In 2001; Feb 17-18 : I worked on a story on Flattery.
The idea came up from TV-room discussion. By then I had realised; Delhi Journalism was almost making me 'learn' and also UNLEARN a lot.
Sycophancy was a Mantra in the organisation I served. - Press Trust of India !!
Back in Nagaland; flamboyant Vamuzo (a regionalist politician and a former underground Brigadier) used to joke at us : "Please Trust India".
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| Richard Stengel |
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| Khushwant Singh |
Here there were many things 'unknown to me' ... now unraveling. Like colleagues would often say : "Naukri karna hae". Meaning 'journalism' too is just a job. I declined to follow that beaten track !!
I had a few friends --- nevertheless -- H C Vanlalruata (who was at Aizawl), Kirti Patil (a young talent then in PTI-Sports .. who was later virtually compelled to quit and join 'The Hindu').
They too thought - Journalism is more than a job !! But to write something on a juicy (read) controversial subject such as Flattery - I spoke to Madhukar Upadhyay, then PTI Hindi Editor.
A good-hearted 'senior'; he always encouraged youngsters. But with this 'subject'; he too was cautious. "Please consult Mr SDN" - he said.
Even I had thought; Mr Surya Dev Narayan (senior editor in English division) and also AGM should be consulted on this. SDN was mostly moody; but he liked people/his junior colleagues "going out of box".
But suggesting something in afternoon was always 'risky'. He could give his famous one-liners.
On a number of occasions he had told me : "I am the washerman sitting here ... you will write anything and expect me to clear those for you".
But if stories had merits - he will not kill. My interview with Mark Tully went like that. Left to 'others' (very incompetent team of sycophants); that interview-story would have been killed.
Earlier, SDN had handled by interviews with Khushwant Singh. We had some kind of 'mutual admiration and trust' -- as he also had handled by stories on 'Indian writing in English' and special stories on Lata Mangheshkar and political profile for Sitaram Kesri and former PM P V Narasimha Rao. With the Flattery 'draft', I took him -- his initial remark was in Bangla.
"Amar chakri ta bodh hoe tumi-i khabe (I think, you will be responsible for me getting sacked)".
Then he smiled. Madhukar Upadahay and me -- had planned. So, even MU walked into his chamber then. SDN showed the draft to MU - who smiled and remarked, "I told him (Nirendra); the idea is good; but be careful". SDN suddenly felt excited and suggested -- that I may refer to a new book on the matter.
It was not internet age still and more so with us in PTI. In the entire office; only one computer had "internet". So me and MU walked to that particular and dug out information about the book 'You are too Kind - A brief history of Flattery'. We tried to scan through few pages quickly. One line in the book read -- Flattery has its origin in the behaviour of Chimpanzee.
Both of us rushed to SDN and he not only liked the reference, he instructed me in Bangla : "Eita ke-i headline banao (Make this your headline)".
Then he turned towards MU and said : "Is not it ? ... Let us put the entire blame on Chimpanzee and his friend ND (Nirendra Dev)".
The intro ran well (edited by maestro touch of SDN) -- "Flattery pays, according to social scientists. It may not be considered good; but social scientists believe that it has played an important role in the growth of society and dates back to primitive times".
The article also quoted the author of the book 'A brief history of Flattery' - Richard Stengel, a former editor of the 'Time' magazine.
Stengel had said among other things -- whether good or bad; Flattery is "in our gene and blood". Our story focused on observations made in different quarters that Flattery is "a victimless crime" - which pleased both the 'flatterer' and the 'flattered'.
It was also reported that Flattery came into disrepute by the middle ages and the Latin poet Dante considered it bad enough for condemnation to hell.
Terming 'imitation' as the best form of Flattery; Congress politician Vasant Sathe had said that the Chimpanzees are good at imitating.
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| Vasant Sathe |
Eminent writer Khushwant Singh had said - Flattery has held its own from the times of kings and queens to the present day Democracy with even Prime Ministers surrounded by sycophants.
Our report also carried an argument that in the 12th century, Flattery was condemned in works like Mrichchhakatika and Panchatantra.
ends
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