There was something else of importance I wanted to write about this week, but it just slipped my mind. Curse the jolted jelly in my head! Can’t trust those gray cells anymore.
I said ‘important’. Must be a movie, right? Well, there is one released recently: Purambokku. It means ‘Wasteland’ (remember Vadivelu’s lovely lilt of the lingo?). Going by the title, I guess the film must be about TN. Purambokku in chaste Chennai Tamil slang also refers to a wasted character, of which there is no dearth in this very rational land. Whatever, but Purambokku, strikes a chord for some strange reason. I must view it on screen to know why. After all, is that not where we all draw our wisdom, nay, sustenance from?
Was it the earth-shaking quake that ironically I was settling down to pen? Nepal’s physical torment once again reached Chennai through underground channels. By underground I really mean underground, no mischief there. But as that Northern Kingdom downwards reeled under severe aftershocks this Southern Queensland was revelling in celebratory after-pleasures. The city completely missed nature’s missed call on its shaky surface. So what if the whole town is razed down? The one who matters most is up!
Must be Modi’s one year completion that was on my article agenda? But then the entire universe is so awash with analyses that there is very little a pettai paththirigai (neighbourhood newsweekly) can add. Still, two things seem relevant to us residents. Swachh Bharath, beyond being a slogan, must be a reality, and cleanliness begins at home and in our vicinity. Second, Make in India must be about the millions of local small businesses that really make the bulk of India in all its nooks and crannies. And their output and profits, if any, stay in India. The big guns make money in India and then even export it to cool tax climes beyond borders. By the way, what happened to all that Swiss stash supposed to return in 100 days? Just asking, as all those enticing Europe tour offers jarred the jaded memory and the pompous poll promise popped up.
Eureka. The amnesia is gone. It is that K’tka thing I wanted to write about. No, not the holiday packages to Shimoga, Udupi or Coorg, stupid! And no, Purambokku is not being remade in Kannada either, as far as I know, which is not much. It’s the HC verdict. The two-minute-noodle dessert to a two-decade stale pudding was a damp squib. It was over before it started. No probs. But to avoid such futile furore in future, all courts, when dealing with special persons marked for fast relief, must emulate K’tka HC, kick the calendar and keep just the clock. Only the latter shows minutes and seconds.
Some novel lessons can be learned from the learned Judge. Politicos stand saved and sanctified; people are stumped and speechless. Sleaze is not a moral issue, but just a monetary one like any routine property dispute! The Prevention of Corruption Act is elastic and alpha numeric. Raw (or wrong?) arithmetic not only overrules letter and spirit of law but allows a financial margin of benefit to an accused. For a politico in power the most obvious source of disproportionate income, be it just one rupee, is the tax-payer. But handlers of public funds (fools’ gold?) can charge a ‘standard’ sedharam (wastage) of upto 10% 20 in AP. In judicial haggling, percentages prevail over points of law: 9.99% means acquittal and 10.01% can invite conviction. But if it’s all just a numbers game, is not the Rs 55-65crs or 10% a disproportionate pittance compared to the exorbitant expense to exchequer the case entailed? But let’s not press the issue.
Some suggestions. Maths and Accounts must be made compulsory subjects in Law College courses so that the course of law can be appropriately adjusted. Smart politicos would do really well to keep within the legally prescribed safety limits! Unless, there is a re-run in SC, these rules seem legit. A zealous partyman has named a just born as ‘Kumaraswamy’. I recommend Bhavani Singh and Bhavani for male and female child, respectively. We the people on our part should now say cheerio to corruption, courts and cases and get back to work and family.
Or we can hit the the theatres, a natural default setting. The shows there appear more authentic. No matter if we are dubbed Purambokku. We have been made to look worse.
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