The sad VIP culture in India

I was born almost 3 decades ago and have been seeing some people or groups of people being treated differently around me. When I was a kid, I used to dream that one day I would also be someone where I get priority treatment while:

• visiting the nearby hospital
• depositing or withdrawing money from the bank
• getting some government-related work done, or
• buying something from the shop

Yes, it worked that way.

So... what is this VIP culture?

Everyone at the bank was waiting in queue, while someone didn't have to wait even for a minute for the same work. To cross politicians' or ministers' convoys, even an ambulance will have to wait until they cross.

In other words, the priority depends on your social or political hierarchy and not on the need – like who needs something done first.

That's VIP culture.

In India, this VIP thing has been deeply rooted in the culture for decades, if not centuries. It has become the attitude of the people in the position. For example, the tone with which a government servant talks to you depends on your status. If you are known to the person or appear to be someone important, they will do you work immediately and talk to you nicely, but the poor don't get the same treatment, instead, they will be yelled on and might even need to visit the office multiple times before the work is done.

To highlight the seriousness of the issue, it's the norm to request someone with a high status to come with you so that you can get something done faster at the government offices. And if you think this is clearly not an issue of understaffing, it's an attitude problem.

If you ask, how can this be solved?

It's already being solved as we progress, people from the newer generations are already aware of the issue and are emphatetic about the underprivileged.

I am very hopeful and optimistic about the good future of the country.