Gutsy Raju

The temerity of some people is astonishing. They have no sense of their grave culpability; their huge egos probably cushion them from reality. I'm referring, of course, to the infamous Raju brothers who are currently in custody. After this monumental fraud they conducted at Satyam, they now have the audacity to ask for a 'special' cell to be allotted to them at the jail. In other words, they believe, like Orwell's pigs, 'everyone is equal, but they are more equal than others' (my paraphrase from 'Animal Farm').

Let's examine the undertones of this episode. Educated criminals, with fancy houses, kids in expensive private schools, uniformed gatemen at their doors and spouses who cram their Gucci bags hastily with Rs 500 notes - these very people have shattered the hopes, dreams and self-worth of thousands of their employees.

No better than the neighbourhood pickpocket, Raju has smothered his whispering conscience and like Icarus, risen higher and higher towards the sun. He probably forgot that the heat can melt those waxen wings and that a fall is imminent, a matter of time merely. He felt invincible in his role, so much so that he forgot to be shocked when his books were cooked by hired accounting firms. Instead, he gave them his blessings.

When it all came out, this load of crap, while being interviewed on TV, he could not meet the camera's omniscient eye. His eyes dropped and he perspired - it was ghastly to watch. Then came the details, and drive to the jail.

I guess he has recovered sufficiently now. He has asked his lawyers to plead for a better jail cell. What does he want - an a/c room with colour TV, tandoori paneer and fried rice? He's played around with lives of people, how is he better than a thief? Will a thief who stole to support his drug habit have the guts to ask for anything other than his rat-infested cell? I wonder.