Edward Said, the great thinker famously remarked that the distinction between the elites and the commoners was “inevitably a distorting one”, increasing the gap between such public elites and the ordinary citizen. “Don’t you know who I am”, seems to capture the spirit of India’s VVIP (Very Very Important Person) and VIP syndrome that politicians and officials in power exhibit regularly. In India, being a VVIP/ VIP also brings with it an undeclared right to assert one’s position and bend the rules to one’s own advantage. The privileged VIP and VVIP’s take great pride at every opportunity of showing themselves different and superior to the common Indian citizen. Indian airports, as compared to other places, witness the tantrums of these ‘special’ persons, more frequently. There are 33 tiers of people who needn’t undergo frisking and security checks at the Indian airports. Not only is such a long list of VIPs unusual by airport security standards, it is also against global aviation rules laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
VIP rage is an accepted job hazard for the airport security officers and every month, security personnel report an average of 18-20 cases of troubles affecting VIPs at Indian airports. Every case is as unique as the VIP who causes it. Not only are the VIPs averse to hindrances at the Indian airport, they are ready to pick up quarrels over petty issues. Their tantrums not only create trouble for the security staff, but are also a menace to the common flyer. Many a times, these VIPs fail to turn up on time, and then force a delay in the scheduled departure, much to the inconvenience of the common air passengers. Recently many cases of trouble created by VIPs occupied the limelight.
06/12/14 New Delhi Times
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VIP rage is an accepted job hazard for the airport security officers and every month, security personnel report an average of 18-20 cases of troubles affecting VIPs at Indian airports. Every case is as unique as the VIP who causes it. Not only are the VIPs averse to hindrances at the Indian airport, they are ready to pick up quarrels over petty issues. Their tantrums not only create trouble for the security staff, but are also a menace to the common flyer. Many a times, these VIPs fail to turn up on time, and then force a delay in the scheduled departure, much to the inconvenience of the common air passengers. Recently many cases of trouble created by VIPs occupied the limelight.
06/12/14 New Delhi Times
