(First appeared in The Hindu Business Line, August 23, 2012)

When a political leader said in her unique style what in essence has been stated by well-meaning constituents of the judiciary, prime time show anchors got the theme for a week and more. Understandable. After all, when a religious practice is critically evaluated from within, it is applauded as liberalism whereas the same words, from another tongue, will get attacked as inflammatory.

Meanings, it would seem, lie not in what is said but who says it. Welcome to the world of who-fixation: at best a smart tool for interpretation but often a predisposition and a kind of passivity, insured by betting on probability.

That is why internal examiners read the answers and then check out the students’ names before scribbling marks on the answer sheets.

For the same reason, magazine editors chase famous writers who in turn contribute pieces that earlier earned them rejection slips from the same editors. Publishers are equally clever when they plonk the successful author’s name huge and across the paper back cover, dwarfing the title. The author’s name sells, instantly; not his novels, at least not instantly.

Fame is all, facts and figures optional, for the who- fixated. It is a collective abrogation of the responsibility to study, evaluate and judge. Also called bias, it is blind faith in reputation and – if the subject is unknown – imputation based on looks, age, surname, shape of beard and size of car. It is convenient prejudging, like pre-cooked food — warm it as you please and swallow. No sweat. No guilt.

The largest beneficiaries of who-fixation in offices are bosses. Being bosses, they get to talk more including the last word, not counting what is said later behind their back.  You can also buy captive audiences temporarily. Try sponsoring a seminar. Then you can exploit the politeness of the audience and extend your welcome speech to unwelcome lengths, forcing the theme speakers who follow to play T-20  with four- ball overs…

There are many ways to gauge the who-fixation index of a nation. One is to watch TV to check who sells cars, cement and water purifiers – those who know, such as scientists and engineers or those whom we know, such as film stars. For a confirmatory test, see if the sports officialdom sports permanent fixtures that, like dentures, defy wither and nature. Thankfully, we take people for what they are worth, where performance is measurable and visible to all – for instance, in the stadia. But even there, Pathan’s mishit skier is indiscretion whereas Sehawag’s steeple – “well, you know, that’s the way he plays…”

If the argumentative Indian can gain some objectivity, then, as a nation, we can reduce our who-fixation and be closer to truth and fairness more often. A reduced who-fixation can also do more than what official committees can ever aspire, to foster inclusiveness in an innovation culture that respects ideas, boosting GDP.

You can see the logic, surely. But of course, you have the option to hold on till you hear it from Dr Amartheya Sen himself.

Tailpiece: In an office, once a group was waiting for the big boss to join a meeting on an upcoming event. A middle level manager threw a suggestion which was met by all round disapprovals. Then there were footsteps heard and the big boss arrived. Seated, he started off: “You know, this morning an idea struck me…” and he went on to give the same suggestion that the wise men around the table had just rejected. But the sounds that followed had the intense fervour of the Wah, Wahs to reward a fantastic shayari recital……. (Wondering how I came to know of the meeting and your no-brainer-turned-brilliant suggestion?)