Who is Tom?

Ever since – I like to say ever since but it’s just the last 2 weeks – since I started this blog ‘Jereys’, people keep on asking – who is Tom? Well this is an attempt to answer them and remove some seeds of doubts, and maybe add a few new ones. 

Don’t we all want to be Jerry? The small, ebullient, smart, mischievous and cute Jerry, who always finds some way to outsmart the bully, simultaneously oversmart and stupid, big and angry Tom. The Rat or Mouse, which we cringe on – women used to scream [not today’s women] – and at the same time rever, because he is Ganesha’s vehicle. For us Bharatiyas ‘Mushak Vahan’ is a beloved one since ancient times. And in the 20th Century, MGM studio’s William Hanna and Joseph Barbara created this Mouse [ I’m not forgetting Disney’s Mickey Mouse, but let’s keep him aside for the time-being]. 

The Jerrying starts very early – cheating on parents, mind you, not serious cheating but small things like running out of the house when mom is busy with her tv or ……..cellphone. It slowly graduates into taking a sip from father’s glass, or taking a ride on mom’s scooter when you’re just 13. Later in the college a light kick in the calf – to the boy sitting ahead – to show his answer sheet or a carefully aimed paper missile at a bully professor. In later life it grows into occasional traffic rule bends, or a difference of opinion expressed in a meeting with the boss, you catch the drift?

All sound like illegal activities, true, but the intention is not to be illegal but to defy authority, a small protest. It’s nothing much, but the Jerrys enjoy it. I had or rather have this irritating habit of openly talking contrary to the prevalent wisdom [given by the wise boss]  in office meetings – a habit of speaking out ‘राजाने कपडे घातलेच नाहीत’. I don’t think it’s bravery, but rather a small protest. I know the system will not change by my misgivings, but I feel good, that’s it. 

And the Toms of this world? They’re everywhere. 

When I was a college student, a few of us had started a diwali season sale of Greeting Cards and Sky-Lanterns [आकाश कंदील़] on Laxmi Road. We had basically set up a table outside one of the friend’s house [वाडा]. Everyday we used to set it at about 11am and by 10pm, we would wind it up, fold the table and store everything in that friend’s house. One morning when I arrived to open it, there was a scooter parked exactly in our table’s spot, and there was enough parking space a few feet away. So I painstakingly and carefully shifted the scooter to that place, set up my table and started the work. That day other friends were to join later. After some time, the owner of the scooter arrived, a hefty pot bellied sardar. He somehow remembered the exact spot where he had parked and was very angry that it was moved. He started abusing me. I patiently told him sorry and explained that, there was no damage to the scooter. But he was not in a listening mood. He started shaking my table, all the greetings and lanterns fell down. I tried to prevent it. When he started physically hitting me, I tried to hit back but he was huge. By then few others intervened and I was saved. 

I have met other Toms during the course of my professional career. In my first job at Philips, one Manager took an instant dislike for me and tried to find fault with each of my design concepts. One day he brought ‘Times of India’ to the office and called to show me some obscure news. Next to the news was a big advt for ‘Cattle feed Salesmen’. I had not understood, but later a colleague explained to me in the canteen, how the manager was trying to belittle me. I immediately confronted the Manager, but then he denied any such intention. For some reason I remembered him when I got my first patent. 

Another Tom I failed to recognise for years – I cannot tell you his name or company, but just a trait. He used to be very close to me, we had lunch together, went to each other’s homes, and had parties. His fond pastime was abusing the top management, telling some anecdotes, but only when two of us were there. Claiming to be Jerry, such a fool was I, that I never realised until one day the MD’s PA told me that he did the same with the Top Boss, only in reverse, i.e. abusing me. It seems he needed my technical intelligence and was very happy with my lack of understanding intrigue and being plainspoken. But all this I knew after I left the organization. 

A Tom and Jerry strip shows Tom being put in his place by Spike, the Dog. Spike is the loving Grandmother every child-jerry needs. There was a TV ad which showed a child, angry with his family, running away from home and going to the train station. His grandfather comes searching for him, he refuses to go back, but when the grandfather tells him that grandmother has made special jalebi and samosa for him, he is just elated and returns home, clutching Grandpa’s finger. 

I’m sure you’re a Jerry just like me. And it’s fun being a Jerry – you’re honest, you’re funny and you’re agile. So do you know any Tom, or rather how many Toms you know? Share your experiences in the comments below.