WE THE CORRUPT PEOPLE

I am sick and tired of living amidst corruption. All around me, all I see is corruption and the incompetence that follows suit. And just don't waste your time to create the mental picture of a dhoti clad politician or a policeman. Picture yourself, your father, your mother, your husband, your wife, and most sad of all, your children too! We are ALL corrupt.

When stopped by the traffic police, the first thing that comes to our minds is when will he come to the point and ask for the 'chai-pani'. The moment he asks, we smile within, and reach out for our wallets. Some of us even haggle!

And then there is this finger-pointing at others, and thinking yourself to be the most saintly honest man on earth, especially, the young people like us think we are band-wagons of honesty and integrity and it is only the pot bellied policemen or the local councillor whose honesty is questionable. Well, I have been working with one of the biggest IT consultancy companies of India, and I have seen colleagues submitting false bills for what not - technical books and journals, medicines, doctor's visit. Worse still, the large bookstores even remember by heart which company reimburses what amount for books. You are simply asked your organization's name. They take care of the rest at a nominal cost. Even doctors do not hesitate even a little bit before signing a false prescription or a false visit fee bill. These so called eminent, white-collared educated, middle-class, bhodroloks (gentlemen), if were asked to rule the nation, would they have done any different from a Kalmadi or a Raja? I'm sure they would have been as corrupt, if not more.

And what is the result of all this? We have an incompetent governance and a failed system all around us. Stand anywhere on the roads and show me 100 meters of encroachment free, well kept, clean strech of roadside. It is hard to find. This sorry state has percolated into every nook and corner of the Indian society. The reason for this is the corruption and the ensuing incompetence of the people responsible to maintain our roads, stations, bus-stops, law-and order, national security and even judiciary.

I know families where the father taught his son how to master the craft of bribery. "Rishwat dena to khud papa ne sikhaya" - what a true statement. This is another, and perhaps a bigger reason for despair. Values like honesty and integrity are taught to the children by their parents. A corrupt generation will never raise an honest progeny. So, if you ask me, I see a mirky and dark future for our society and beaurocracy, unless a revolution happens. And that has perhaps begun with the Lokpal Bill movement by Anna Hazare.

Amazingly, the entire nation has come together in supporting this bill and the movement to ensure it is finally passed this time, and the media is focusing on the right thing for a change. My simple request to every reader is to think twice before you spoil your integrity next time. Behave as a responsible citizen of the country. Cheering for India in the world cup is patriotism, and spoiling the very core values of its society is criminal. They do not go hand in hand. And, to begin with, support the spirit of the Lokpal bill, because, believing is the first step towards change.