A slap is a slap is a slap

"A slap is a slap is a slap". No, this quotation of this scribe will never rival the famous one by Gertrude Stein, "A rose is a rose is a rose". Even the victim, India's Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, of a slap that has made screaming headlines all across the globe tried to dismiss the incident by not nurturing rancour. As a political stalwart of the world's largest democracy, he knows quite well that bitterness will only add further insult to injury. The perpetrator, though, shows no sign of repentance. He tried last week to attack another former minister of Indian cabinet. But why? His argument could not be plainer and simpler. He blames the ministers for rising inflation and corruption. In fact, the former minister he targeted for attack last week was in charge of the telecommunication portfolio and has been handed a five years term in jail in connection with a 1995 corruption case. Ever since the infamous (or famous!) hurling of a shoe at the most powerful man on earth then by an Iraqi journalist, the practice got quite a currency. A number of people tried their hands at it on different occasions. Even a Shikh journalist did the same to Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram in 2009 for the government failure to bring the culprits who stoked the anti-Shikh riots in 1984. Which of the acts -landing a slap on one's face or hurling a shoe -is more effective to bring home the message is rather difficult to say. But about one thing there is no doubt that causing insult or humiliation is the main purpose for the perpetrators to undertake such a risky operation. Because they know full well that the consequence will not be very pleasing for them. Or, can it be that people like Harvinder Singh, the attacker of Pawar, looks for worldwide publicity - no matter if it is in manners of notoriety. Whatever may be the case, the anger expressed by the disgruntled Iraqi journalist or Harvinder has a genuine ground. The vicious clout of politicians and businesspeople or the very rich have exploited those at the bottom to build their fortunes. Defined or undefined democratic principles and ideals have been so bungled that the most admirable system is proving no longer powerful enough to stem the socio-economic slide. Worldwide economic meltdown and consequent inflation are an offshoot of the democratic dichotomy. Hurling a shoe or landing a slap will not bring those responsible to senses. It will require nothing short of a social revolution where those at the top learn the virtue of sharing their unearned money and benefits from investment with the less fortunate in society.