Expressions – Bhagwad Jal Park

Today I went to cancel my Airtel connection for my internet. As I’m leaving the city on the 20th of December, I thought that I’d settle my accounts with them, and return their modem.

The man behind the desk asks me for my ID. I tell him I can’t drive, have no voter’s ID, and can’t give him my PAN, or my Passport. He was unable to believe that I carried no ID on my whatsoever. He said that without ID, he can’t allow me to cancel the connection! This was lovely. I told him that regardless of what he said, I was leaving on the 20th, and I didn’t care a fig about his papers. I was doing the decent thing by canceling my connection, instead of just leaving, and this fellow tells me I can’t do it! His loss.

I told him there’s no law that says I have to carry any ID with me, and I don’t like to carry ID, as I resent having to prove to anyone who I am. After all why should I? This is a free country, and I have committed no crime. No one has any business asking me where I’m from. He said that without ID I have no proof that I am Bhagwad! I said I don’t need to prove to anyone that I’m Bhagwad. I’m quite secure about my identity without having to ‘prove’ it to anyone.

This was quite beyond the gentleman’s comprehension. Taking pity, I told him that I’ll try and get an electricity bill at the very least, but I can’t guarantee it. In the meantime, I’ll return the modem and pay my last bill. If I can’t get the electricity bill, I’m afraid I can’t do anything. Tough luck.

The experience has shown me in what direction the country is heading. A person can’t be left alone if he wants. He has to ‘prove’ himself with an ID card. Our country is becoming a totalitarian state. I had recently written a letter to an author regarding just this.

Similar Posts:

• Getting your fingerprints by hook or crook for the UID – October 16, 2009
• National ID cards – A threat to privacy – June 22, 2009
• How the UK Citizens Burnt their Identity Cards – July 16, 2009
• Making India a Police State – Why isn’t there an outcry? – January 5, 2009
• Universal ID cards. A threat to privacy – December 11, 2006

I’ve recently been looking at the governments proposals to bring out a universal ID card for everyone. They call it an Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC). I was quite horrified by the idea, and am attaching a copy of a letter I have sent to a person who wrote an article in the Indian Express regarding this:

Dear Mr/Mrs Mehmood,

Would you be aware of the legal status regarding such ID cards when it comes to invasion of privacy? Knowing the Indian people, no one is likely to challenge the government on this issue, specially considering the fact that hardly anyone is aware of the dangers.

The right to privacy has never come up explicitly in our country. With other pressing problems on the table, this right is never even considered. Without a knowledge of how such cards can be misused, as seen in Fascist Germany, no one is likely to perceive the dangers.

But it’s more than that. Even if they are not misused, as a natural citizen of this country, why do I need to prove myself to anyone? I can understand a license to drive, since it deals with skills that need to be acquired. But I refuse to produce a document showing that I have a right to just live.

I understand that the card will carry things like identification marks, and address. Am I some object to have identification marks, or am I a number? I don’t want to be tracked. I don’t want the government to know when I transact. I’ve done nothing illegal. Just because I have nothing to hide doesn’t mean that what I do is anyone’s business but mine. Supposing I don’t have a permanent place of residence, and keep moving from place to place on a whim? What address will I have on my card? Why should I tell anyone my marital status? It’ s personal. We’re on the verge of a police state.

I’d like to know if there is any organized resistance to such a scheme, or is the opposition limited to just writing articles? Our government has not the slightest idea of what a free country is, and what principles it should be run on. Completely ignorant of history, left to themselves, our politicians will ruin all we fought for.

Once more I ask, is there a concerted legal resistance to such a scheme? Thank you for your time.

Yours Sincerely

Bhagwad Jal Park

Similar Posts:

• Indian Unique National ID will not include Personal Details – September 10, 2009
• It’s started – UID used for tagging and tracking – October 4, 2009
• Getting your fingerprints by hook or crook for the UID – October 16, 2009
• Trying to make the UID palatable to the common man – November 6, 2009
• Worldwide attention on National ID cards in India – June 29, 2009

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