - the brilliant combustion of RTI and TRP-led media have exposed how this country has been run for decades. Power corrupts absolutely everyone in this country. And now, the government and the bureaucracy have wizened up to the point that they have decided to not take any decisions at all.

    Meanwhile, the only thing that hasn't changed is the woes of the poor in this country. The middle class anger is drama and hysterics. We are angry, but not enough to take to the streets and miss out our favourite TV serial.

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    1. Yes,RTI and media activism have exposed scams which were there all along. We are angry and there is no credible alternative.

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  2. A very thoughtful post. A new dictionary is required to be circulated

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  3. Hard hitting and true. Is there any hope for our country? I think there are some sentences that our leaders have mugged up that they vomit with a vengeance. Sick and tired of the situation.

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  4. Now that is using words to communicate your point - in a novel manner.

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  5. I agree with all that you have and don't debate the contents of your article :) As usual, awesome :)

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  6. This is awesome description. You seem to have presented the picture quite clearly. Today's scenario does mimc a lot like the ones we were shocked to see years back in the Lok Sabha when satellite TV entered our lives. Today the shock has turned to disgust but the scenario has'nt changed much!

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  7. Political verbiage changed long ago....but we had seen it coming? Didn't we? I don't think this is a sudden change. The last line is the punch!!

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    1. The anger is due to the lack of governance and the cynicism comes from the fact that there is no credible alternative.

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  8. Survival of the fittest! This was Hitler's favorite quote too :O

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  9. It's always such a pleasure to read what you have to say.

    And IMHO awesome is the most abused word.

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  10. Agree Alka most of these words now lie draped and entombed in a coffin. Thankfully, Sherlyn Chopra is at least honest about what she wants :)

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  11. Socrates often said-the misuse of language induces evil in the soul
    looks like he was right back then
    that's the only thing that's happening these days.. Sheer misuse

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  12. This is a very great post! I enjoyed reading this very much.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  13. Great style of writing. Absolutely superb. I do not know how can I convince you about my appreciation !!
    Authority (SAIL, GAIL etc), Heavy(BHEL), Commission (ONGC) are some great adjectives in our PSU.

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  14. Awesome, amazing, terrific, mind-blowing; you rock!

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  15. Hard hitting, but a perfect image of the situation in our country.

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  16. Wow! That sure was one relevant outburst!!

    Well said!

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  17. What is the symbol to express that I can only laugh impotently at all this?!
    nothing to add here...creative observation on the rise of some words though!

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  18. And what about the word 'Democracy'? Does that mean anything in the world today? I think it is only a word that defines a stain on our finger when we vote. A stain that we have to live with for the next 5 years.

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    1. Democracy has become a burden. I am hoping it is not dead. Yet.

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  19. Such a perfect post depicting what we all are thinking. It doesnt even matter anymore what the public wants. Even with so much proof, still there is neither shame nor accountability.
    Gimme a choice between a ManMohan Singh, a Shinde and a totally burqa-clad Sherlyn Chopra and I would still prefer to be with Sherlyn Chopra anyday.. atleast there there is a sense of frankness and honesty. No smugness that 'we can do anything we feel like and get away with it.'

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  20. Partly true. Can't blame it all on the polity.

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  21. That is good observation and compilation of facts!

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