'Hypocrisy is the best policy'

‘Hypocrisy is the best policy’. This was the title of a cover story written by (Late) Shameen Ahmed Shameen and published in Sunday, several years before I joined the magazine in mid-1980s. The author had talked about the trait existing among the Indian politicians then (and now too). I think many of us, irrespective of the professions we are in or our other pursuit, family backgrounds, the gender, etc., have developed the characteristic rather we tag along the policy religiously. It would not be exaggeration if I say it has made a way into our blood now.  

It was to put across this point that I had yesterday narrated a true story (read it below) as a comment to a photograph posted by a friend on FB. It was quickly deleted after hitting only one like that from Shabir Hussain Buchh. Apparently, it was not to the liking of someone who did it. Let me say here, no offensive was intended or to show malice towards the friend or anyone else. At least, this friend had the courage to post the photograph showing him receiving ‘certificate of merit’ and refer to (then) Governor of Jammu and Kashmir who gave it away at the convocation as “His Excellency”. And now read the story of another friend and which I had recounted with the purpose explained above:     

‘A friend, now a professor at a City college, had arrived at the Kashmir University convocation to receive his ‘degree’ certificate either from then Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah or President of India who were present at the podium. This guy would always blow his own trumpet to be wedded to the azadi cause and would often curse Farooq Abdullah and all others on the other side of the fence for obvious reasons. Apparently feeling out of his depth rather mortified, he pointed to his right hand wrapped with bandage. Asked (as to) what had happed, the poor guy said, “There is nothing like that there. It is absolutely alright. I’m only pretending to have been injured so that my hand (precisely the flesh) does not touch his (Farooq Abdullah’s or that of the President). How can I shake my hand with a traitor (Farooq). I keenly watched him receiving his degree document with both his hands and then shaking his right hand (of course in dressing) with the Chief Minister and smiles on the faces of both and claps from almost everyone present.  I’m sure he would end up becoming a successful politician.’