Charity begins @ home

At A-L, we have been hard selling our climate change practice area and project ourself in a niche position to handle projects on carbon mitigation advisory and documentations. It is not just that we are quite passionate about it. Our environment friendly practices encouraging transactions (example: avoiding printouts of emails and first drafts), use double sided prints, where possible, raising digitally signed memos (i think we are unique in that aspect), to use and encourage our clients to use and avoid cheques where convenient and use online banking solutions (including recommending banks offering strong online solutions, using public transport (NOIDA's new Metro) for single transaction field work, whenever possible and some sporadic activism oriented streaks to save the environment. Of course, apart from the latter, these actions also translate into low overheads enabling us to provide low cost solutions. (please note that accepting practice of vegetarianism is still beyond our abilities especially in lieu of the quantity we gulped down @ karim's)

But, occasionally we get ourselves involved in sporadic activism, and encounter interesting views, reactions and uncalled for publicity. One event that has transpired recently is my taking of cudgels against senseless cutting of trees in neighbourhood, all in the name of pruning. Now, in this instance, I did leave my cloak and coat behaviour and got involved in what can be termed as a streetfight, all in noble cause of saving a tree, which had been handed capital punishment by a fellow neighbour for the offence of blocking sunlight from his kitchen garden. Now being witness to such ghastly activity, I, as per procedure, ought to go back, file a written complaint and await for a committee decision to bar the gentleman from cutting the trees. But, seeing the ghastly action in front of my eyes, took the short-cut and gave the worker and his 'employer' a piece of my mind coupled with what can, at best be termed as a 'push that resulted in a shove'. Of course a complaint was made to local committee heads, followed by what can be termed as humorous exchange of words in writing and a due acknowledgement of me being a lawyer (my partner calls it free publicity).

Well, the lack of understanding on basic community issues of joint ownership and rights over common property , including trees does not sadden me as much as the thought of viewing trees as a hindrance to good living. Yesterday, we were roaming around in the streets of Jama Masjid's mini market and amidst the messy traffic and bakr-id preparations (we were surrounded by goats for a mile), I was amazed by the sight of a huge banyan tree bang in middle of the chandni chowk mess. The tree was supporting a 'shrine' near its roots, a barbershop at its front, a pan shop, several boards (including those of musclemen), yet stood on its own encumbering these aberrations in its ambit. This tree was indeed an institution. Trust me, it would have blocked sunlight for several houses, yet was untouched because somewhere, someone did what it takes to allow it to just grow old and become a landmark in middle of goat mess. Though, I hope that the tree which we managed to save does not grow to entertain shops as mentioned above. Now, food for thought is not what we can do to change the attitude of viewing trees as enemy. I just hope I do not have to adopt vegetarianism. But if thats what it takes, thats what it will get.

Cheated!!

Honest Abe once made a comment on legal profession that probably every law student has heard at the beginning of his (extraordinarily) long student life. It has something to do with it being the route to highest office in the land! Well, in my brief career, I have experienced instances that support this view. You will not believe how far the black coat and white shirt can take y0u without security verification! And more often than not, there is an inherent change in mannerisms.

But Friday was different. I had to bribe a peon, a receptionist and a senior bureaucrat! All for a procedural compliance which was rightfully mine. At the end of the whole thing, such was the level of my frustration that when the parking attendant of the department told me that I needed to park my car at the adjacent parking lot or else he would be fined 200 bucks, I nearly offered him a couple of gandhis!My partner told me that this gross ineptitude should be indulged only if I am sitting in a merc and not from my poor li'l small car! During the whole process, I had a 100 rupee note in my front pocket, a 500 rupee note in my inner pocket, a couple of 500 rupee notes in my side pocket and so on....all, as part of my preparation to face the devil's department. Its not that I have bribed a lowly clerk for the first time, but in this instance, I found myself in a government department where almost everyone was nice to you for a price.People wanted their own 'fees', they wanted fees for others! I would not have been surprised if they had not charged me for my services as well.

Now, government processes are something like tatkal services. You always have the option of going by the regular process! But to cut short time, you always have the option of oiling the system to get the desired result in good time. I personally do not like that, but, can't wash away my guilt! You will be surprised to know that my experience of bribing the whole department came in an office where everything is timebound! I plead guilty of playing a part in going along with the system of corruption, when I feel so strongly against it! My former boss taught me that when entering your office, one should throw morality out of window, and I did exactly that! And I have that sinking feeling.

Yesterday was Indira gandhi's 25th death anniversary. I am told that I was born when the country was burning due to riots after her death. The elders often recount how those were troubled times and it was only with a lot of difficulty that some of my family members could pay me a visit. Now, I really have no opinion on Indira, but live through this legacy of extreme corruption at all ranks, which I have reasons to believe, are a result of her legacy. This might be uncalled for, but i wonder what will it take to get out of this mess. Another Indira or for us to change??