By: Kavi
karmicy@yahoo.co.in
March 27, 2004

A rejoinder to: "Are Indians Corrupt?" An Article By: Sankrant Sanu

President Kalam`s remarks in his recent Republic Day address, “There are only three members of the society who can remove corruption. They are father, mother and elementary school teacher” are rather simplistic, idealistic or both, in a society where corruption is endemic for ages and probably at it`s worst now. While no one can doubt that the three play an important role in the formation of a person`s character, but given the fact that there are other stronger influences too out side these, specially when the child on the way to adulthood and past it, outgrows the shadows of the early influencers. Given the circumstances today it is rather difficult to imagine a grown up person not straying the course and many a people who profess to tread the righteous path, may do so under compulsions. Very few fathers would not pay a bribe to get their children into a good school or to get them a good job, if that was the only way out.

The country continues to have a rather long winded discussion on hows and whys of corruption. I would venture say that by now, we thru first hand experience, and living with others who are in the same boat, are experts on the subject and have a bagful of remedies too.

Comparisons of how our corrupt system differs from US, Russia, China, Nigeria, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. I find are just academic discussions, and bring no solace to the citizen here who has to pay tribute to the power wielding parasitic system all throughout the lifetime. A system that lives off our taxes in the first place.

IMHO we need to look for practical solutions and if we can`t devise any, take lessons from what countries like Singapore, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Sweden are doing right where corruption is the least of the problems. Why are they zero tolerant to our almost hundred. This is one century that we should be ashamed of scoring, but seems we are not, points to the death of our moral and ethical being.

An often quoted example of efficient development and good governance in Asia is Singapore, an island nation, that tackled both its third worldly status and the typically corrupt Chinese triad ridden society all in a matter of 25 years. Has even to import water, but has managed for it`s people the highest standards of living in Asia. The vision & it`s implementation is the doing of just one person. Critics, mostly "woolly headed liberals" and "out of touch with the reality" socialists like to rubbish Lee Kwan Yu`s grand work in human potential development as a nanny state, and give all sorts of explanations, oh it is a city state, there is no real democracy, but then so is Haiti & Armenia and many other small countries that are still in fine misery.

Why has Lee Kwan Yu succeeded wonderfully while the Indian post independence leadership failed miserably? After all he too inherited an colonial legacy, a society that has strong religious and cultural institutions built around typical family values of respect for elders, and like ours had corruption in it`s blood. What is worth noticing is that the neighboring countries, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand have not been able to tackle this scourge within their societies as effectively. The question that begs to be asked is "what has gone wrong with us, where a spiritual & ethical giant like Gandhi led the freedom struggle?", As Congress has ruled for most of the 55 years, may I ask why the party forgot it`s promise to the people no sooner it came to power ? To the extent that a person clad in Gandhi topi & khadi is now taken as one hiding a criminal background, in search of a way to usurp power for own protection. And the fact is from just being handy helpers at election time, people with criminal records have shown remarkable upward mobility in politics. MPs, MLAs & Councilors with multiple charge sheets in their resumes, now form the largest single block in our legislatures. No mean achievement for any group.

The answer "What distinguishes to our Fevicol brand of corruption from others" is simple. There is corruption in many a countries, but few countries have created such a strong self reinforcing nexus of politicians, bureaucrats, police, courts, that have over time undermined into subservience the institutions that should be functioning independently and correcting the societal evils. The nexus is now a fully evolved grand parasitic alliance, a self feeding eco-system of vile forces that viciously fights whatever comes in its way. The colonialists being replaced by their desi political successors, as evil or worse. All those who think that they are really not that after all and will soon grow up, we must give them time, probably suffer the overpowering motherly instinct expressed as "he is ugly but he is mine".

This nexus have now defies all institutions, the Presidency, Supreme Court, every thing. Hope readers are following how Gujarat govt. is thwarting the Supreme Court despite admonishments and strictures. Well, who reads them & then what can they and the courts do, is the attitude. The nexus for all practical purposes has made India a fascist state, a legal one though, and sham of a democracy, which puts up a grand show every 5 years. Who can experience any real freedom without economic and legal means? What meaningful rights do most of the poor illiterate and semiliterate have even after 55 years? What chances do you have, the well heeled, educated and may moneyed too if you are faced with one of them in a court or any where else?

If you oppose at the nexus, the repressive apparatus CBI, Income Tax, local police all come calling. How do Indians survive then? Well by keeping their interaction with the state apparatus at a minimum and where necessary by quickly paying up to stay out of harms way. CBI, IB etc. and all the probes and committees just ways to keep the show going, and very legally. Only brotherly Pak does it better, with it`s judicial executions.

They can withstand our criticism, cynicism, a Tehlka, an expose, or what ever you can throw at them. They are the real teflon people. One has to do some thing radical, and smart, to even give them some kind of small scare. But beware, when threatened they will stop at nothing to crush you.

Readers may remember how a few years back they came after the TOI Jain when they found some vague FERA case against him. Though he is no Goenka, who defied an Indira in her heyday, but they still can be fairly troublesome. The old fellow, now dead was hauled up for interrogation almost daily for a few weeks by an organization that has a negligible record of conviction and is known better for succumbing to political pressure or just strikeing a deal and let go. Probably thought they had found a way to muzzle him. If you have a business or a factory the relevant agencies will pay a visit. What is happening in UP, Bihar & Gujarat, TN, Haryana, Punjab etc. is nothing new. A strong CM can get away with any thing. The institutions have all been de-fanged a long time back.

In the recent Tehelka case, the funding source a broker was raided, true & false cases instituted and put out of business for having the termierity to challenge the system. The Tehelka journalists hounded, all kinds of personal records and past transactions were dug up, to find any possible excuse to file a case and muzzle them. Tejpal has started again with contributions from a lot of people, many of them famous like Shabana Azami so that it is not put down to any one the second time. The probe meanwhile has gone no where. There is a second judge, the tapes have been sent to an unnamed laboratory to be checked for authenticity. Where, no one knows, all in the name of national interest, an euphemism for maintaining status quo. The coffin gate long forgotten. Honest engineers are murdered by contactors and the probe will eventually close the file in a couple of years. CM is accused of being a kidnapping king. A Telgi has patronage of politicians and policemen across states. Too many a gory tales to tell them all here.

All this is done with blatant impunity to serve as a lesson for us all. The lesson is "don`t mess with the system". How many of us have the living guts to stand up against a politically powerful or rich person, or both, even when it is a question of our rights and dear ones. Mysteriously the police leaves loop holes in the investigation, the judge gives long dates, the witnesses turn hostile, unless you are a Bina Ramani living in New York or a Priety Zinta consumed by some self destructive urge, you learn to live with despair and romance your fate. What more evidence does one need of a nexus at work?

Is there a solution? If there is then what is it?

The solution is exactly what Lee Kwan YU did for Singapore & what Mahatma Gandhi & a Nehru failed to do. Institutionalize independence, transparency, accountability in the functioning of the key institutions. It is not necessary to debate here how to work existing laws and the few legal changes that may be needed need. It is all elementary commonsense. It is more of the intent that needs be reset.

Singapore on account of the unwavering intent, the "honesty of purpose" displayed of its rulers has evolved into a functioning meritocracy, we over the same period have devolved into a shameful kleptocracy. We have to again set a benevolent meritocracy as our goal, and find a person or invent one, some one like Moses or Lee Kwan Yu who will deliver us to the promised land, as opposed to just delivering promises.

In a situation as ours, one has to work at individual, social & political level to change the system and that too very cleverly knowing how entrenched forces will react. Falling, failing and resurrecting ones self from the ashes of despair like Thelka has shown can be done.

There is no dearth of committed people. There are civil servants who have resigned rather than collect tribute for their political, masters. There are NGOs that are fighting for transparency to expose corruption by public servants, there is a Lyndoh who is now retired, there are celebrities who happily fight for a good causes. There may be a few committed politicians left too. One has to weave all this into another nexus, a righteous one, a virtuous circle to counter the vicious one. And once people realize that the unholy one can be ridden off, there will be insurmountable momentum, a tsunami of good that will drown the evil. As human nature I believe is more good than evil.

Kavi