This VIPism is illegal In a just judicial system, if something is absolutely unfair it can never be legal. And by this logic, VIPism in India is so far wrong it simply cannot be legal.  To begin with, the very concept of one person being superior to others cannot be legal. And the despicable tyranny resulting from such discrimination, which inflicts severe humiliation, inconvenience and loss to society at large, cannot be legal. VIPism in India violates our fundamental human rights enshrined in our Constitution. It is not legal. It just cannot be legal in the 21st century. VIPism has struck such deep roots in India that its very legality is not questioned any more. The entire Indian governance, indeed every aspect of Indian life, is vitiated.  Many will recall, years ago when the road from Calcutta airport to town was built. Despite being built with citizens’ money, it was audaciously named the “VIP Road”.  VIP Guest Houses abound every city, near which Indian citizens suffer VIP nuisance. Not satisfied with sprawling VIP Bungalows, complete VIP Streets have now become a common menace for citizens. Unbelievably, the TGIS, published with the Times of India of the 20th April 2003 claims that Tihar Jail has a VIP wing! How can this be legal? VIP movement at airports causes untold disruption to commercial life, unfortunately beyond the intellectual comprehension of power drunk public servants. VIP Trains have been an old drain on resources, which are now giving way to VIP planes and helicopters. VIP motorcades routinely have dozens of vehicles in them and the fat cat often sits in a huge foreign car. Brand new roads are built for VIP visits and old roads get instantly resurfaced – a quick makeshift repair job that often lasts only a few days but costs crores. Speed breakers are gouged out and rebuilt the day after the VIP visit. How can all this be legal? Even the Toll Booth on the Pune Mumbai Expressway has a special gate designated “VIP”, where perhaps no toll is charged! Can this ever be legal?  “Reserved for VIPs” is a common placard at public functions. VIP Entrance and plush VIP Lounges go with the territory.  Public money spent on VIP trips abroad mesmerizes even rich nations who openly laugh at us.  The earlier Prime Minister, who was supposed to set examples of austerity and prudence in public spending, was believed to regularly travel with several fully qualified chefs from five star hotels, to provide him with every conceivable delicacy even in a foreign land. Newspapers even reported of a personal jumbo 747 for him. And a foreign custom built limousine that cost 15 crores! 15 crores for God’s sake!  And these VIPs represent an abjectly poor nation where millions do not eat a meal every day! Today, many of these VIPs who are responsible for serving the people, have carved out an unbelievably lavish, opulent, corrupt and decadent lifestyle for themselves. They have even discarded the façade of wearing Khadi. Now it is only exclusive and expensive designer clothes, which they change four times a day! This avarice needs new definition.  VIPs do not go to government hospitals – which they run themselves - for treatment. No, they are not safe for them. They come to private hospitals. They do not go to government doctors. No, they don’t trust them. They want private doctors. And of course at the slightest discomfort, they need American attention! How can this be legal?  And inconvenience to citizens in and around such hospitals is beyond description. The hardship of the sick is heart rending. How can this utter callousness be legal? It is believed that few ministers have ever been convicted in India. The goonda elements among them openly misbehave in public (read Shobhaa De, Labour Pains, Sunday Times, Pune, March 30th 2003 about one Verma misbehaving on a plane) and are immune from police action. Frankly, many have started believing that India has two sets of laws. One for the common man and another for VIPs.  VIPs have reduced the Police force into personal serfs (read Arun Shourie, page 37, India Today, March 17, 2003). The sight of a VIP makes the policeman go into wild, screaming, arm flailing frenzy that is frightening. Of late they have started going round in vans with loudspeakers asking citizens to clear out of the road because their bosses are driving down the road! Utterly disgusting nonsense! In the name of security, the Delhi Police severely beat up an innocent citizen who was going on his scooter when some VIP decided to whiz past him! How can this ever be legal?  Many believe that the police do not serve the citizens any more.  Recently, a senior citizen neighbor of mine was strolling outside his house in Pune when, unknown to him, a VIP was expected to drive past. A policeman on duty promptly went berserk. Completely out of control, he ran wildly around, jabbing his baton in the air and rudely screaming in Marathi at my neighbor “Go back, go back”.  My neighbor is an ex Air Force officer, now a very successful businessman who provides employment to many. How can it be legal for a policeman to misbehave with him for strolling near his own house! My neighbor returned utterly humiliated and angry at the system. Like millions of us, he also must have cursed the VIP.  This incident happened during the two days when citizens of Pune suffered much tyranny. Roads were indiscriminately closed causing hardship to all. The sick particularly suffered. Businesses lost.  This simply cannot be legal.  The various categories of VIP protection are another extremely expensive nuisance. Heavy weapon wielding, black uniformed men who can go berserk any moment have no place at social gatherings of respectable citizens where children and women are present. They can traumatize ordinary citizens. This bizarre joke of VIPism is now gone to greater heights. Not satisfied with the VIP stature, they have elevated themselves to something called VVIPs! And on the nine o’clock news of 14th May 2003, Prannoy Roy of NDTV 24/7 referred to a VVVVVIP Train, just produced for someone!  And after all this, are they bringing the nation prosperity and glory? Just watch their conduct. All they bring us is shame and disgrace.  Do you think these acts win the VIPs any respect? Respect is commanded, not demanded. And when one sees a convoy of dozens of ramshackle vehicles in an abjectly poor and illiterate country, it does not win respect. It earns loathing and contempt for those who are clearly bleeding the nation. VIPism in India violates our fundamental human rights enshrined in our Constitution. It is not legal. It just cannot be legal in the 21st century.