Propriety and proportion

Athi sarvatha varjayeth is a Sanskrit motto. Extremes should be avoided and there should be a sense of proportion in everything we do, feasting or fasting, sleeping or resting, grieving or rejoicing, and in every other human activity moderation should be a desirable trait. Kings of yore like Henry VIII of England who had two of his queens beheaded, Krishnadevaraya who had the eyes of his son-in-law gouged out, the Moghul Emperor who imprisoned his father, were embodiments of cruelty. Lust, greed, fanaticism and such other base instincts drive one to lose a sense of proportion and become insensitive.

Coming to the modern day we do not have kings, but we do have some irresponsible politicians who behave like kings. To them greed is in the shape of capturing of vote banks. To gain and hold power these men of straw will stoop to anything; they kidnap legislators and hold them in virtual imprisonment in euphemistically called resorts. The coffers of the state once come into their hold, are spent recklessly. Otherwise, how do you explain a quarter page advertisement in color on the umpteenth birthday of a film star of yesteryear paid for by taxpayers’ money?

There is a photograph of the CM in every nook and corner of the newspaper. There is no rationale for such profligacy. What is the Auditor-general at the central level or the Accountant-general at the state level doing to check such lack of circumspection and diligence in dealing with state funds? Who benefited by this aforesaid advertisement? Was it necessary when the nation is facing a pandemic health threat? Is it not playing to the galleries; cheap and vulgar, unbecoming of a state which had enlightened rulers?

It is said Krishnarajendra Wodeyar IV asked Sir M.Visveswaraya, his dewan, whether the state could afford raising huge loans to finance the building of the KRS Dam. To which Sir M.V. seems to have replied “Your Highness even if you value the avenue trees in the state at one rupee each, the loan is fully covered. The state is blessed with such resources”. Such enlightened rulers, such able administrators the State of Mysore was blessed with. Do our ministers show such concern as the king evinced? Are the state funds meant for spending on worthwhile schemes that benefit the poor or are they meant to be squandered in pampering some film-struck fans of a celluloid hero?