CONVERSION

Globetrotters associate the term “conversion” with currency.  Many Indians generally use the term in religious contexts.

In the past few years, another significant conversion is seen; conversion of relationships/friendships and events into money.

I feel it is the side effect of IT revolution in the country.  Though statistically the economy has improved and per capita income has increased, the IT industry has widened the gap between the rich and the poor and the urban and the rural, further.  The neo-rich, a byproduct of IT revolution have set a high living standard and are apparently giving a complex to non-IT urban working class and this in addition to the rising inflation, is forcing many to take up direct marketing/selling, to supplement their incomes.

There is nothing wrong in taking up additional work or even direct selling or marketing per se, but targeting known persons certainly is, more particularly when the product or service is not of much use to the buyer.  The targeted buyers often end up buying, unable to say a firm “NO”, resulting in a hole in the pocket. 

Direct marketing is almost a parallel economy.  Every second person I have met in the recent past is involved in it.  The range of products vary from airtight plastic containers, cosmetics and beauty products, soaps and detergents, bands, gloves, vests, socks etc with healing properties, chit fund schemes, gold schemes, nutritional supplements, juices of exotic fruits, fat blockers etc.   None of these products are available in shops; so not covered under Shops and Establishment Act.  They don’t raise invoices; so they don’t attract VAT or service taxes.  Whether the income generated is accounted or not is not known. The selling price of the products is very high.  The persons selling are trained to convince that the product quality is much higher than the branded ones available in the market. 

They motivate us to become members in their team, so that they can earn commission on sales done by the members they have initiated into the group.  All this is done with a missionary zeal and the tone is certainly evangelizing.  Once these people taste little profit from this kind of business, they go about targeting more people. Attending social gatherings or functions are no longer pleasant.  We are chased by these people everywhere.  When we do not yield, they get annoyed and stop interacting with us, so much so they don’t like to have an eye-to-eye contact or refuse to acknowledge our presence.  People selling “fat blockers” and “food substitutes” start their work early in the day.  They target us when we go for our morning walks. 

Last year, I was suffering from a gynecological disorder and visited a gynecologist practicing near my house.   When my turn came, I went into her chamber.  As I started explaining to her my problems, she showed little interest.  “These doctors are weird” I told myself.  Though there were several patients behind me, she kept on asking me questions about my family members, my work etc. She spoke about several things and when she paused for a minute, I started explaining my medical condition to her again.  She tried to convince me that it could be because of my obesity and sympathized with me for not being able to reduce my weight in spite of my efforts.  (The doctor had seen me several times on the road during my morning walks)  I was for a minute happy that there was someone to empathize with me.  She then asked me how many colleagues I have in the office.  Though I felt it was irrelevant, I answered.  She was not impressed with the modest number.  She prescribed a scan and blood tests for me.   I knew she was cornering me for something, but was not clear.  I got all the prescribed tests done and went to the doctor with the reports after a few days.  After quickly glancing through my reports, she said everything was “okay” and that she was going to put me on a special diet.  I listened to her with curiosity.  She went into another room and brought a pack and said it contained nutrients extracted from herbs and is a food substitute, which means I should totally stop eating and mix this herbal powder and drink as many times as possible.  I was furious.  Was that a solution to my specific problem?  I told her I wasn’t ready to take it.  She said she would get it for me at a cheaper rate if I became a member and the rate would reduce if I get more members (read scapegoats) into the chain.  I said I had read that such products were carcinogenic and hence I was not keen about them.  She argued that she being a post graduate in medicine knows better.  I said I would take a second opinion and revert and left the clinic.  I decided not to go for it.  I told myself that in a country where starvation deaths are still prevalent I would never spend for not eating.  I am still sticking to my conviction.

Celebrities have started selling telecast rights of their marriages and other important events.  They might start selling “honeymoon” rights in future.  Going by the telephone tapping incidents and the subsequent exposure of scams, our optimistic politicians might soon start selling phone tapping rights. Sky is the limit for making money.

I wonder what these people do with the money they earn and how happy can they really be after converting all the friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues as their clients.  Obviously they land up at the feet of God men, who for a fat fee advise them to lead simple and humble lives and extend unconditional love for salvation!

I very often think of what Mahatma Gandhi said; “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed”.