When I hear people say “Ideally things should be like this, ideally I should be doing this”
I wonder why people refrain from taking the right step even after they know what is right and what is not. They forget if each one takes a right step, they can make a difference, they can contribute to an ideal world with no poverty, no injustice with only peace and happiness every where.
I do try my maximum to take the right step whenever possible, but at times I too end up saying the word “Ideally” and start criticizing our society and people for the wrong step I had taken.
Let me take you to one such incident.
I didn’t renew my insurance for my two wheeler coz I was too lazy to renew it and also I had to take a leave for that. One can understand how difficult is to get a leave for a IT professional. Ideally I should have taken that, but I didn’t.
One day when I was coming back after a second show movie, I saw a Traffic guy in the middle of the road waving his hands. As I seldom service my bike, the brakes were in very good condition. Somehow I managed to stop my bike with a few inches from that guy. He gave a weak smile. May be he was happy coz I just saved his life.
He asked for my documents and obviously he saw the expiry date of my insurance. Then he showed me a big chart with the fines in which I saw a one followed by 3 zeroes for insurance. The traffic guy smirked and said “Ideally you should be paying 1000 showing that half torn chart and an old receipt book”.
“I think he have never used that receipt book” I mused.
Then he whispered “You give some 200 or 300 rupees and leave”.
I somehow wanted to escape from there. So I gave him 200 bucks and left.
On my way back, I asked my friend that ideally I should have given the full amount right?
Hey you saved 800 bucks right? You should be thankful to that traffic guy.
“Thankful?” I started laughing hysterically.
“If I had given the 1000 rupees fine, I will never default my insurance payment again. People default the payments because they know they can bribe these Traffic people.
Who is the loser here?
The Government?
In turn the people?
That is including u and me.”
I know, everyone knows, bribe is a sin, yet I gave coz that’s how the world is. I could have given the fine, thus making a difference, no mater how small it is. That day I decided I won’t default the payment again, if I did I won’t give a bribe for that. If everyone takes a vow like this, may be we can see the ideal situation.
The ideal situation would be:
“There won’t be any traffic violations. If violated, people will give the porper fine and get the receipt from the Traffic police. That will eliminate the corruption and the money will go to the government. The government will invest the money in infrastructure by which we will gain at the end.”
Assumptions:
There is no corruption in our government. (please control your laughter)
There is no corruption among the contractors who take up the infrastructure works.
One can see infinite examples like this.
Like if you want to get a letter in time, one need to give some tip/bribe to the postman.
Last time, when I went home I got my certificate via post which I had given for some correction. After giving me the certificate, postman started some general conversation. I understood what he needs but said thank you and went inside. Then my father went out and gave him some money. I asked my father why you gave him bribe. He told that it’s not bribe, I just like that gave him coz he is poorly paid and if we want such important documents to be delivered on time, one has to give money.
I told, papa
“There are 3 types of people to whom postman will be delivering the letters:
1) People who give money to the postman because one has more than enough money to give.
2) People who give money because they have no other go; they don’t want to take risk with the important documents.
3) People who don’t have money to give.
Papa, because of people like you, the third kind of people won’t get the deserved service; they may not get the letters on time. Postman will be busy delivering the letters for the people belonging to the first two categories.
They may be paid less, but there are people who need help more than him. It’s his duty to deliver letters and the government is paying them. If you really want to help people, go give some donations in some orphanages, but never encourage such people”.
You can see this everywhere. Give money, you get respect. People forget their duties; they work for people who give them bribe.
You still can change this society. We can still make a difference.
If each one of you takes such small steps, we can soon make this world an Ideal World or we will tend towards an Ideal World.
It’s never late to take a right step.
