Which differentiates social status.
Which distinguishes humanity.
From independence to present times, the history of India is beautifully described in the book: ‘India after Gandhi’ by Ramachandra Guha. After going through the book, one can easily comprehend that rampant corruption lies behind the upsetting condition of India. Though we are not the worst affected country post-independence (except peasants, laborers, the poor, the lower middle which constitute almost the other half of our total population whose problems go uncared) as one may feel; though our economy is not submerging; though much development had happened in the country; though people, to some extent, have come above the social stigmas of the past, we had the chance to emerge as a ‘country of eternal values’ post-independence. However, we lost that opportunity while struggling with issues of literacy, integration of states, agrarian crises, defense, internal security, natural calamities, poverty, development, stability, political idiosyncrasies, etc. The next such opportunity has just emerged, after the realization of our social farrago and entangled political as well as social idiocy, amidst the disaster of COVID 19.
While in power, one should not forget that ‘Nation is People’, where the key purpose of governance includes overall development of the nation; Developing a stable economy; Improving living standards; Uplifting the downtrodden; Development of the country in a sustainable manner; Preparing the nation for long term sustenance which in turn include a strategy for epidemics, pandemics, disasters, uncertainties; etc. Of which neither did happen in India to a permissible extent. The country is struggling miserably (only if one sees it from the eyes of laborers, migrants, and economically weak social classes) with just 2 months of lockdown. Had the democratic ethos being strengthened by administrative and political righteousness, the financial as well as the social situation would be different from what they are today.
Corruption in a democratic country like India is not taken seriously by the public. They will protest for some petty reservation rights but, not for ethical governance. The result of this is that those who are part of the system gain a lot by doing insignificant work. The administrative and political career thus kick-starts personal ambition for power and money. It also gives impetus to unethical practices in the societal segments.
The common man has accepted the tragedy of the system and submitted himself to the authority sitting in the administrative and political arenas. In the administrative setup, the 2 percent commission is seen happening rampantly in each transaction. The commission is taken for passing the file from table to table and the amount is shared by almost everyone from peon to the chief officer as per their status in the office. It’s like the Hindi phrase ‘Kaddu Katega To Sab Me Batega’. Imagine how much the nation loses due to this ‘administrative and political prostitution’ happening in the system. We are quite acquainted with the phrase “with great powers comes great responsibility”. However, People, in power have lost their responsibility towards the national consensus.
At work, one must have satisfaction in serving the nation. Here ‘Ethics’ and ‘Values’ are similar to the emotions of ‘Love’ and ‘Affection’. However, to abandon ethics and values for personal ambitions of success, prosperity had gained importance in this corruption-ridden system. It’s like practicing ‘Economic Prostitution’ by an official.
These officials demand money by laying-off ethics and values, to accomplish their own personal desires by conducting an under-the-table transaction in favor of sanctioning the files of fellow countrymen.
Practically the authority needs to sanction the work seamlessly within the stipulated time. To make this happen, the Anti Corruption Bureau has been established as a watchdog for the system. However, In India, a tremendous amount of applicants have their proposals for sanctions in the administrative offices. Amidst fierce competition, one cannot wait for the tedious legal procedures of filing the complaints and wait for results. Thus bribing becomes a safe haven for continuous work-flow which forces him to pay the commission amount to the officer. Lodging a complaint in the ACB thus makes the scenario impractical.
In today’s time the roots of corruption had already gone deep and have gained strength from the allied pillars of the system. While the only job left with the fellow countrymen is to water this giant devil, with hard cash, only to grow deep and decay the soils of liberal democratic ethos on which the nation stood post-independence. A more comprehensive approach is necessary to tackle the issue of corruption.
“In a free country, when ethics and integrity towards the national purpose are lost, the social fabric weakens and everyone starts moving in the vicious cycle of temporary personal gains, in such cases, the nation heads to deterioration either through internal collapse or external attacks or through the confluence of both.”
To tackle the current issue certain stringent measures should be carried out by the top leaders. We should always test innovative methods and apply them to the system to maintain the country’s progress aligned with societal progress The righteous administrative practice is the wheel of progress. It should not get punctured by dirty practices of corruption. The public should stand strongly against such malpractice. In liberal India, if we cannot demand what is right, then we stand on the page similar to that of pre-independence. The only difference now is our very own politicians and administrators rule the country by ‘Divide and Rule’ policy and subjects of the country have become the victim of ‘independence propaganda’ and are floating on the clouds of delusion created by our own illiberal and parochial mentality. I hope it sparks up.
Sophisticated Minimalist 