THE SECRET ALLIANCE

Our organisation had achieved a memorable victory after a good struggle.

As per an example set out by five of the beneficiaries of the struggle, all other beneficiaries also made a monetary donation to the organisation which had spearheaded the struggle.

One of the beneficiaries, was a well known person and also very close to powers that be. He however had chosen not to follow the footsteps of others.  He did not volunteer any contribution to the organisation.

But one day, he came to my seat and took me aside and in a secretive manner handed over a box.  He said he wanted me to consume the sweets with my family.

Might be he was trying to show his personal gratitude.

But I only felt it as an insult - to an organisation by his neglecting its existence and choosing to show his affection only to one person, just because he headed the organisation.  Even the cost of the sweet would have been only a fraction of what others had given as contribution to the organisation.  That too was a point I felt was demeaning the organisation.  I also felt insulted that he chose to give me a separate treatment when I was only a part of the organisation and after all what did he think, that with this sort of exhibition, he was satisfying my personal ego?

Or was it that he did not want to identify with the organisation openly, but wanted to show his gratitude or affection secretively?  This again was a point of demeaning the organisation and those who stood by it.

The questions that arose in my mind that day have not got an answer till date. 

In a scene in the Tamil film 'Bharathi', the protagonist laments 'Patriotism has become a secret affair'. (தேசபக்தி கள்ளக்காதலா போயிடிச்சு ஓய் ).

The above event happened before the release of the above mentioned film.