Eyy!!! Eyyy!!!! Eyyyy!!!!!

Most of the world is probably aware of what I’m about to say next, but for those in the dark, the results of the Indian general elections — that were carried out in a staggered process over five phases and lasting nearly a month and a half — have been declared. And surprise-surprise (!), the Indian National Congress came up trumps.

Enough analysis has been done on the issue, so I won’t linger on that too much. Suffice it to say that since coming to power five years ago, some of the changes that have been brought about by Dr Manmohan Singh’s government at the Centre and some of the policies they have stuck steadfastly to, may well have earned them the confidence of the masses. The masses who graciously decided to grant the REAL turbanator a second term.

That being said, it’s possible that a distinct lack of a viable alternatives or a reasonably reliable second option led people to vote for the Congress, en masse. I don’t know. But what I do know is events like elections, terror attacks and sports events bring out the absolute worst in most people, specifically journalists. Garden variety scribes, mic-toting soundbyte-hunters, editors and probably the worst of all, camera persons and photographers.

But before diving into my rant, I’d like to express my gratitude to them for bringing the photos and videos that they do. I understand it’s a difficult job and after a few years on the field, one does become a little accustomed to pushing and shoving and can bring it into one’s non-work life.

What, however, is inexcusable is the sheer lack of manners, decency, propriety and humanity that these morons have. From yelling “Eyyyy!! Eyyyyy!!!” at the state’s chief minister, just so that he looks into their camera for a brief second to yelling the same thing at a little waiter serving refreshments at a press conference to barging and shoving people out of the way, when it’s grid-locked and there’s no way to get out.

For these reasons and more, I often wonder, just how badly do we need photographs in newspapers and TV news anyway? Wouldn’t the world be better without them and the mannerless offal that they bring with them?