The Daddy Syndrome

Everyone in India believes that they are famous,wealthy,powerful and connected.

A disturbing case of amnesia seems to have affected thousands of affluent youngsters across India. These rich brats speed around recklessly,violate traffic rules,and when stopped by a policeman,insolently ask if he knows who their father is.

Now,the poor traffic constable clearly has no clue as to who could have sired such an impertinent twit. It takes a while for him to realise that this is actually a rhetorical question designed to instil awe and invoke fear in the minds of minions who are used to genuflecting before wealth and power. The cop is expected to quiver at the prospect of being suspended by his superiors for having had the temerity to haul up the son of an influential man. He,therefore,humbly salutes as the smug brat speeds off,unpunished.

In rare cases,when the constabulary refuse to kowtow before arrogant youngsters,it makes their influential fathers very angry indeed. A recent drive by the Mumbai Police against tinted car windows resulted in a senior policemans son being stopped for violating the law. Bruised egos came into play and daddy dearest soon became embroiled in a nasty blame game with a lady cop as matters spun out of control. This familiar scenario is played out on a daily basis across India. Everybody believes they are famous,wealthy,powerful and connected. And so,the rules should not apply to them and their extended families.

Increasingly,we read of spoilt brats who are involved in ugly disputes with their siblings and parents over their share of the family fortune. Some money-grabbing offsprings have no compunction in throwing their aged parents out of homes since they believe the roof they jointly reside under rightfully belongs to them. As a nation,we have grown up on tales of filial devotion like that of Shravan Kumar who carried his blind parents around in a basket and are horrified when we hear stories of a son acting so callously.

It doesnt take a genius to figure out that the problem fundamentally lies with the parents. As Indians,we work hard to create wealth,intending to leave it all to our children so that they can enjoy the luxuries of life. This has given a generation of wealthy Indian youth a sense of enormous entitlement. Ironically,the very parents who mollycoddled their kids and instilled this sense of arrogance and entitlement suffer a backlash.

As I write this rant,a box of chocolates arrives at my desk from actor Imran Khan,who has recently moved out of the building I reside in. The enclosed letter apologises to all the residents for any inconvenience he may have caused and thanks us for not calling the cops despite the fact that his loud,late-night parties might have disturbed our sleep. It is a gracious,humble note written by an impeccably brought-up young man. I am reminded of a photo in the papers from a few days ago of his uncle,the superstar Aamir Khan wrapped in a simple sheet,leaving for Haj with his mother,whom he had promised to take on this pilgrimage.

I realise that wealth,power,influence and fame cannot corrupt you if are brought up with the right values and principles. And that some Bollywood actors can still serve as role models for the youth.

samarofdiscontent@gmail.com

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