SYCOPHANCY

 SYCOPHANCY

Sycophancy is a tool, kept sharp and ready to please the higher-ups who matter on an occasion. It blunts the vision of the recipient as much as it shows the sycophant in poor light.

Many persons take to the path of sycophancy for its sheer convenience. Yes, for sycophancy, all one needs is the tendency to crawl when asked to bend.

Other than ‘verbal praise’, sycophants do precious little by way of work or service; they are too aware of their hollow mind, and choose to wear the ‘halo’ of a ‘sharp-witted’ intellect.

Often the trick works between the one praised and the sycophant, while the sane observers fail to buy the notion. Interestingly, there is a blatant display of calculated euphemism that pleases only the two involved in this ‘no holds barred’ situation.

Ironically, the rest keep wondering as to how people refuse to recognize such undue praise heaped on the ‘power house’ with the intent of a reward.

In India, it seems that many accept the notion of ‘end justifying the means’. For them, gains are important rather than abiding by propriety, probity and other moralistic prescriptions.

How does sycophancy bother the non-sycophants?

In pursuit of our work, we have to function within a framework of hierarchy. It is this structure which comes in handy for a few while for some others it is not conducive to stand up to the scheming ways of the sycophants.

Unfortunately, the higher-ups who ought to read the sycophants clear choose to enjoy the heap of praises, instead of curbing the attitude.

These higher-ups are well aware of such intricacies but refrain from restricting the sycophants, as they themselves are exponents of the same strategy. Thus, the process of sycophancy has expanded into a wide circle spreading its tentacles far and wide, pushing the adherents of honesty to a corner.

But, the honest have the fortitude to stand up gloriously, fully aware that none can raise any accusations of wrong-doing against them. They value upright stature far more than seeking rewards of any kind. On an hour of crisis, sycophants run helter-skelter, begging the honest work- force to redeem the situation.

Yes, even at such critical moments, the honest ones do not deem it fit to embarrass the system; they quickly restore the system to order and recede to the corner without looking for rewards or awards. Indeed, such rewards find their way to the sycophants, thanks to the vicious circle. Why does it happen?                 

Honestly, the vicious circle of sycophants has a bunch of nervous people who seldom know their work; for, they have systematically been pampering one another more as a shielding of their ineptitude. T

hey nurture fear for the upright and honest workers as they know that given a semblance of a chance, the upright would effortlessly reveal class much to the chagrin of the team of sycophants. Though a microscopic minority, the upright individuals outclass the numerically abundant, myopic, inept sycophants, when swift and adept skills alone matter.

None of the sycophants ever has the courage to question the functioning of such upright persons, for fear of embarrassing suggestions from the upright. So, the sycophants feel it safe to pamper one another and run errands at the beck and call of the officials and even for the members of the household of such officials.

They lend themselves to be the servants, if the higher-up shows traces of a tendency to exploit. The failure of some mega projects in our country can be conveniently traced to the unending sycophancy as a syndrome incurable except by dismantling those sycophants. But, doing it is a matter of courage. With all those upright held at bay, who can correct it? More so when every honest effort is thwarted, frustration overtakes and the upright keep doing their bit with just no commendation, though the slightest of errors from them would bring forth condemnation even by the inept. 

Given the unilateral swing of partisan assessments, the honest stay off controversies, as they feel it demeaning to be a part of the incompetent team; they keep off until official requests come their way. But every system survives by the services the few honest among the task force, who are gloriously silent. 

It is this fragment which respects conscience with utmost concern, though fully aware of being sidelined thereafter and  on all occasions of recognition or reward.

Nature works its ways of rewarding them!