The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : The flipside of ‘money mala'

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Friday, Mar 19, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

The flipside of ‘money mala'

A token of love and affection. A decorative wreath that expresses what words can't.

That's what garlands are meant to be. But not anymore. The innocuous flower festoon has come of age.

Ordinary mortals will do with just a string of fresh roses. But not the extraordinary ones. The higher the status of a person, the more elaborate the garland should be.

So when it comes to the high and mighty, fragile flowers are passé. The garland has to be custom designed.

The floral tribute ought to spell power and pelf. So the la affair Mayawati shouldn't surprise one. Stringing together thousand rupee currency notes is of course a vulgar display of money power. But aren't the politicians doing just that in hundred different ways all these years?

Getting themselves weighed in coins, sugar, jaggery, throwing lavish parties or having a cavalcade of cars tailing them. Aren't all these amount to abuse of money and power.

The five yearly date with democracy is a good reminder of what money can do.

But Mayawati has pricked the nation's consciousness simply because she chose to display the money power - the raw and crude way. Those eyeing her money mala should know the other side of the coin.

Money can buy medicine, but not knowledge. It can buy a position, but not respect.

J.S. IFTHEKHAR

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