The heady wine of pragmatism

शहरों शहरों गलियों जिस का चरचा है
That which is discussed in all towns, all streets
वोह अफसाना तेरा भी है मेरा भी
That is the story, yours and mine
मैखाने की बात न कर वा _इज मुझ से
Dont talk to me of taverns..
आना जाना तेरा भी है मेरा भी
We all go there, you too, and I too...

Mirza Ghalib

There is a wine,
rich and full flavoured
of a deep colour and full bodied
inviting, drawing one ahead
an ancient wine,
far older than 3000 years
brewed slowly in civilizational cellars
the heady wine of pragmatism...

It is fed by parents to young children
injected into the veins of students by teachers and institutions
offered as the rite of passage
by fathers to young men,
drunk daily and drunk deep!

The heady wine of pragmatism...
settles all arguments within oneself
'this is the way it has always been,
you do nothing that others haven't done before you,
if not you, another will take your place,
dont be silly, dont be a fool,
dont lose this opportunity... life is short
and you have far to go..
do drink, there is nothing wrong...
it has always been so...

The rite of passage is agonizing!
How come people say one thing under the sun
and another by night?

Slowly refined sensibility, years of education
overpowered effortlessly, brushed aside!
the scruples and restraints of reason fade away
when the nose scents opportunity, gold or time saved...

What happens to all the 'right' things taught,
slowly, painfully over a decade of school and more?
Wait your turn, stand in queue!
You have rights, the same as another!
Be honest, dont cheat, copy!
What you are is more important than what you do!
Suddenly... 'this is real life, the marketplace,
Everything has a price...'
Wait your turn, but if you are smart you can jump it!
Sure there are rules - but they are costly
And, there are always exceptions, and they cost little!
This is not cheating - just 'something',
a small thing
an unmarked envelope, or a few notes given without counting
or speed money,
if you dont like that, there is another way
a gift given, at diwali, new year or child's birthday.
administrative expenses, or hotel expenses
and ..... everyone gives these...

And should a young one ask you,
What is this, father, mother, teacher?
What have you taught then, what do you teach now?
What will the child hear,
from the wells of an ashamed silence?
"Yes, my child, this is so!
The price we all pay for the little things...
Yes, a shameful truth, we must confess.
"We too drink the wine of pragmatism,
often,
helplessly!

The cask is ever full,
and in the crowded marketplace
nothing moves,
nothing, without the wine of pragmatism!"
"Drink deep, it will ease your way!
Drink deep it will ease your pain!
Drink a little daily and it will soon seal your lips

No more empty words! No more truth,
No speaking your mind, or standing your ground...
You will soon find a new wellspring
"At least I dont pretend!
"At least I accept,
that this is life!"
What wonderful wine this!
How sweet, how real, how pragmatic!