The Other List

Although no one ever shows the other list, it is the other list that I have always been more inquisitive about. Why the other list is generally kept from public viewing is understandable, and why we must show greater inquisitiveness about the other list is equally understandable. You can never have a complete picture of things unless you have the other list before you and not many want to give you the complete picture as it tends to giving themselves up. No one likes that.

But what is the other list anyway?  We have heard about the Schindler’s List. Although the list I have in my mind does not have anything to do with this List, this List too has something common in with the other list. This List too was neither shown, nor was seen until one stumbled upon it and made it public. Perhaps, no one had asked it to be shown, ostensibly because no one knew about its existence. Even if one were to ask for it, no one would have volunteered to show it for the same precise reason- it would have exposed him. No one liked to be exposed. Not even those who lived in the distant past and had not known of the present day machinations and manipulations. They also did not show it, rather pleaded ignorance about the existence of such a list. But the list always existed despite indications to the contrary. An astute politician would never flaunt such a list. Therefore getting to see the other list is not easy. But what is the other list in the first place and why am I making so much ado about it?

Well, the other list is the most important list of all lists that we know of. It is that list which can make or unmake many things, many dispensations and many regimes. It can bring about an earthquake; it can cause turmoil of far reaching consequences.

“It is the other list that I want to see, dear me! Where is the other list?” that is how the inquisitive man had asked him. Centuries ago, when boats were the only mode of conveyance for going from one place to another, this inquisitive man was approached by boatmen promising to ferry him across, flaunting their lists of those successfully ferried across to make fortune. Each boatman was eager to draw his attention, to enlist him as a customer. Each one of them had just one list to flaunt, asking him to see for himself and decide whether he would like to be ferried by this or that boatman. No one had the other list, the inquisitive man was sure. No one had ever asked for the other list. No one had therefore compiled the other list.