Buy One and Take Two Syndrome!

Retail boom in last five-six years brought in stiff competition with heavy discounts; Shopping malls here, there and everywhere. Walmart was feared to be grabbing the Indian market and even then, host of retailers entered the market. Buy one and take two got multiplied to three, four, five and even six in some cases. Then came the recession to correct the mushrooming. Today being International Women's Day, it may not be appropriate to talk about women. But, I always keep wondering how these retailers could afford; making up through volumes, I suppose.

As per Indian laws or norms, a student can not pursue two courses simultaneously, an employee cannot work in two places and a man can't marry two women. In politics, they adopt a principle one man - one post. But in mythology and puranas, Ramayan and Mahabharat tell us that Shri Ram is a model - Eka Patnivrata while his father Dasaratha had three wifes! Similarly, Draupadi had five husbands in Pandavas. Whatever be the justification. Many times I can not get convinced the reasons that why Lord Venkateswara (Balaji for some) has two wives - Padmavathi and Alivelu Manga (also referred as Sridevi and Bhudevi), Lord Shiva had Ganga and Parvathi, Lord Ganesha had Siddhi and Riddhi, Sri Krishna had Rukmini and Satyabhama besides of course, Radha and innumerable Gopikas. The list may go on and on.

I got this stray thought when I am hearing about the scandals some of these Godmen are indulging in recently in Bangalore and Delhi. Why are they fooling around innocent and gullible people who have tremondous faith in religion? These self-styled sanyasis lead posh life, travel in executive class, move in imported expensive cars, maintain secretaries and offices, use furniture of exhorbitant prices and give TV shows. Besides, it is sad that some of them are involved in sex scandals. They move in the company of politicians and VIPs and neglect the Aam Aadmi.

Again, I am puzzled that many of our businesses including Bars and Restaurants, Wine Shops, etc., name them after Krishna, Rama, Anjaneya, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, etc. Interestingly, I have not come across such names from other religions. There is no law or authority to control or prevent this type of practice. I read some time back that a Pizza Company used Goddess Lakshmi's photo in its advertisements, and was later on asked to withdraw, which was complied with. We need not look for law to take care of such things, but observe self-discipline.