(Published in the April 25 issue of the Governance Now. Please visit the following link to access the article. http://governancenow.com/views/columns/blame-it-our-corrupting-system)
I feared for this since the time Hazare started mobilizing us against corruption in the corridors of powers. It happened to all earlier torch-bearers against any kind of corruption in India. Those who showed courage to question the powerful have themselves ended up falling on the side of sufferers. Be it the Tehelka-expose, cash-for-votes revelation in the Parliament, the L. N. Mishra-whispers, the Bofor issue, unveiling of the fodder scam, JMM payment case, Radia-gate expose and other such innumerable cases – we have witnessed blatant attempts to shut the mouths of the source itself. Due to this, we as a nation have lost faith in everybody. We will look for no reasons to believe in the latest Bhushan – duo expose; we will never seek any proof to establish the relation between Gandhis and Italian-Q’s Bofor-payments; we will effortlessly assume a connection between Binayak and Maoists; irrespective of the verdicts, we will never be able to acquit Afzal or Professor Geelani in the Parliament-attack case; we have already hanged Modi many times for his supposed involvement in the Gujrat riots; it is impossible to reject a link between any unknown Indian-muslim and terrorism; and nobody needs to be convinced for a connection between RSS and saffron-terror; in fact we require absolutely nothing to believe in any such negative expose and will be extremely hesitant in accepting that Anna Hazare, Swami Ramdev or Swami Agniwesh have innocent intentions. The power uses this state of our mind to prove that all are corrupt. This helps them in achieving their win ultimately.
In addition to this, corruption has assumed such a large proportion that people feel pride in displaying their corrupt intent. Corrupts are ruling the nation and belong to ruler-influential class. We take pride in moving in a tinted-glassed-car if that is banned, we feel proud in moving without helmet, we proudly cross a red-signal or boast of our connection in manipulating a decision in our favor that was otherwise not allowed within rules – be it admission of your ward; be it a place in an Indian/IPL team; be it winning a tender; be it selection for a post or promotion in your rank. On the other hand a law-abiding or a rule-observer is generally looked down upon by our society. We measure the status of an influential person and respect him as much as he shows courage to violate/manipulate rules and norms. The power-brokers in India have helped in creating this state by enacting laws that are simply un-observable. Bill Gates can rise from ashes using regular means but it is simply unimaginable to even dream for any such rise in India by any law-abiding individual. You necessarily need to be a Harshad/a Ketan/a power broker politician/a shrewd bureaucrat/a corrupt administrator/a manipulating Judge/a tax evading businessman or a professional who is not honestly true to his/her profession. Believe me they can prove anyone corrupt not only because we require little to get convinced about this but also as they have ensured that nobody can remain a law-abiding citizen in India.
I am afraid, unless you are an ostrich it is impossible to find a way to get out of this mess.
In addition to this, corruption has assumed such a large proportion that people feel pride in displaying their corrupt intent. Corrupts are ruling the nation and belong to ruler-influential class. We take pride in moving in a tinted-glassed-car if that is banned, we feel proud in moving without helmet, we proudly cross a red-signal or boast of our connection in manipulating a decision in our favor that was otherwise not allowed within rules – be it admission of your ward; be it a place in an Indian/IPL team; be it winning a tender; be it selection for a post or promotion in your rank. On the other hand a law-abiding or a rule-observer is generally looked down upon by our society. We measure the status of an influential person and respect him as much as he shows courage to violate/manipulate rules and norms. The power-brokers in India have helped in creating this state by enacting laws that are simply un-observable. Bill Gates can rise from ashes using regular means but it is simply unimaginable to even dream for any such rise in India by any law-abiding individual. You necessarily need to be a Harshad/a Ketan/a power broker politician/a shrewd bureaucrat/a corrupt administrator/a manipulating Judge/a tax evading businessman or a professional who is not honestly true to his/her profession. Believe me they can prove anyone corrupt not only because we require little to get convinced about this but also as they have ensured that nobody can remain a law-abiding citizen in India.
I am afraid, unless you are an ostrich it is impossible to find a way to get out of this mess.
1 comment:
hello dr rakesh, i read your article and agree with your statement that without corruption we cannot do business. infact if we look into the business deals which at every level happen, there is much more which goes behind the scene than before. i have known people who say i am against corruption but will not follow a simple Queue at a cash counter in a mall or cinema or airport etc. the reason i feel is because we are too selfish and do not give a thought to the other person. for example if i was walking out of a mall and you have these swing doors, i would push it and hold the door to see if anyone was behind me but most of the time i have to watch out that the person who pushed it before me does not leave it so i get hit. i am not a saint but i learn from small incidents. i was in germany at the postoffice and an old lady she was coming out and was holding the door till i reached the door, and said danke ( thank you ). this taught me a lesson which i follow most of the time unless sometimes i mentally preoccupied and dont follow it.
i have known people who say we dont pay bribes but i am a freelance consultant and they pay me my service charges which is peanuts compared to what i have to pay as bribe to the concerned official. so is this corruption ? am i not corrupt, if i want to make a living then i need this company as they pay me for my services. so the argument can go on and on. end of the day i can assure you people are changing after the computers have come in a big way in india. let me quote i think this is from the bible ( am a hindu ) - he who has not commiteth a sin throw the first stone. so let us stop committing the small sins ourselves and once we change the others will change. it is not an individual effort of Anna or Ramdev etc it is you and me WE.
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