Every attempt we make to wriggle out of corruption sucks us deeper
The wide spread corruption in almost all nooks and corners of the Indian society discourages people to fight it. They lose hope when evil triumphs repeatedly. They do not realize that if a half-naked fakir can bring down a mighty empire, by empowering the people, it is also possible for the faceless millions to bring down the corrupt by empowering themselves through the ballot.
Marco Polo the 14th century Italian traveler had this to say: “if you entrust a pot of gold to an Indian and demand it back after ten years, he will return it without a murmur”. Where has gone that honesty? Where has gone the individual integrity so prevalent in our society? The moral fear and social responsibility inculcated in the young children seem to have evaporated. Is it the result of the faulty educational system or the disintegration of the joint family? In the Western countries, though living-together and divorce rates are flourishing, personal honesty and integrity seem still to linger on.
Individual dishonesty in India has led to business corruption and irresponsibility. Some of the big trading houses and businesses, who used to pride themselves on their products and services, think nothing of indulging in anti-people, anti-national practices. Corporates seem to be starting industries that pollute our rivers, deplete our natural resources and rob the tribals of their rights. Some of them have developed duplicity as an art; they collude with short- sighted politicians to rob and dupe the population. Of course, not all of them, only the bad ones.
Solutions to these problems used to come from the educational institutions where young men and women traditionally make plans to fight social evils without worrying about personal consequences. But our higher educational institutions are now run mostly by those who have no qualms about weakening the social fabric. The educational system, as we find it now, serves only to produce a well- informed workforce to the industries and businesses, not intellectuals and social critics. The Departments of History, Politics, Economics, Philosophy and other social sciences have been disbanded in many colleges, as they are not essential to turn out white collar job aspirants.
Responsible citizens are skeptical if corruption can be minimized, never mind rooting it out. They wonder if it is possible to stop the country from slipping into a banana republic where money and muscle power would rule and where the people would accept corruption as a way of life.
Changes in totalitarian countries happen after heavy bloodshed and destruction. But pushing a button by a million fingers can topple regimes in a democracy, shatter the hopes of corrupt politicians and subservient bureaucrats, and open the doors for a better and richer future. The voters, if they are properly oriented and motivated, can baffle and throw out corrupt political leadership.
Even a government elected on the manifesto of abolishing corruption cannot be trusted. They may have a hidden agenda. The people cannot afford to sit back waiting for the fruits to fall into their laps. They ought to be vigilant for vigilance is the price we pay for democracy. Let us remember that though the politicians are replaced, the same bureaucrats are sitting in the same offices biding their time. Changes at the top should trickle down to the bottom end of the official machinery in order to make the change of regime meaningful.
Let us transform Indians to transform India. Swami Vivekananda required only 100 young men and women to transform India. Now a vast number of young men and women are available and waiting for a Vivekananda or a Mahatma to lead them. Where is he ? He will not disembark from Chicago or South Africa, he will not emerge from the portals of a reputed University, he will not burst out of the ‘You Tube’ or ‘Facebook’; he will emerge from among the common people speaking their language, reflecting their aspirations, inspiring them to fight. Let us pray we are one of them.
Let’s begin the fight, let’s take the first humble step.
Let us refuse to bribe the traffic constable.