Why is it so!

I keep pondering, why corruption is so rampant in our country? Hardly there is any sphere of Indian life which doesn’t stinks of a scam! From ticketless travel to fake educational degrees, selling of already sold out plots to companies maintaining fake manpower, players fixing matches to adulterated food products, businessmen evading taxes to selling onions at Rupees hundred per kilogram, defunct judiciary to dead administration and...the list is endless.

We too grew up aiding and abetting corruption. We ourselves have been a part of it; knowingly or unknowingly, like bribing the TTE in train for a berth or buying movie tickets in black. And instead of feeling bad, we felt happy and relaxed after getting the berth or the movie tickets. This is because, it all was happening around us during our growing days and we felt that it is all normal, nothing wrong in it!

Curious to know about the reasons, that what actually is responsible for corrupting us Indians, I turned to the internet. It threw many interesting opinions, some of them as a result of serious research and some are just an expression of individuals’ perspective. Many of us might be well aware of the reasons; still I would like to share them with you in very short:

i.                     Political Patronage – From this fountainhead of corruption flow various streams of corrupt practices which plague the political, economic and social activities in the country. It is said that, turning a blind eye to the corrupt practices of his colleagues, Pandit Nehru gave legitimization to it; though he himself never benefitted from it (ref. www.sunilsondhi.com). And the trend of corrupt practices for electoral and personal gains.

ii.                   Cumbersome and dilatory administrative procedures and practices are another major cause of corruption in India.

iii.                  The various regulatory Acts that we follow are age old – Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860, Indian Police Act in 1861, Indian Evidence Act in 1872,  the Indian Telegraph Act in 1855- which regulates the control of air-waves and licensing of broadcasting facilities – when wireless was not invented! Yup!

iv.                 The British had designed the legal system to strengthen a regulatory colonial administration, based on distrust of the ‘natives’ i.e. we Indians! It has inbuilt provision for delays, prolonged litigation and evasion. It suited them to rule, we follow it still! It suits our present day political leaders and administrators, but certainly against the common man.

v.                   Corruption has found an acceptance in the social psyche and behavior. We respect the rich and powerful, despite knowing very well that it didn’t come the right way!

This was all on serious note. On lighter side, I would like to share one response to the query – What is the main reason for corruption in India? Any guesses! The answer was –‘Women prefer wealthy males...so males want to be wealthier than others...this leads to corruption’!!

Anyway, it is high time that we wake up to the stark reality of corrupt practices around us. Let us say no to it, let us object to it, and let us protest it in whatever way we can. Further, let us impress upon the intelligentsia, the NGOs, the media and most importantly our political leaders the need to revisit the various age-old Acts and frame it from the point of a free democratic nation, so that policies favour the common man and helps in wholesome growth of the nation. Sooner it is done, better it would be for the country and the common man!

Madhukar Mohan