when I joined the Income-tax Department as Inspector in 1977

when I joined the Income-tax Department as Inspector in 1977, the emergency was just over, and the government was the product of the JP movement..
There were strict instructions for us not to be severe to the tax payers.. We were really amused.. Without some sort of threat no one will pay tax in India..
We friends in our Inspectors seats with nothing much to do used to discuss the modalities of tax collection.
A caparisoned elephant, with the commissioner atop will lead a procession. There would be horses trotting with Officers atop in very ceremonial dresses, all wearing the Tiruppathi Namam
There would be Nadaswaram, Thappatta Kottu or Bands accompanying provided we could get the services of the artists free.
A bullock cart will be following and in this there would be big hundial with yellow cloth tied..
The Inspectors and lesser souls would be singing the names of Gods and requesting all to contribute their mite by paying tax by offering their taxes into the hundial.
Govindaa, Govindaa..
NB It is another matter that many of us grew old and grey in the department and occupied higher levels and had to take very tough and unkind decisions in the process of enforcing tax-laws..