There was a time when receiving a siropa or a plaque felt like being knighted in the court of public respect. It was not just a piece of cloth or a framed certificate it was a symbol of sacrifice, service, and sincerity. Today, however, the scene has changed so dramatically that one wonders whether these honours are still awards… or just attendance prizes for showing up on stage with the right smile.
In our modern social gatherings, the siropa has become as common as tea and biscuits. No function is complete without a long queue of “distinguished guests” waiting patiently—not to speak, not to contribute but to collect their ceremonial cloth and pose for photographs. The real achievement seems to be reaching the stage without tripping over the wires, because merit is no longer a requirement availability is.
Plaques, on the other hand, have evolved into decorative souvenirs of mutual appreciation clubs. “You honor me, I honor you, and together we will honor everyone who walks through the door.” It’s a beautiful cycle of generosity except that it has nothing to do with actual contribution. In fact, if plaques could speak, many would probably protest: “Please, at least check what this person has done before engraving my surface!”
The irony reaches its peak when those who have genuinely worked for society sit quietly in the audience, unnoticed and uninvited, while the stage shines with individuals whose biggest qualification is knowing the organizer personally. It is not that society lacks deserving people—it is just that we have mastered the art of ignoring them with great efficiency.
As this culture grows, the value of these honours quietly slips away. When everyone is “honoured,” no one truly is. The siropa becomes lighter, the plaque becomes cheaper, and respect becomes… negotiable. What was once a mark of dignity is now in danger of becoming a joke whispered in the back rows of the very functions meant to celebrate it.
Perhaps it is time for a small but powerful reform. Let siropas return to shoulders that have carried responsibility, and plaques return to hands that have built something meaningful. Until then, the grand festival of awards will continue bigger, louder, and increasingly meaningless.