Economic prosperity of a nation is generally reflected in the lifestyle of the people — comfortable house, branded dress and jewellery, eating out in best (costly!) restaurants and also travelling by cars, luxury coaches, I class trains or by Air.
Looking at the rush of people travelling by Air, all over the world, one gets the feeling that the much - talked - about global economic melt - down is sham. People are booking tickets for air travel months in advance, the Business Class and Executive Classes are also going full despite the ticket cost which is two or three times that of the Economy Class.
Air travel is no more a pleasure to boast of with less fortunate relatives and friends. The check - in, the security check where you are made to remove even your shoes, wrist watch etc., the finger printing and taking photograph without glasses by the immigration authorities of the visiting countries all add up to the trauma. Now passing through the Immigration too has become a daunting experience. Some are made to wait in the interrogation room for hours and their length of stay in the US too is reduced.
Air hostesses and the crew members are just like hotel waiters with more salary. They are no longer younger and beautiful to please the eyes of the traveller and make the heart miss a beat with a wow.
As for food in Aircraft, ouch. Quality has gone down. But not in all flights — did you get me Steve? Only on selected routes. And then what is this nonsense of a "Hindu meal"? Vegetarian meal, I was told. Are all Hindus vegetarians? Some boiled vegetable, half - cooked rice, cold dal and the like. I never asked for it and I told the Airhostess so. She was polite. "I understand Sir. But Sir, your Travel Agent must have made a mistake." So saying, she breezed through the aisle and came back with the muck of a dinner. Either the Travel Agent or the Airlines itself must be presumptuous about the choice of food of a passenger travelling from India.
In the 60s', 70s' and even 80s' staying in a 5 - Star Hotel was a great experience right from the lobby. The bell - boy would lead you to the front office clerk who would greet you with an elastic smile, opening lips revealing gleaming teeth from left molar to right molar. The guest register or form is filled saying "just sign here sir" thus freeing the guest from the writing labour. The room key is given to the bell - boy who would accompany you with or without the luggage, show you the “operational system” and facilities in the room and then depart picking a “bakshish”.
Now – a - days you are not an “important” guest at all. That may be in the advertisements. Your check - in is without grace or smile. "Fill the form," says the front office clerk pushing the sheet towards you, demands your credit card or cash in advance and gives an electronic card, the key to the room, and turns away. You get into the security lift which you operate yourself by using the room card and that is it. You are a faceless guest and a faceless air - traveller. You have nothing to brag about your air - travel or a 5 - Star Hotel stay these days. My recent visit to the US proved this situation abundantly for me. Let it be.
Having gone to Bangalore in the morning for the evening flight, I thought I should meet that one Honest Bureaucrat in flesh and blood and spend some time with him talking. The bureaucrat was the retired former Home Secretary and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India C. G. Somiah, whose autobiographical book I had reviewed in Star of Mysore in three or four installments. Asked for an appointment, his wife said that was not possible as he was admitted to the Manipal Hospital with breathing problems which had recurred. I was discouraged to meet him in that state — mask, ventilator etc. However, I decided that I should see him and my son helped me. His wife was as much surprised as Somiah himself. He lifted the mask and showed the courtesy of saying just "Hello" and a few words with his outstretched hand for a hand shake. I spoke to his wife for a couple of minutes, wished speedy recovery and left.
Earlier, I asked my son to drive me to his house in HAL 3rd Stage to find out what kind of a house such a famous bureaucrat lives in after retirement. I was shocked. 60'x40' site. Small, non - architect designed house sandwiched between other giants. I figure he might not even have a high - end car. I thought aloud: Such an important person. How it would be when some VIP from Delhi or abroad wants to visit him in his house!
I learn the site was allotted to him by the BDA but it could have allotted at least a 50' x 80' site respecting his stature. Well, being “honest”, he did not use his “office” for his own benefit. Now I learn poor Somiah was first allotted the 60' x 40' site in a Godforsaken Layout and it was only later when he saw the site personally, that he requested for shifting.
His book “The Honest Always Stand Alone” must be doing well in sales. I myself got a couple of requests and I directed them to the publisher. Other day I read in Deccan Chronicle about the author Sarita Mandanna, a Coorg lady, reading Somiah's book. She is the author of her debut novel “Tiger Hills” with Coorg theme which was published recently bringing her millions of dollars. She recommends the book as good. Incidentally, she is accused of selective plagiarism from another book with Coorg theme “Scent of Pepper” by another Coorg lady Kavery Nambisan. I saw this in Tehelka magazine and found there was no substance in the allegation. The sample given in the article is simply absurd. That way every author is a plagiarist for you find the words formed using the 26 alphabets of the english language in every book. A malicious accusation. A case of making a mountain out of a mole hill.
