Yesterday was a “dry day,” so Satyajit Dey (of the Liberal Youth Forum of India) and I went to my club, the Delhi Gymkhana, for a drink or two.
Although it was quite cold, the two of us took our positions around the outdoors bar – because we wanted to smoke with our drinks. Thanks to ramadoss.
But there were no ashtrays – ramadoss once again.
So we littered the floor – and made extra work for the sweeper.
It was then that I conducted an “experiment with truth.”
I ordered a packet of cigarettes – Gold Flake Kings, nothing less.
The cigarettes arrived – but no ashtray!
We made more work for the sweeper.
Getting to the point: Senior civil servants run the club. These are the people who are supposed to resist “political interference” in their work. They are supposed to stand up to politicians. They are not supposed to be lackeys of our The State. They are supposed to show some SPINE.
Why then do they allow the same political interference in a private club?
As we sipped our drinks and enjoyed some fish fingers, we found ourselves peeping into the Non-Smoking Bar – a non-smoking bar that is over 25 years old.
There is a lesson in this for the managing committee of the club. I hope they get it.
There is also an earlier post on the club here.
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