Season of waste!
The yearly ritual of wastefulness has begun and this usually lasts till March. During these 4-5 months, the privileged class (net worth 10 crore +) indulges in their annual orgy of throwing lavish parties in 3*,4*,5* hotels, clubs, resorts and convention centres. The occasion could be anything, though birthdays, engagements, weddings are still the most common by far. Receipt of a foreign award (purchased or wangled?), arrival of a 'foreign dignitary' (junior minister from Moldavia, for instance), academic degrees obtained by children in some foreign university, etc, are also some of the fit excuses for the parties.
The guest list exposes the real purpose of the tycoon, which is spread of networking, making new contacts and strengthening the 'old boy' network. Wheeling and dealing are resorted to, deals discussed, alliances forged and slices of the forthcoming economic pie agreed upon. This has given rise to a new breed of 'event managers' who outdo themselves in arranging novel decorations, games, prizes etc a la Indian serial soap opera rituals. “Expenses - Sir?” “Don't bother about it, but it must be more garish and obscenely obnoxious than so-and-so's party last week.!!!”
The menu ranges from the traditional katchi, roast, zarda to the most novel sub-continental and foreign dishes imaginable. However, one thing is common. The repast on offer is by no means anything suitable for the betterment of the health of the VIPs who are mostly elderly, pot-bellied, suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney ailments and the like. Their cardiologists and physicians would probably shudder in horror seeing them tucking into the dishes in gay abandon! I have only spoken here of the public parties and not those held in private where liquor and drugs also flow endlessly. There is immense waste of food, time, energy and money for the sole purpose of further inflating the egos of some of our privileged class. Net result bigger gridlocks of luxury cars, greater inconvenience and expense for the 'common' invitees and joyful income for the centres and the muggers who can pick and choose their victims at night..
So, my questions are what happened to the Guest Control Order, Limit of Expenses allowed under Entertainment and other measures to curb corruption and tax evasion? Where are the DCC, Income Tax and VAT inspectors? Have they got cold feet and lost the rigidity of their back-bone?
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