Who is atop the chain of command?
The clique of students who in the same class, Despite family influence just managed to pass...
To eventually become the heady bureaucrats, Who catch all the smart professionals like gnats. PHOTO: SAAD MALLIK
There wasn’t any challenge they could not surpass,
The best of the breed, at the top of their class,
Who knew the importance of hard, honest toil;
Didn’t waste their time, burned the midnight oil.
They went on to excel as professionals, engineers,
Doctors and lawyers with promising careers.
While those who were ordinary, average at best,
Graduated and did well in the civil service test,
To eventually become the heady bureaucrats,
Who catch all the smart professionals like gnats.
In a web of paper work to drive them insane,
And control their existence with utmost disdain.
The clique of students who in the same class,
Despite family influence just managed to pass,
Turned into our leaders, ministers, assemblymen,
Who know that networking is mightier than a pen.
They are so powerful, even their kids and wives,
Dictate the obedient bureaucrats’ lives.
And the one at the bottom of the class in school,
Who failed every test and defied every rule,
Found useful alliance with criminals and thugs,
Engaging in extortion, kidnappings and drugs.
He controls our leaders as puppets in his hand,
Since he is at the top of the chain of command!
The best of the breed, at the top of their class,
Who knew the importance of hard, honest toil;
Didn’t waste their time, burned the midnight oil.
They went on to excel as professionals, engineers,
Doctors and lawyers with promising careers.
While those who were ordinary, average at best,
Graduated and did well in the civil service test,
To eventually become the heady bureaucrats,
Who catch all the smart professionals like gnats.
In a web of paper work to drive them insane,
And control their existence with utmost disdain.
The clique of students who in the same class,
Despite family influence just managed to pass,
Turned into our leaders, ministers, assemblymen,
Who know that networking is mightier than a pen.
They are so powerful, even their kids and wives,
Dictate the obedient bureaucrats’ lives.
And the one at the bottom of the class in school,
Who failed every test and defied every rule,
Found useful alliance with criminals and thugs,
Engaging in extortion, kidnappings and drugs.
He controls our leaders as puppets in his hand,
Since he is at the top of the chain of command!