What
happened?
Tell me
your favorite currency note? I am sure a lot of you would reply- Rs 500 or a Rs
1000 note. But off course, given the higher value, the joy of seeing,
receiveing and owning these two denomination would be greater than any other
note. Not any more.
In a
historic turn of events, Indian PM Mr. Narendra Modi in his speech last night,
in an attempt to curb the curruption in the country, dramatically and yet
thoughtfully, demonetized the 2 currency denomination. Logic? Well, the
simplest rationale is to create accountability for the "recoverabale"
black money, fake currency and bring more transparency in to the cash
transactions in the country. [read it as- making your incognito currency, bank
worthy].
The
announcement came heavy and totally taxing to a majority of unassuming viewers.
I mean, you cannot make one oops two of the most valuable notes redundant just
like that! Especially after Diwali and wedding festival when every one is
smelling the valuable green currency for their upcoming shopping needs.
How did
it happen?
I was
making dinner in my kitchen and could hear my husband parroting the PM's
announcement like an excited schoolboy who just saw a UFO. It was in his rarest
of occasion that he was watching tv and still talking to me. Men, I must tell
you, are so hooked to their news, their TV, our Arnab Goswami [even I
like him sometimes] emotionally and religiously.
Before I
could convulate his messenger man act as prank, I could hear my phone ringing
and whatsapp buzzing with people talking about the move. I dismissed the speech
as usual "Swachch Bharat" wherein dear PM actually attacked some
currency related mess with his ever efferverscent broom. Yes Bhaiyo and
Behno.
Man, I so
much wanted to panic as I recently withdrew quite some rs 500 notes for a
prosthetical appendment and grocery shopping. Before I could bring my oat-wheat
laden hands closer to mouth and scream in cinematic exasperation- ab
mera kya hoga, my cooker whistled.
I was
broken from my mindfulness and stumbled into usual thought stupore untill the
good sense and some kind of psycho kinesis from PMO, prevailed me. In another
dramatic turn of events, my otherwise flat wheat maps started rolling into
round and wholesome chapatis. In my usual fervor- will see whatever comes, I
retracted back to my aloo-gobhi that was almost cooked and waiting for the
green coriander garnish.
Green
Coriander! It reminded me that my fridge is running out of groceries and some
other staples. How I forgot to place my usual "Cash On Delivery" order
from the big Basket. I suddenly started feeling so victimized remembering about
the another bundle of rs 15,000 plus cash stacked in my purse, all in
denomination of Rs 500s. I withdrew at the beggining of the month to meet some
household expenditure. Now it was truly the time for me to helplessly throw my
hands in the air and scream nahhiiiii, while beating my forehead with it. Once
again, the oats atta ladden hands came in the way and managed me to distract me
from my womanly hitrionics. Mr. Kishore Biyani, I may not be sure about the
health benefits of your new oats-wheat aata but they are pretty effective to
curb my hammings. [Dudes, I washed my hair this evening, using a more than
moderate dose of my expensive Sebastian shampoo and conditioner. Cannot let a
freebie atta ruin my crown. We have Indian Government do the honors]
I could
hear some of you say- Kangali mein atta geela [hard
stabbed by poverty].
While am
unsure whether this brilliant move of honorable PM will be instrumental in
turning black money into white or no, it has definitely turned my colorful
fridge into white and black. Men, I am not thinking about rushing to ATM to
withdraw any change. What if they too disburse Rs 500 to further mock my poor
house wife agonies. Being an MBA in finance does not converts your Rs 500 notes
into Rs 100 notes overnight, ok! Now I have to wait for at least 2 more days
when the new note comes in circulation or my Relationship Manager picks up the
call to advise a suitable time to come to back to withdrew some petty cash in
denomination of Rs 100 or Rs 50s. I am sure, Rs 100 would have never felt this
important in last 10 years at least.
And Mamta
dido says it is a draconian decision? haaaw
Who will
be worried?
In my
humble opnion, anybody and everybody who were not aware of this move by virtue
of first info or leakage will not be worried. Every one else from a normal home
maker who hides some cash in her stash for a rainy day, to a normal businessmen
who works high on cash in hand, to a lower or middle class person and even a
cash strapped milieu will be affected by it, at least temporarily.
Rest all,
esp the bigger players and politicians extra, am sure would have their own way
to their will ;)
Yes, for
a middle-middle class girl like me who hates going to bank [unless they
employ her], having an amount of cash that is no longer usable and can soon
turn obsolete is a big thing. It is not easy to deal with your banker on a
normal day. With a situation like this- Banks and ATMs would be running mayhem
from Tarantino movies.
Aha! I
can see Paytm, Airtel Money and others of this ilk, laughing their way to bank,
while we mango people making a beeline outside bank and ATM to get sufficient
money to feed our family or fuel our daily expenses in a Raj Babbar world,
where no meal costs Rs 15 including the road side vada pav.
My
prosthetician refused to accept the cash in that denomination even when they
could easily got it exchanged as a registered firm via their bank. And my local
Grocery wala is willing to take a Rs 100 ka cheque rather than risking with now
obsolete Rs 500 note. So you can imagine the overall economical plight of
common man who is not in to black money and any such practices.
As of
now, am throwing helpless glances at my Rs 500 notes, the rush at bank, the
"no more cash" taking retail outlets, the long queued ATM and my
broken legs. At home, foodless am looking for options that take internet
transfers for food orders and is affordable too. Nevertheless, I am looking at
the positive side of this movement and pinning hopes that it will deliver
sufficient results over the inconveniece it is causing or may cause.
BTW, next
time, that aunty or mamiji hands you that "shagun ka lifafa", am sure
opening it in front of them to check the currency would not be called- bad
manners!
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5 Visitor's Comments:
Hi Folks,
You heard me...now its time for Bouquets and Brickbats!