Ban These 'Undeserving' Awardees

Do people really crave for awards? Do they get excited on receiving trophies and other momentoes of recognition and appreciation? How many of us are really thrilled on being recognized for our deeds and actions? While many of us surely do all these and more, unfortunately there are many for whom awards carry no special significance; very strangely, they are completely indifferent to being awarded and worse they often display brazen insolence amounting to gross insult towards people who are awarding them in the first place.

Many of you may wonder why I am ranting on these lines, especially when last week I was praising the excitement of The DQ Week award functions currently undergoing across the country. While 80% of the partners who receive awards are really excited and thrilled, I am increasingly seeing a trend amongst some partners, especially from upcountry markets, who are definitely giving a 'damn I care' attitude towards receiving awards. But please do not get me wrong, I am not painting all upcountry partners in one brush. There are many who are thrilled to the bits on being recognized. This year I remember a partner from Manipur who was so excited he clicked individual pictures with my senior colleagues late in the night and partied with us till the wee hours; or the guy from Patna who hired a cab to drive down to Kolkata, take the trophy and then go back. Or those from Amravati, Nashik and Ahmedabad who braved Mumbai rains to come and accept awards.

But there are few from upcountry locations who just refuse to turn up despite being informed well in advance. And even if we give benefits of doubt to logistical problems in few cases, these partners are unwilling to depute someone to come and receive the trophies on their behalf. There are few from even metros who take pride in not turning up to receive trophies (the wannabe Amir Khans); and some like a Kolkata partner, who few years back in an event in Malaysia, grossly misbehaved with the organizers. It is high time that these partners are blacklisted, and not considered for any awards (and that information too is made public). That will teach these guys a lesson and I really intend to follow this stringently at The DQ Week.

Mind you, my rants are not only for our awards, but this trend of a growing minority who show indifference to award shows of all kinds is on the rise. One reason, obviously is the preponderance of too many award shows, but that do not absolve in those dealing in theatrics during receiving trophies. After all, you should learn the humility and grace to appreciate recognition bestowed on you; otherwise your behavior is nothing less than an insolent child.