Even more disappointing has been the fact that most dishonest people have never been caught by our legal systems, they have never gone to jail and never paid a fine. So one day, in the papers you will read about some famous politician or businessman being caught in a scam worth lacs of crores. After a prolonged period of freedom which you feel is so unjust, you hear of them having spent some time finally in Tihar Jail. But then after 9 months they are back to leading a normal life in our country and enjoying the fruits of their ill-begotten wealth. This is what really hurts. That even after having committed an economic crime of that magnitude, they are able to walk around freely and laugh at honest people. Unfortunately, public memory is short, like Alzheimers. Everything is forgotten.
When you went on television on 8th November, I had an alert on my smartphone that you were about to address the nation and I waited like many others with bated breath. I can't tell you how happy I am with demonetisation. With a post graduate degree in Economics, I can't help feeling that people around me who are criticising the move don't really understand the concept. Finally, I feel that we are moving towards some justice in this country. Although my larger neighbourhood is full of stories on how the people with black money are still managing to launder their wealth.
For example, in an over 100 flat complex, a housewife was busy calling all the neighbours she knew and didn't know, asking them if they would deposit 3 lacs in their bank accounts for which she would offer them a fee of Rs 50,000. Or the neighbour who lives in a flat that costs over Rs 25 crores who sent 10 of her servants to stand in a queue at the bank to exchange Rs 4000 of the old notes.
Fortunately, the bank for some reason guessed that they were from the same household and exchanged money of only the first servant in the queue and sent the other 9 servants back, much to the disappointment of this particular housewife. Or the unscrupulous politician who gave away 3 lac loans to farmers in the old currency which of course has to be returned in the new currency, of which I am seeing several messages on WhatsApp, with pictures of the cash and the politician. Sometimes I wonder if people will still get away with it. I hope not. And I hope you will take adequate measures to bring in the guilty. I want them to suffer. Demonetisation will be the great equaliser between the honest and the dishonest.
If black money and corruption are so rampant in our country, that it has become part of our social fabric and a part of the Indian culture, I am not surprised that I see so much criticism in the newspapers about your demonetization move. After all, if there are so many people with illegal cash, doesn't it stand to reason that they would oppose you and criticise your demonetization scheme in the newspapers? Of course, I do hear that the poor people are suffering. The newspapers are full of it. And I do empathise with them and I am confident that you will do your best to alleviate their suffering. Strangely I am a little unhappy not to hear stories of how the rich and the corrupt are suffering. I want to know more about that from the newspapers. Can't they publish the suffering of the rich and corrupt? Because that will gladden my heart.
When you gave your speech on TV on Nov 8, 2016, I burst out laughing. My daughter felt proud that I was laughing hysterically, while many were biting their nails, going into depression, and running around frantically to the jewellers.
I want to wish you every success in rooting out this evil from the country. Even if I don't benefit, since I have already suffered for so many decades, I hope at least my children will benefit from all your moves to remove corruption and black money from our country. As I write this I know that I am speaking for millions of honest Indians. I am proud of you. And I am proud to be Indian. Jai Hind.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely
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About the Author:
Prabhakar Mundkur is an ad veteran with over 35 years of experience in Advertising and Marketing. He works as an independent consultant and is also Chief Mentor with Percept H. All previous posts of Prabhakar can be found here.
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