Betrayed

Have you ever been betrayed, dear Reader? Have you ever felt betrayed? I am of the opinion that betrayal is a human condition, something that is hidden deep in our psyche. Let me list out a few notable betrayals in the history of mankind, but let me tell you that the list is so voluminous that it would take a lifetime to name them all.

Think first of all of Adam and Eve, who broke the trust with God and brought us to this sorry condition. Think of Marcus Brutus, who betrayed Julius Caesar and yet was “an honourable man”. Think then of Ephialtes of Trachis, who betrayed the Spartan 300 to the marauding Persian forces. What about Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss? Also, the “motiveless malignity” of Iago, who brought about the downfall of Desdemona. Closer to our time, think about Mir Jafar, whose secret pact with Robert Clive led to the enslavement of our nation, the perpetrators being better known as the British East India Company. And, finally, think about the Norwegian politician Vidkun Quisling, who urged Hitler to invade Norway, and then setting himself up as the Prime Minister. The name has become a “noun” in the English language, for “quisling” refers to a person who collaborates with the enemy.

Yes, yes, I too have felt betrayed—by the system. In comparison to the great betrayals in history, mine are nothing, really. But when you feel defeated for no fault of yours, the memory lingers forever.’

When I took my High School exams in 1968, I was sure I did well in Hindi, but my final marks were just 40%. The same thing happened in my MA finals. I expected to fare better in the “Language” paper, but got only 140/200. I believed I was betrayed of 30 marks, in both cases, and as a result, my ranking was considerably lower.

As a college teacher, I had nothing to complain about, until I moved to Oman. All was going swell, for me, for in the third month of my sojourn in Salalah, I was elevated to the position of Head of the English Centre. That was in 2003, and I had a good run until 2007, when I fell victim to machinations from my bosses. I did not allow the dignity of my teachers to be compromised—for that would be compromising my own dignity—and for that I was shown the door. No formal explanation, no real verbal explanation, too; just some curt words telling me that I had the weekend to vacate my office. I didn’t feel betrayed by my teachers, because in that system, the tried and tested “hire and fire” policy was rampantly followed.

The same thing happened in Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University, in 2008. Into my third month there, four Indian teachers, including myself, were summoned to an Assistant Dean’s office and told that our teaching services would not be required from that day on— the reason being complaints from the students. I am no novice; I can tell a fib when I hear one. At once I demanded to meet my students to find out the real reason. They supported me overwhelmingly, as did the students of the other three guys. As a result, the Dean had to reinstate all of us, but because there was nothing in writing, everyone was satisfied. Not me, though. I was still on a visit visa and felt unsafe. I opted out and in my fourth month there I returned to good old India.

I wasn’t finished yet, however. Oman called me back, to Shinas, this time, as Head of the ELC. All went well there for three years. I even established an annual National level seminar, which is conducted even today. But when you get a 30+ educated ( but not wise) local as your boss, things fall apart. He had the audacity to tell me— a veteran college teacher for 37 years—that I did not know how to run my Centre! He even got an unknown Assistant Dean to issue me a dismissal letter. I argued with the higher-ups— his direct bosses, and mine—and got that termination letter garbaged. But I knew the knife was at my throat, from that time on. I stayed on till the end of the academic year, then quit, for good. Enough was enough.

So, dear Reader, the point I’m making is that you can’t choose your enemies, they choose you. But, more often than not, even the friends you choose may let you down at any time. Your enemy’s enemy may be your friend, but is he also trying to exploit you?

Choose well, my dears. If you do, you will come to know that the fewer the better.