Good Work, Goa Police!

Unlike my other posts, this one is not humorous, introspective, sarcastic or reflective. This one is a grim, true story.

Often, we hear of incompetence, shoddiness, bungling and apathy on part of the Police - whether in Goa or elsewhere. It may stem from a lack of skills, lack of willingness, lack of diligence, lack of integrity, whatever... you get the picture. And it's a rather prevalent picture.

The same "energy" that fuels my angst when I hear of such incidents is fueling my obligation now - along with other factors - to recognize and publicize some outstanding work that Goa Police did this week.

Earlier this week, on 19th Sept., a 10-year-old was kidnapped from outside his school in Margao, at 1:30PM. Goa Police employed a combination of good old police work and surprising tact & professionalism instead of plain force to effect a successful rescue and nab the pieces of human garbage that perpetrated this crime. In just about 4 hours, the boy was rescued and by 8:30PM he was home after a 25km. journey and after completing all the police paperwork and procedures.

To cut a long story short, Goa Police swung into action in no time. They deployed 4 teams of plain-clothes policemen, hired 4 private cars so as to not arouse suspicion, worked with cell service providers to trace the call and place a real-time track on the kidnappers' movements and had clearly anticipated possible moves by the kidnappers. They reportedly sealed the borders as well when the cell movement indicated an eastward path. Indeed, the final rescue required them to move to Plan B since the kidnappers put paid to Plan A at the last minute. Whether they did go in with a Plan B in the first place or not, they did come up with one.

Moreover, going by all reports, all this happened without any reward being offered or sought. And no strings pulled. The victim reached out and Goa Police answered their call of duty.

While one does not want such incidents happening anywhere to anyone, hopefully, this will raise the bar. And hence, confidence. Of Goa Police in itself and of the public at large. Hopefully, the perpetrators will remain behind bars without any attempts by "vested interests" to "influence" a milder outcome. Hopefully, this will become Goa Police's norm and will extend to spheres other than child-related crimes as well.

Good work, Goa Police! I salute you on this one.

India Against Corruption. Really?

Scene 1: Borim Bridge Toll Plaza (when toll was still being collected)
Actors: X, a well-to-do businessman, driving his car; my father, the co-passenger.

X pulls out a small chit from the glove compartment that resembles the toll ticket, holds it up through the windshield and without rolling down his window tries to convince the ticket agent that it is in fact a return ticket he had purchased earlier in the day. After all, he asks my Dad, why pay the princely sum of Rs. 6/- for a confounded toll?



Scene 2: ~1998, Goa
Actor: MBA from IIM-C, Regional Sales Manager for Goa for one of India's largest pvt-sector enterprise, talking to his Dad over a phone call

"Aur haan, Daddy, yahan pe driver license chahiye hoga; ek karvake bhej dijiyega" (And oh, yes! I think I'm going to need my Driving License here; please process one and send it to me)


Scene 3: 2007, Conference Room, One of the Largest Pvt. Sector Banks in the country
Actors: Sr. GM - Technology and his cohorts, me and two of my very senior colleagues (including our own GM)

Under CCL from EMSL's Album

(I mentioned the year and "Technology" so you understand the significance of what I am about say). We - about 12 of us - are all seated and awaiting the Sr. GM. He walks in 5 minutes later and to my shock (and that of my colleagues), everyone in the room except my 2 colleagues and I, stood up when he walked in, waited till he sat down and then seated themselves. In 2007. In the technology function. I later found out this was the culture in the Bank across lines, across functions.

Ironies: A Study of Contrasts

From Wikipedia - reportedly taken
at Baker Street Tub Station

\ˈī-rə-nē - noun -  (1) : incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result (2) : an event or result marked by such incongruity




This is a compilation of "calling-it-as-I-see-it" observations based on my life in India and the US. It is neither anti-India or anti-USA, nor for that matter, pro-India or pro-US. It is like I said, a compilation of calling-it-as-I-see-it observations. I know there is more than meets the eye to most of these and surely, there are rational explanations for others, but here goes:

India is a tolerant state, but we have no patience.

Americans on the other hand are generally patient, but have low tolerance.

The US is a dominant global force, 

but GK about the world (in particular, geography and culture) is surprisingly poor.

India is fiercely territorial, 

but wants to adopt (read: ape) all trends foreign.

Whereas, the US is inherently cosmopolitan, 

but will resist new ways or balk at non-American ways of doing things 

(e.g., my wife's gynecologist who freaked out and cautioned against

contamination when she found out we were making curds at home)

Indians tend to over-engineer and have complex decision-making setups, 

but Americans have trouble placing or processing a simple order for "coffee" 

(Colombian vs. French Roast vs. Vanilla vs ..., 

 with cream vs. without cream, 

 sugar vs. Splenda, 

 here vs. to-go). 

Or water (regular vs. sparkling, plain vs. flavored, with ice vs. without ice).

Americans have sophisticated recycling technology, but haven't learnt conservation.

Indians believe in karma and after-life and are God-fearing, 

but seem to care little about reputation and lie without compunction.

Life in America revolves around instant-gratification, 

but Americans are much better at seeing the big picture.

Whereas, instant-gratification is not our culture, 

but we have narrow perspectives and short-term views.

And yet, Indians save for a rainy day, 

While the Americans live for today.

The US has an outstanding social support infrastructure, sophisticated medical technologies and established, widespread healthcare networks and infrastructure, 

And yet, the fabric of domestic support is rather fractured, its population is plagued by life-threatening or arcane allergies and it is easier to buy a gun than life-saving drugs.

We've inherited bureaucracy that can nauseate, 

but haven't inculcated system-oriented/process-driven thinking.

Americans are light on bureaucracy, 

but are highly process-oriented.

And yet (or perhaps, I should say "therefore") 

no one handles chaos and surprises as well as Indians do.

Americans are paranoid about privacy 

And yet, acts, facts and artifacts they expose to public view 

makes "private" a redundant word in the dictionary.

Conversely, India gave the world the Kama Sutra,
but we rebel at the idea of formal sex education.
And yet, make Bollywood movies that are so suggestive,
It might make the Playboy look like an Archies comic book.

The Americans have almost made creativity a science,
And yet, India produces far better ads than the US.

Indians are very particular about "what others will think" and love to give advice,

but get very defensive when we receive even constructive feedback.

America is by & large a "cold country" (even the supposedly-harsh summer only lasts a couple of months), but it's obsession with ice and fascination with cold meals is inscrutable.

Indians are subservient by nature,

but find it very difficult to follow any rules.

Whereas Americans, care a damn, 

but are sticklers for the rule.

Americans are extremely civil and affable,

Always smiling, holding the door for you and waiting,

And yet, are litigious to a point that makes you wonder

whether money is indeed the key to happiness.

India is a country of a billion people,

but we are yet to learn how to conquer scale.

America is high on hygiene,
but the only place they find to put up water fountains is outside public restrooms.

We are high on rituals and ceremonies in India,
but don't quite have the penchant for "doing things in style".

Religion and spirituality do not matter in the US like they do in India,

and yet, "In God We Trust" is the official motto of the USA.

Much as I am sometimes harshly sarcastic about life in both nations,

Fact is, I have enjoyed the best of both nations

And have had the privilege of living in what I consider to be the best states in both nations:

Goa and California.

Jai Hind! In God We Trust!