Rules! Some abide by them, some detest them. But what happens when the rulemaker(s) themselves are confused? Like, in Karnataka, where it was chaos for almost a week with the fickle indecisiveness of the government leading to announcements and withdrawals of curfews which left us citizens hopelessly perplexed, frustrated and anxious! The reasons behind it might be many, but the OUTCOME is what’s important.
A rule is a rule for every fool... Or is it?
The ONE QUALM I constantly have is the DISCRIMINATORY ELITIST nature of the rules in our country which are supposed to be followed by EVERYONE EXCEPT the rich, famous, powerful or influential. I was really infuriated post lockdown, when I not only witnessed but also experienced the horrible harassment by traffic police when they would only let you go once you are FINED, especially for not having IND license plates which was later clarified by the commissioner itself as not mandatory. The new concept of marshals who are supposed to fine people for not wearing their masks, aren’t any less! I’ve seen them fine people who are adhering to social distancing and fining people who are drinking coffee or tea. How in the world will you do that wearing a mask?
The BLANKET RULE SYNDROME!
This is another challenge that we face in our country, based on a couple of incidents, a rule is brought out which is either too generalised or too vague and enables the CORRUPT to either exploit the loopholes which exist or ignore the rules altogether. The vehicle tint ban is one such example. It was brought in to make women safe whereas the gruesome Nirbhaya incident took place in a tinted bus. Ironically, many women drivers said they don’t feel safe while driving.
RULES! Good or bad?
Rules are actually framed and enforced with an intention to bring in a process or a system that prevents conflicts, ensures fairness, cultivates a discipline and many more. But one of the main intentions of a rule is also to ensure our SAFETY.
Hence the first thing we need to understand when asked to follow a rule, be it at home, hostel or in public is the INTENTION behind it.
We need to be able to look at the BIGGER PICTURE and understand how it’ll mould us going forward. Like the curfew at home, it is to ensure that we get DISCIPLINED. I have been on the other side too and have experienced what happens when I break this very own rule.
Apart from understanding the intention, we should also be able to ANALYSE the RATIONALE behind them. We need to understand why it came to be in the first place. The helmet rule for example, saved my life when a bus driver lost control and hit me head on.
Lastly, some rules have to be TRUSTED and adhered to for the GREATER GOOD! Drinking and driving, for example. To be brutally honest, the drunk isn’t the FOCUS here. It’s the numerous OTHERS whose lives are at stake because of the callousness of one individual.
Are all rules fair and square?
It might be not. But that’s where our ignorance or laziness to understand the rules BITES US back! I’ve often seen many complain but seldom would they have actually taken the time and effort to understand the rule, its exceptions and what course of action needs to be taken in case the rule isn’t adhered to or is broken unintentionally.
With Regards,
Adarsh Benakappa Basavaraj
‘The Coach’
