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THE SENTINELS AT GATES, PROTECTORS, DECIDERS OF ACCESS..
India is seeing a rapid transformation of its cities, towns, roads, buildings and the morphology of things. One key element of this transformation is access. In simple terms the rules of access have been always direct and raw. Power, strength, money can one get more money, speed and more power. In short privileges continue to gather more privileges. An outsourcing industry has rapidly grown to deliver privacy, quick movement and simultaneously, restrict access. The age of Sarathys and Dwaraplalaks has been quietly ushered in.
Thanks to the growth of industry and commerce, mobility is now possible for a vast population, possibly for too many, if we think of our planet, the earth. Our cities are simply not ready for this. Mobility. The rag tag crowds, the roads wherever human beings congregate, and access has unleashed an industry of privileges.
In the 21st century the independent individual has come of age, one who can offer his services to the person who needs it on an hourly basis, on contract basis and in the most formal or informal of manners. This also means service without the trappings of any bothersome aspects of relationship such as loyalty, continuity or such other old world attributes.
Human society has always relegated chores of tedium to slaves, servants and those who can be employed. But then common jobs have now become expert jobs. The expertise and the value added to the service has elevated the service provider. He or she is no longer a servant. Identified through the uniform, a symbol of a location and respectability, he or she has found the power of being independent of 'one' employer.
One has to move around, it is an ancient right. The celebration of this right has become a complicated matter in the cities - it needs knowhow, and therefore the expert - the Sarathy, one who steers us through the difficult, congested, treacherous lanes of our cities and towns. Many of us have realized with growing anxiety that we are strangers in our own cities. we know the daily beat, but beyond lies unpredictability, one way streets, no entry signs and unfamiliar parking areas.
In cities we hear how difficult it is to find a driver. The costs have gone up quickly. And there is no assurance that the person employed will stay. The Sarathy has come of age.. much sought after, much in demand, one who knows how to navigate the protons and neutrons through the mazes of the human communities. Ubiquitous, in white, recognizable at multi story business complexes, weddings, shopping malls, hotels everywhere, and function as the valet who will relieve you of the tedium of finding a parking slot, reversing and breathing the stale air of a dingy parking basement. A reliable Sarathy also provides other services - such as opening of doors, cleaning of the vehicles and a bodyguard, clearing the way or avoiding the unpleasantness, the exposure to filth, dirt and the rabble.
People, organizations and institutions need the space to do their work, continue their business and have their privacy. There are those who are welcome in and those who are not. It is important functionally and for security reasons to keep unwanted, disturbing elements at bay . Rather than live the life of a watchful animal, is it not better to relegate security and watchfulness to another? The Dwarapalaka, the gateman, the guard, the security provider stands by entrances, doorways, no longer shy and lowly but proud, uniformed, equipped with tools of assault and subtler tools of instant communication. The mafia don, Godfather had his ring, now ministers and tycoons have theirs. Dwarapalaka is the definer of the space of security and order, away from the rabble, one who will manage the boundaries and has a distinct and powerful space. He is the one who service is to ooze distrust and disapproval. He can ask to see your identity and know your business. He can permit you in or refuse. He has matured as a screen, a public relation agent for the employers. With each additional capacity, speaking English, tact, discretion, alertness, he grows larger, more employable and more valuable. The dwarapalaka stands tall and straight, almost as fierce as the Yaalis at temple doorways.
And none too soon, the terror strikes in Mumbai 1993, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and now again in Mumbai... one needs only listen to the responses of responsible people. Greater security in hotels and public spaces, armed guards, greater intelligence gathering, more controls, more blocks and more people. Dwarapalakas who will stop, check and let through... who will suspiciously read your nervous body language and make decisions about whether you need a closer look or if you deserve the privilege of entry and access. Of course all this is for the proletariat.. whenever there is a barrier, there are 2 sides to it. The protected side and the 'out'side.
For the protected there will be burglar alarms, remote cameras, high tech equipment, dogs and security advisers... highly secure and sanitised.. To live in peace and not be tormented by thoughts of assault or kidnapping or ransom, you need a private army and of course, getting to the beginning, you need a lot of money.
Diana's bodyguard driver was an epitome of the combination - dwarapalaka and sarathy rolled into one. Mercenaries take life because they are paid to assassinate, to kill. The protectors, are paid to protect, and if needed, to kill when needed. Both dont ask - :Why?"
"Ours is a service for hire!"
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