Corruption as we see today was not originally born
in its massive form. It has existed since social structures came into place.
Since then it has continued to spread its branches. Today it has penetrated
into the very existence of human beings.
Though it existed in the ancient times, it did not harm the citizens as it does
today. Unfortunately today it has penetrated into noble fields like education
and defense which were once thought of as sacred or holy aspects of humanity.
Talking about India, the roots of corruption are
impossible to trace. We cannot say it begin on a particular date because no
bottles of champagne were uncorked to mark its beginning. Even legends of
political science since ancient ages like Kautilya and Manu failed to curb
prevalent corruption in their works ‘Arthashastra’ and ‘Manusmriti’ respectively. It spread widely
in India when Mughal invaders came to India. They bribed Hindus to change their
religion and embrace Islam (first kind of corruption on records). Emperors like
Akbar tried to curb corruption by ending ‘TIRTHYATRA MAHSOOL’ which was to be
paid by Hindus to attend places of pilgrimage. Corruption was later practiced
by Britishers who came to India and bribed local kings and rulers to establish
their trade in the name of East India
Company.
Initially the term ‘corruption’ was applied to
exchange or acceptance of money or goods worth equivalent value at top level of
social hierarchy. But today we have to face, tolerate, and do corruption in
order to survive. Children go to government schools paying nominal sum of money
which should actually be free: corruption. If you are ill and go to
municipality hospitals you pay a nominal sum to avail treatment which again is
free: corruption. You want to sell tea by the roadside you pay halfta:
corruption. This is what a common man faces. Lets talk about people who wish to really want to
do something for the country. Want to stand in election and win? Bribe the
local goons and your work is done: corruption. Want to distribute free books to
the poor children? Bribe the local
corporator to ensure you leave unharmed: corruption. Want a verdict for a PIL
in your favour? Bribe the magistrate: corruption.
Red tapism and bureaucracy are two major pillars on
which corruption stands. But how do we stop all this? Legislations? Would that
do? Again to pass a legislation you need to bribe fellow legislators otherwise
it will stink and dust in files in the name of
‘PROPOSED BILL’
Killing corruption or making an attempt to eliminate
it completely is in vain and being hypothetical if it occurs even in one
country the global economy will find itself in not only recession but in GREAT
DEPRESSION. Shanmughan Manjuthan and IES Satyendra Dubey got their rewards for
trying it.
So should we shut the topic here? The only solution
out is a political revolution. Reforms, even radical reforms have failed to
make an impact that would give a sigh of relief to a common man. We see malls
around us but at the same moment we enter a mall, someone, in some part of our India
commits suicide or dies of starvation.
Not that we stop entering malls but the time has come when we think what
are we really achieving and at the cost of what?
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar while gifting India, the
lengthiest constitution of the world have written it in the very introduction
that ‘THIS CONSTITUTION SHALL BE AMENDED AS AND WHEN REQUIRED BY THE
LEGISLATORS’. He even empowered the
President to suspend the constitution when need is felf. Even he was aware that
all rules, legislations, even constitutions are not universally applicable at
all times and must change according to time and place. Its we who failed to
interpret the constitution in the same spirit in which it was written. Democracy in India has failed long back. Yet, we are
to realize it. We can find India in exactly a state which Plato asserted about
democracy about 2500 years back. A bunch of people coming together collectively
to loot their own country and people. The problem is that the very foundation
of democracy expects the leaders to be
selfless and non-corrupt which can never be the case. And when a political
system fails in a country, the country is left with only two option: 1.
REFORM AND 2.REVOLUTION
Reforms we have tried since 60 years but in vain.
Here I am not promoting Communism or
wish to make India a communist country. But one thing is for sure a new theory
which is applicable to India as we are not Indians, pardon my words, we are not
Indians. We are Maharashtrians, Gujratis, Tamilians an so on. So its difficult can’t
say impossible to invent a political theory that would consider, liberate and
uplift all of us- Bengalis, Punjabis, Marvaris, etc. We can make our
contribution if not construct it
ourself.
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