Ripples on the brain

Suppu: Good morning Mama.
Kuppu: (turning away from the newspaper he was reading) Good morning Suppu, aren’t you late for school today?

Suppu: No, since mom’s at home today, she told me that she’ll take me to the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary which is currently a host to a lot of colourful winged visitors, thanks to the rains last week. So, I have taken a day’s leave. By the way, what is there in this box in the newspaper, mama?
Kuppu: Oh that? That is an advertisement for some inauguration function of the State Government that will happen today.

Suppu: I recognize this thatha. His photo was also in the letter that you received the other day.
Kuppu: Letter? Which letter?

Suppu: I don’t know. It had BSNL written on the cover.
Kuppu: That was the monthly telephone bill, pattamma. Yes, you’re right. His photo was there too.

Suppu: Is this thatha so famous that his photo appears everywhere.
Kuppu: He’s the Chief Minister. So, he’ll get publicity whenever important events of the State Government take place.

Suppu: But mama, what is this “publicity”? Won’t these events be reported in the media when they happen?
Kuppu: Yeah, they receive wide coverage as well. But then, this is a probably like an advertisement…

Suppu: Mama, my amma tells me that for an advertisement to appear in a media, the advertiser has to pay the media. In that case, who pays for this advertisement?
Kuppu: Well, your mom is right. The State Government pays for the advertisement.

Suppu: And I also know State Government gets the money in turn from the public directly or indirectly through taxes. So, the public pays for these redundant advertisements about events which are anyway reported by the mainstream media. But mama, does that thatha also head the BSNL? Why did his photo appear in the bill?
Kuppu: Well, err… you see hmm… the Chief Minister’s nephew is the telecom minister or something and … To be honest, I don’t know.

Suppu: Okay, forget that. Who’s this aunty whose photo appears in all government advertisements? Is she the Prime Minister or something?
Kuppu: Well, she could have been the PM if she’d wanted. But she’s not one now. You see, she heads the party that rules the country.

Suppu: Now, does that give any reason why her photo should be in the publicity materials of the Government using the public money?
And I don’t understand what is with this photo. Why should a government officials photo appear everywhere? I can understand if they are in the show business. Amma tells me about great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. If the people really like the leaders, they keep them in their hearts. So, instead of ensuring that their images capture the media, shouldn’t the leaders ensure they capture the hearts of the public?
Kuppu: err… pattama, I think your mom’s calling you to dress you up for the outing. Go ahead and have a nice trip. Do take a lot of pictures of the exotic birds and show them to me.