ON BEING HONEST

Honesty is the best policy.  You people do not practice it.

No, no, we are all honest.  We even practice it.

It appears that still you have Police men at junctions even where there are electric signals.

No, no, it is not to protect the signals, but to see that people do not have difficulty in understanding the signals.

Don’t you have RTOs to ensure that those who drive do understand the signals?

Yes, yes, the RTOs work even when everyone else is on strike.  They are so sincere.

Then why the police men again?

Some people may be influenced by liquor during driving.  Only to help them out.

You are sure that they are not there because otherwise no one will follow signals?

Yes. Yes.  If people do not follow signal, they will get hit and go to hospitals. 

So Hospitals thrive in your place?

Not all hospitals.  Private Hospitals can thrive.

How is it that in a poor place like yours Private Hospitals thrive?

It is the other way round.  We are a rich race.  Because Hospitals thrive, some people may have become poor.

Only Private Hospitals are permitted to thrive?

No, Private schools and colleges also thrive.

You mean to say, we can also do all these?

Yes. Why not?

But in our place, the governments run these things.

But we are a friendly people.  We are not for such stringent methods.  We are liberal, you see.

Is it because politicians thrive out of these?

No, no. Politicians have other avenues too.

You said the other day that people of the other party were dishonest and corrupt.

But that is only that party.

Then all other parties are honest?

Need not be all parties, but ours is definitely so.

No allegations against your own ones?

They are mere allegations.  No truth established.

In other cases has it been established?

People have come to definite conclusions on that.

How about your bureaucrats?

They were a corrupt lot earlier.  But we have started giving them lessons in the right earnest.

Will they listen to you?

Without a doubt.  They crawl when asked to bend.  We have seen it earlier also.

What if some amidst them start some independent thinking?

Simple, first put them in some plump posting, or if it does not work, be tough on them. Independence is only for the nation.  Not for thinking.

How about your judiciary.  Will they also listen?

Sure, sure.  They will not breach protocols.

But then how come your own people in power got unseated or were arrested and sent to prison?

Exceptions only prove the rule.

What is meant by rule of law in your parlance?

Simple, rule prescribed by the law makers.

It was stated that you want us to come over there and start production.

Yes, truly, we want you to enjoy the fertile nature in our place and also be served by our people.  It is our way of showing hospitality.

It was stated that in exports, your people send one set of materials as samples, but when the actual consignment is sent, they send substandard goods.

That is a thing of the past.  Now all goods are very good.  There are not substandard goods at all here.

Then what type of goods do you expect us to produce?

That is up to you.  We will not interfere with your creative independence.

Won’t you people ask us questions as to how, why, where, etc?

No. No. No way.  We did not ask Union Carbide how or why.  Even in the case of our own UBL person, we did not ask where.  So many have stashed away wealth in other places.  We are yet to ask who, or when it will come back.

But you have all been very critical of Robert Clive, Warren Hastings, et al, inspite of their generous contributions to your upliftment.

That was the past impression.  But only England itself held sessions for impeachment motion against Warren Hastings.  We had no hand in it.  Even today we follow Lord Macaulay.  For that matter we did not feel like out doing anything like laying of rails by them, even after all these decades.  That is the way we show our respect to them.

But you people went in for some golden quadrilateral or something to mock at the rail network.

No, no, it was not to mock.  It was only to show that private parties can thrive and collect tolls.

But you had leanings towards the socialistic block for quite some time.

That again was someone else.  We have not had that affectation.  We are always on the right. 

But what if I bring in some partners from that part on the other side which you call left?

That is no problem as long as they have your concurrence. Then they belong to this block only.

Do you expect us only to manufacture in your place or do you require us to do services also?

We are always prepared to serve.  But you can also provide services at your convenience.

But you have taxes for all these.

Yes.  Our people will pay up for all that.

But you expect us to collect it from them and pay it to you.

Yes.  That is easier because otherwise it will become cumbersome.

Why don’t you collect it all at the sales point at one go? 

Yes, that is what we are planning to do.

Then why don’t you get it deducted when they themselves pay, instead of we collecting it and giving it to you.

On their own, they may not pay. 

But you said they are all honest.

Yes, yes, they are all honest.  But who will not like to save money?

So you encourage savings?

Yes.  That is still running in the blood of our people. Attempts are constantly being made to make them live on credit.  But due to fear they are not going in for that method of living.

Fear of what?

Of collection agents.

Why they should fear agents if they pay off the amounts in time.

Time is only a notion.  We do not really give much credence to that concept.  It is only in the mind.

So your people will not adhere to time discipline?

We are overcoming that by installing bio-metric attendance systems.

So that means, they will leave on time?

But they are all still prepared to work from home also.  Even now, many of them do not sleep at nights, because it is day time in America.

But when we come here, will it not affect their production capacity?

There is no dearth of young blood, any time.

When they trade with our products will they stick to the policy of honesty?

Without a doubt.  They will honestly fulfill all legal obligations as required by law.

NOT THAT, WILL THEY BE HONEST TO US?