The day of the ‘nodder’
Vivek Atray
PG Wodehouse was always ahead of his time. And when he introduced the breed of 'nodders' in a classic short story based on Hollywood's goings-on in the 1920s, he broke the mould. The very concept of engaging a man who would nod vigorously at the exact moment in a meeting when the engager needed him to nod was innovative to say the least.
In fact the masterful Wodehouse had not just the nodder in the employment of the protagonist, but also two others who would go on saying ‘yes’ and were officially designated as ‘Yes Men’. The three of them would ensure that all present invariably agreed with their boss. They would become so animated in agreement with his proposals to the House that only a real brave-heart would vote against them.
Indeed, the nod has forever been a universally accepted sign of acquiescence. But the meaning of the unique 'nod' that many residents of South India bestow upon the onlooker is forever a matter of conjecture. It is a wavy, curvy, sort of nod, and could actually be a shake of the head, thus signifying a 'No', but one is never sure!
In current times, ‘nodders’ and even clappers have become almost indispensible. It is a known fact that a politician will engage the services of motley persons in the audience to cheer and clap at given intervals in his speech. Unfortunately for our enterprising leader, the opposite is also true and a rival will often employ 'disrupters' to jeer him loudly!
One ‘nodder’ had a tough time after a recent meeting though. He nodded so vigorously for over an hour that he had to apply all sorts of balms to heal his aching neck later. It is reliably learnt that he has engaged the services of a professional trainer to train him how to nod properly during the next few decades of his career, without causing permanent physical damage.
And a young suitor still waits breathlessly for the shy nod of his beloved when he pops the question, although these days shy nods are said to be out of fashion!
As a young officer in charge of a public auction years ago, I noticed another sort of nod. A grim-faced local heavyweight was present with his cronies and would nod ever so slightly each time he wanted to raise the bid. His chief crony would then announce loud and clear what the ‘boss’ wanted.
The philosophical reader may surmise that he would have done better in life had he nodded more often at his boss instead of putting his foot down. Be that as it may, his firmness probably gave him much sounder sleep over the years than would have his sycophancy.
Clearly though, the professional ‘nodder’ is here to stay. He may even stand a chance of nodding his way to the 'nodders' hall of fame one day, but only if he gets the nod from the powers-that-be!
