The Buzinezz

Since I joined the business I have found it really difficult to actually discuss my work, the exact work with others, specially friends. Not that it is shady or anything but really difficult to explain.

A friend of mine was tagging me for a day a few days back just to get the feel of how marketing in a medium scale Indian company looks like. I promised him a really different day and boy did he have one. I could imagine my first few days after fidelity as a software engineer of working here. It is different in so many aspects that it actually feels odd to classify both as work for someone with same qualification and credentials. That's the beauty of engineering isn't it, that you are essentially good for nothing so can do anything.

Coming back to day I actually was more conscience about the overall actions, the kind of consciousness when someone is observing you. A few things which have become such an integral part of daily work life here, which I had been doing without even realizing were suddenly evident to me.

We went to a government office. At the entry there is a police team who greeted us with open hands. Why would they do that? I could clearly remember me asking my self the same question when I had first visited that office. Its just that you are their guests when you enter that office and the will offer you complete courtesy to ensure you are comfortable filling up the visitors form and you get the entry gate pass in a matter of seconds. Reason. Well once you are inside you are theirs. Exit pass (unofficial) is only available in exchange of a Rs. 50 note.

We had a letter with us which we had to submit in the office. All it needs is a stamp from the postal department there stating they have received that letter. Stamping fee another Rs 100. No master card allowed. The Gandhian option. Wait for 2 hours for the guy to finish his tea, coffee gup and shupp and then may be if he is not about to plunge into his skiing holiday dream he might stamp it.

Outside the chairman's office. Peon's fees. Rs 20 for 1 hr wait. Rs. 100 for 10 minutes break. For Rs. 150 the lowest rank peon in the office has full rights to barge into the chariman's office, interrupt whatever meeting is going on, place our card on his table and stand in front of him to ensure we meet him in the next 5 minutes. This is true for every damn government office in the country.

Overall I paid Rs. 2 Lac as government unofficial tax on that day and wouldn't even have realized it but for that conciseness.

Why would someone do such work? I had asked this question over and over again. The system is such. You either become a part of it or perish. It is not survival of the fittest. Its in the literal sense paisa fek, tamasha dekh. The overall system has evolved in such a way that it ensures value for everyone. That's the sad but very much true state of things.

 
 

There is just too much content to write on this subject. Will continue on this post soon...