Slippery at top of the pyramid

Power corrupts big and small

Slippery at top of the pyramid

Power corrupts big and small. The buzz around the public-private partnership (PPP) model of the Rs 2,500-crore Bengaluru International Airport is peaking with mud-slinging at every Tom, Dick or Murthy being the order of the day.

Abraham Maslow conceived the pyramid of the hierarchy of man's needs decades ago, which said that man looks for basic physiological needs like food and shelter first, but as soon as these needs are met he goes for the next level, and then the next. People seem to be living out the pyramid theory every day, proving how farsighted Maslow was.

Our very own industry captains of today started literally from scratch. Dissatisfied with their measly salaried positions, they clearly had visions of making it big. Some of these ventures were extremely successfulu00a0 and, following their triumphs in the stock market, the workers of yesteryear rose to becoming the nation's opulent breed.

Our industry captains started from scratch. Dissatisfied with their jobs, they wanted to make it big

So, what was next on the pyramid after striking it rich?u00a0 Social esteem, of course! Hordes of committees and commissions were launched with the PPP structure, prominently positioning our industry captains, thanks to their hired lobbies. Not a day went by sans publicity bites carefully orchestrating their 'service to the common people' motto, keeping the established glory at par with the hottest in politics.

But public life is a different ball game altogether. Especially when eyeball-grabbing contests go on with the political hotshots perpetually on a roller-coaster hunger for power.

Next on Maslow's pyramid, after our industry captains had struck it rich, was gaining social esteem
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Wrestling with a pig is always a lost gameu00a0-- while you get muddy, the pig actually enjoys it. Ditto for politics.

As soon as political equations start channelling in a different direction from the one sought (which inevitably happens sooner or later), our industry captains climb up the pedestal of 'holier than thou' and shake old political pals off.

Alas, the topmost rung in Maslow's pyramid is a very slippery platform, especially if well-managed media handling helped you climb onto that level. Private participation didn't come easy, did it? You picked your cards, guys. You know the citizens need you, so why the thoughts of turning your back on them now? If you truly intended to improve the world around you, then this is the time to slug it out. 'Tis the time to abide, Rajeev, not to quit.