Sometimes I wonder as to why the bureaucrats have inherited all the colonial reactions. Whereas the soldiers always talk about the honor, dignity, comradeship, brotherhood, discipline, integrity spirit of self sacrifice, honesty and dogged determination. It is due to the fact that the precursors of IAS were the ICS of British Raj and those days these ICS officers were known as “Collectors”. The spirit of the “Collectors” still remains in them and they are working day and night for that spirit. It is therefore highly understandable that they do not react to any eventuality in the country be it of any magnitude. It is not strange that there was no reaction when the velour soldiers returned their medals; it is due to the fact that the spirit of “Collectors” still haunts them and they only know how to collect. Governments may come and go but the “Collectors” will always be there.
In the present era of collusion and collision Government the “Collectors” are having a field day. They have specialized in providing defense-less defense- minister defense and home-less home minister home and so on. On the other hand the soldier with the dogged determination can capture “Tiger Hill” but could not break the fortification of “Collectors” to meet their own “Supreme Commander.” Soldiers are kept busy fighting for external as well as internal security and are barred even for thinking about their “Rights”.
The country should not be surprised to see a top ranking “Collector” collecting a PVC or PVSM as AC has already been taken by them for fortification provided by them to the “Concerned” People and also for preventing the soldiers getting their legitimate due from the Government. Why not, after all, they are the elite HAG of Indian services.
Once they finish their services as “Collectors” they take up the job of “Activist” for the so called cause of human. As the spirit of “Collectors” keep haunting them, the spirit of “Collector” is working to remind every self sacrificing Bharat Wasi (wonder what kind of oath they take)
“Oh Bhagat Singh, Tum Mat Lena Kaya Bharat wasi ki
Kyonki Yahan Desh Bhakti ki saza fir milegi fansi ki”