BE THAT BOOT LICKER

It was during my internship time in 2020.  There was some friction between a particular teacher and our batch. The context of conflict being, a redundant punishment some of my batchmates got for a minor mistake that they did. It was like what you say -  killing a fly with a canon.I wouldn't go into the details of this. 

Anyways, the batch decided to take this matter seriously. The way our batchmates were treated was completely unfair. I don't intend to demonise that teacher by writing this blog. But there's a lesson I learnt from the sequence of events that unfolded after this issue, which I am trying to share. I highly respect this particular teacher, but none of us are saints!

So we planned to approach the Director of the institute who was indubitably 'Student friendly'. And somehow we managed to take advantage of it as well, I would say. Anyways we approached him and I happen to handle a letter (which was authored by me) over to him with my batchmates signatures on it. That letter was kind of like politely slapping a person!!! 

It was written on it -" If you don't take action, we will approach the higher authorities ".  BOOM !That was an attack in wide day light to the ego of the head of a medical institute (which was quite explicit by the noble words that came out of his noble mouth after reading that letter) ! And that too by whom? A person who doesn't even have a KMC registration number yet.

He said and I quote - " ...Don't we have ego? You want to approach higher authority..Go on.. You want to approach MLA, CM, PM... Let's see.. Why have you come here if you want to approach higher authority?" Although the letter was on behalf of the whole batch, these words were solely directed towards me. I don't know if he knew I wrote that letter, but I definitely dared to hand over a letter like that to him.

My letter might have been an unwise approach to solve this issue, but the issue got resolved. My batchmates were all celebrating. But there were two sad people.

One was of course me, to get screwed so badly. And the other was my friend who happened to lead the clan in approaching the Director (who was also screwed by the way).

Nonetheless I did learn a lifetime lesson from this incident. Sometimes a 'Che guvera' comes out of me, when I see something wrong happening, but I need to keep my 'Che Guevara' in check. Especially while dealing with someone in a higher position of social hierarchy. You need to be diplomatic with them.

Oh.. stop sucking up to people of authority your conscience and integrity might say. But practically speaking, if you want things to run smoothly in society, you need to butter those in authority. I wouldn't say do this to satisfy your personal avarice, but for a greater good of the society, it might be essential.

As a rule of thumb, both the pathway towards power as well as the position of power is dirty and it corrupts a human soul. Historically, an honest ruler has only been  an exception. And to flatter someone who has traded his conscience for power might prick your conscience, but it sometimes becomes essential for you to do it for the benefit of the society. You want a school to run smoothly, you need them. You want a road to be constructed, you need them. You want the drainage system to be repaired, you need them.

Of course! Many ignorant eyes shall pass judgement on you as a boot licker! But if that's what it takes to get some good work done, BE THAT BOOT LICKER!