While corruption tends to be an inalienable part of human existence, there are powerful factors too which influence the pattern. These include the value system imparted to children, both at home and in schools, and social norms
Yet another match-fixing scandal surfaced recently. As in the past, investigators have dug out some big names not only from the world of cricket but also Bollywood, IPl franchisees et al and maybe some politicians would also be named in due course. Earlier, the country’s Union Minister for Railways was dropped over allegations that his nephew was collecting bribes for transfers, postings and promotions. But certainly a senior railway official willing to grease the palms of middlemen for a plum posting tells equally on bureaucracy too.
Neither the cricketers, the film stars, the franchisee or the bureaucrat in the aforementioned case belonged to any political party. Of course, like all affluent people, they had ‘links’ across the political spectrum and tried to drop names to evade investigations.
While at the political level, both within and outside, the ruling and Opposition parties trade charges against one another on the issue of graft and leaders of almost all parties have often been caught on the wrong foot, the million dollar question is whether it is fair to blame politicians alone for the mess that we have got into as a nation. From the clerk in the municipality (they don’t even spare the dead in morgue and cremation grounds) to political honchos, business tycoons, bureaucrats, sportsmen, celebrities, scientists, legal luminaries, military officials, police, educationists, doctors, the list of people tainted with corruption is endless.
From Radia tapes to fraudulent researches, from fake encounters to leading public prosecutors receiving money from defendants, from wife-swapping in Navy to espionage cases and adoption of fraudulent methods to get military recognition, from fake universities playing with the lives and careers of the country’s youth to Medical Council of India granting recognition to undeserving institutions in lieu of favours, this country has witnessed corruption in every walk of life.
Then, why blame the politicians aloneIJ ‘Yatha raja, tatha praja’ (As is the King, so would be the subjects), is fine so long as the king belonged to an all together different breed but in a parliamentary form of democracy, the Raja comes from the Praja itself. Thus comes the conundrum, who is more corrupt, the Raja or the PrajaIJ
While some politicians may belong to the royal lineage or an elite background, certainly the likes of Shibu Soren, Madhu Koda, Bangaru laxman, BS Yeddyurappa or even lalu Prasad, against whom serious charges of corruption have been levelled, came from a more humble background, and yes, such people came from across the political spectrum including independents.
Dowry, chai-paani, baksheesh, mithai, are not terms introduced by any particular political party. They were in vogue even before the British came. Even as they looted the country with impunity, the British were apparently more stern while dealing with corruption. Hence, it would be unjust to blame any alien ruler for an inherent trait within us as a people.
In fact, one is often shocked to hear, both in the common and the enlightened circles, an attempt to justify one kind of bribery in lieu of another. How often have we heard, even during television debates, irresponsible statements such as, “If a person spends lakhs to acquire a medical or engineering degree, he will naturally try to recover it once he lands in a Government job”, and, “Well, he sold his land to get a constable’s job, what do you expect him to do nowIJ” Excuse me, the choice to give capitation fee or bribe to obtain a degree or a job was theirs, and that does not give them the right to loot the public exchequer.
While corruption tends to be an inalienable part of human existence, there are powerful factors too which influence the pattern. These include the value system imparted to children, both at home and in schools, the education system, the messages disseminated by mass media, the socio-economic conditions, the political environment, the legacies inherited, social awareness and commitment and above all a sense of pride in nationhood, or to put it simply, undiluted patriotism.
Unfortunately, we have failed on all fronts and are expecting a miracle in societal thinking through a legislation or certain legal reforms. Disprin can be useful in a headache but cannot treat a brain tumour. Much against the traditional concepts of ‘maya’ and detachment, the focus of Indian societal attention is now on enhanced acquisition. Mahatma Gandhi had famously remarked that we have enough resources to meet our needs but not greed. Unfortunately, the mantra and motivation seems to be to grab and loot by whatever means. There may be honourable exceptions but the larger trends are clearly discernible.
The consumerist culture with all the razzmattaz and projection of high society life in mass media, as reflected in films, television soaps and commercials, has only served to fuel the desires, which lord Buddha centuries back so aptly held responsible for
ultimate despair.
From paper plates to tissue papers and plastic cups to parents, all have become disposable in this culture. Competition has replaced cooperation and co-existence and from the cradle itself, children are being taught to compete, not only in schools but also reality shows and the virtual world. Selfishness has come to be adored as a great virtue. Corrupt but wealthy people have become national icons and real life heroes relegated to the background.
With a capitalist economy in place, the focus of achievement is only money and status, with little concern whatsoever for the downtrodden and underprivileged. Over and above, there is an education system which has remotely nothing to do with man-making or character building. Vocationalisation has become the mantra as if the sole objective of human existence is earning a livelihood. History teaches us that we have been slaves for over a thousand years, which is contrary to facts. From our civil service to armed forces, the country has inherited the legacy of the colonial masters. There cannot be greater ironies in our national existence than the facts that our Army traces its origin to the foreign rulers rather than the Indian National Army, which fought for the country’s freedom and that even 65 years after Independence, successive Governments chose to pay tributes to our fallen martyrs at India Gate, a memorial for the soldiers of the British Indian Army who died during the World Wars. With such a legacy, how do we expect our generations to be patrioticIJ
This is not to say that political corruption is to be spared or condoned but a mere change of regime would not remedy this deep-rooted malaise. Some corrective legislations and strengthening of laws may at best be a superficial attempt to eradicate it. Only a cultural revolution with focus on education, socio-economic policies, symbols of nationhood, national objectives, media priorities et al can bring about the much needed change.
These may sound idealistic, but if the mission or goal is not lofty enough, it cannot take the country far. Mahatma Gandhi too spoke about Ram Rajya, which is by no means a theocratic Hindu state. The vision of Ram Rajya exemplifies the ideal nation state. Today, the BJP talks about it occasionally and has made it interchangeable with ‘suraj’, good governance etc. Governance is only a part of the concept where society and not the Government is at the centre of focus. For that a political party should gradually metamorphose into a movement, a movement for change, a movement for India’s better future.
(The writer is a Senior Fellow and Editor with the Vivekananda International Foundation)