Under The Influence Of A Diva
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Under the influence of a Diva

Personality streak showing outright submission to the superiority of English language is quite widespread in India. More than often, the proficiency in English language over content or knowledge is the silent X-factor controlling the chain of social and administrative hierarchy here. The rise and fall of Niira Radia, a corporate and political lobbyist, is a case in point. She is currently under judicial custody for her involvement in 30 billion dollars worth 2G spectrum case.

Her mystique persona is a matter of great interest as it shades light on the inner facets of Indian personality in general.  The audio tapes containing her conversations with important people are in public domain and subject of great discussion. Leaving aside the legal interpretations of the conversations, certain subtleties of the behavioral gyration of the participants in the conversations expose a well hidden dark side of human interaction in this country. At the bottom of matter, there is a sense of outright submission to the perception of a superior personality conditioned by the purity of English bred etiquette of overseas origin.

A senior editor of one of the most prestigious National English Newspaper, Vir Sanghvi is at the receiving end, when Niira administers the wisdom of social work, perspective of energy initiatives, delicacies of gas pricing, criticism of High Court decision and so on. Her knowledge, arguments and delivery of speech are impeccable and flawless. The editor, otherwise a well respected national personality, is a mere slave to his own deep seated weakness of inferiority having its origin in the thousand years of slavery. Surprisingly, Niira is in the control of the most of the taped conversations, except the one involving Barkha Dutt, a senior editor of a leading news TV channel. It is the only conversation where skill sets of two sides, including gender, are matched. As a matter of fact, most other conversations are but monologue of a Guru which is delivered to her disciples enlightening them with a well orchestrated set of irrefutable facts and logical analysis.  

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