The Indian power structure is marked by overt symbols of authority such as convoys, sirens, security personnel, and exclusive VIP access zones.

Colonial Legacy of Power Display in India

• Beginning Under the British Raj: This tradition of showing off power started during the British Raj. Lord Wellesley advised the East India Company that to rule the “Natives,” they must build grand palaces to keep the population in awe.
• Continuation Under Indian Elites: The “white sahibs” left, but the mindset remains with the “brown sahibs” i.e our leaders and officers.

Key Concepts

• Stratified Society: India, despite being a democracy, remains a highly stratified society. Indians have a great desire for the performance and display of power.
• Value Determined by Position: Indian society often equates a person’s value with their rank, making status assertion a central feature of interpersonal interactions.

Examples of Power Choreography

• Airport Convoy Incident: A convoy incident at Indira Gandhi International Airport shows vehicles with blue lights suddenly stopping while junior officers clear the path for a young officer emerging from the main car.
• Exaggerated Displays by Small Officials: Even a small department’s Deputy Director installs a large nameplate and demands lights on the bonnet to ensure everyone knows “Saab is coming”.
• Ministerial Authority Defined by Display: A Minister’s authority is measured not by their work, but by the size of their office, the number of subordinates bowing down, and their security detail.
• VVIP Convoy System: The VVIP convoy system is considered the biggest sadness. When a “route is fixed”, traffic is stopped, often trapping ambulances.
• Yes Minister Culture: Well-educated civil servants often show exaggerated deference—excessive “Sir/Sir-ji”, over-politeness, and forced laughter at weak jokes—revealing how hierarchical behaviour erodes administrative professionalism.

Reasons For this Need of Power Display

• Underlying Mentality: This behaviour stems from a mentality where status is maintained by appearing superior to others. This mentality leads to two behaviours:
  • Dominance i.e suppressing those below them.
  • Sycophancy i.e serving those above them.
• Impact on Society: This destroys the concept of equality & dignity.

Case Study- “Jaipur Incident”

• The Jaipur Hotel Incident: The author recounts an incident in a Jaipur hotel where a junior police officer abused him and even shoved his wife while clearing a path for the Chief Minister.
• Shift in Behaviour: After the author complained to a Minister, the officer was sent to apologise, and he literally fell at the author’s feet begging for forgiveness.
• Meaning of the Incident: The author observes that the officer felt no shame for his earlier misconduct; he simply responded to a shift in power. 
  • When powerful, he was arrogant; when confronted with greater power, he became submissive—revealing a deeper lack of self-respect.

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Way Forward

• Meaning of True Authority: Future civil servants must remember that authority should be defined by service, not symbolism.
• Immature Democratic Culture: India’s democracy is immature, and the people still have a mentality of slavery. Respect must be based on human dignity, not a car’s blue light.

Conclusion

India’s culture of power display reflects a colonial mindset that undermines equality and ethical governance. As Ambedkar warned, political hero-worship leads to degradation. True authority must rest on service, dignity, humility, not symbols of superiority.

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