Numbers Speak, You See!
I was reading the newspaper when a piece of news startled me. It was about an organization that had recently conducted a blood donation camp. I had also donated blood at the same camp. The article featured a photograph at the top, showing a blood donor lying on a bed—someone who looked just like me—surrounded by 20 enthusiastic members of the organization.
While taking the photo, they had ensured that the organization’s banner was prominently visible. Some members even bent at the waist to make sure the banner was not hidden.
The most shocking part, however, was the statistics of the blood donation camp. The reported number was four times the actual figure! That’s when it hit me—organizations and statistics go hand in hand. Without numbers, these organizations wouldn’t exist. After all, it’s these inflated numbers that keep their operations running.
These NGOs, popping up like mushrooms, thrive on such exaggerated statistics. This is how they gain control over lucrative government schemes in the name of social service. They also know that by the time ₹100 of funding reaches them, it gets reduced to ₹25 due to ‘various deductions.’
There’s an old saying in our village:
“Feed buffaloes with husk and the government with numbers, and you can milk them both as much as you like!”
This trend is not new; it has ancient roots. Even the divine accountant Chitragupta keeps a numerical record of every soul’s deeds and presents it to Yamraj, who then decides their fate—heaven or hell—based on these figures. This tradition has trickled down to earth, first adopted by government offices, then spreading to schools, and now becoming the lifeline of private organizations and political institutions.
Over time, numerous techniques have been developed to present these numbers attractively—line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, pixel diagrams, PowerPoint slides, and whatnot! Various credit lenders, chit fund schemes, finance companies, lotteries, and stock market firms chase middle-class people like us with these statistical tricks. Holding flashy charts in their hands, they lure us in, and the middle-class man—more fascinated by the curvy figures of the presenters than the statistics—ends up falling into their trap.
Meanwhile, multi-level marketing companies are taking full advantage of numbers. They paint a dreamy world, climbing the ladder of figures to dazzle people’s eyes—what we commonly call “pulling the wool over one’s eyes.”
Politicians, too, have realized that people no longer believe in their false promises. So, instead of words, they now use fabricated numbers to impress the public. To justify their commitments, entire government departments are assigned to prepare these misleading figures over the next five years. Just before elections, these polished numbers are presented to the public, fooling them once again.
Everywhere, it’s the same obsession with statistics—on TV debates, in news reports, in office files, in banks, in educational institutions, hospitals, universities, government departments, municipal corporations, panchayats, and bureaucratic offices. Even if government schemes don’t reach the grassroots level, at least they appear successful on paper!
Some number wizards are working tirelessly to boost the GDP of our country. These magicians use statistics to lure customers like fish on a hook.
In our city, we have a master player in this game of numbers! Their magical data can shake entire political landscapes. They predict which party is ahead, who is sinking, and who is floating—all with precise calculations. Conversations happen through graphs, futures are decided in percentages, and every penny is accounted for in pie charts.
Politicians don’t just serve numbers; they consume them too!
Now that elections are approaching, politicians are busy serving mouth-watering dishes of development statistics. Those contesting elections are handed these figures as their lifeline because, with the help of numbers, they can pull the strings of power—or tie them as needed.
In the city, election strategists have laid out a chessboard of statistics. New candidates are climbing the ladder of numbers, dreaming of victory. The ward-wise calculations are so precise that they can predict exactly how many votes will come from which caste and neighborhood.
Numbers are the heartbeat of everything now—even personal relationships. Your income statement decides the number of relatives who will attend your weddings, celebrations, or even your funeral.
In the end, numbers speak, you see! And they speak loudly—sitting right on top of our heads. The public, however, can do nothing but clutch their heads and lament. That’s their fate! In this grand game of numbers, power always gets the checkmate—while the common people are left with no moves to play.
Author: Dr. Mukesh ‘Aseemit’
Location: Gangapur City, Rajasthan
Address: Dr. Mukesh Garg, Garg Hospital, Station Road, Gangapur City, Rajasthan, Pin Code – 322201
Profession: Orthopedic & Joint Specialist
Writing Interests: Poetry, Memoirs, Essays, Satire, and Humor
Published Books:
- Narendra Modi Ka Nirmaan: Chaiwala Se Chowkidar Tak (Published by Kitabganj Prakashan)
- Girne Mein Kya Harj Hai – A collection of 51 satirical pieces (Published by Bhavna Prakashan)
- Roses and Thorns -an English language satire collection (Published by Notion Press )
- Kavya Kumbh (Anthology, Published by Neelam Publications)
- Kavya Granth Part I (Anthology, Published by Lions Publications)
Clcik on the given link to purchase my books – “Girne Mein Kya Harz Hai” और “Roses and Thorns”
Notion Press –Roses and Thorns
Upcoming Publications:
- Vyanga Chalisa (Anthology, to be published by Kitabganj Prakashan)
My articles and satirical writings are regularly published in renowned newspapers, weekly magazines, and literary journals across India and abroad.
Awards & Recognitions:
Presidential Appreciation Award by the State IMA (Indian Medical Association)