Our nation boasts of being the largest democracy in the world. The four pivotal pillars which buttress our democracy are: a proactive judiciary, an impartial media, an accountable legislature and a vigilant bureaucracy. But these very pillars have been weakened by the tentacles of corruption. The 2G scam and the subsequent release of the Nira Radia tape have given valuable insights into how deeply these pillars of democracy have delved into the quagmire of corruption.
To start with the judiciary, the former CJI KG Balakrishnan has been accused of multiple charges of misdemeanor. He has been accused of deliberately hiding the name of Mr.A Raja in a case of influencing a High court judge. Now a new complaint of having disproportionate assets has been lodged against Mr. Balakrishinan. Though the veracity of all such claims is yet to be proved, the very fact that finger has been pointed at the position considered the epitome of justice in our nation, is a mater of grave concern.
In the field of journalism, eminent media persons like Vir Sanghvi and Barkha Datt have been found to be working in cahoots with the corporate lobbyist Radia.
The least we talk about the legislature, the better it is. The 2G scam has embroiled the highest echelons of power and the PM himself is accused of being a mute spectator to the entire drama. The Adarsh Society scam has already taken its toll with sacking of former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan. The Karnataka imbroglio in which the CM BS Yeddyurrapa was implicated but refused to budge from his position is known to all.
The bureaucratic goof ups are very common and we have seen manifold number of cases relating to graft hitting headlines this year. But the icing on the Cake was the entire episode involving the Chief Vigilance Commissioner PJ Thomas. Perhaps India is the only nation where a tainted person is entrusted with the task of keeping corruption at bay in the society. All Hail my sweet nation!
We, as a nation have become so inured to cases of corruption that any new instance of graft fails to rouse interest or reaction in us. We have grown to accept it as part of the society and the mindset. In fact any act of generosity or uprightness evokes a response of awe and surprise. A similar incident occurred with me a few days back. On my way back from college, I somehow lost my mobile (SONY ERRICCSION C510).When I reached hostel and realized the gravity of the situation, I started panicking a lot. My friends advised me that I need to come to terms with the situation and since I have lost it somewhere on road, my dear mobile would already be on its way to be sold at a handsome price in the Chor Bazaar of Delhi. But still I kept believing that some friend is playing a prank with me and thus with this false hope I kept calling to my number. Finally after 1 hr of failed attempts, some one picked up my phone. The voice on the other end appeared to be of some guy speaking coarse Hindi and he said me that he picked up the mobile on the road and that it is safe with him. He identified himself as Vivek and that he was a trainee at the Police training Centre, New Delhi. I listened intently to the voice with disbelief and shock. Do we still have such persons in India who after getting hold of a Rs 10000 cell would be willing to return it back? Or some one is playing a bad joke with me? In a state of confusion and despair I set out with one of my friends to the destination he referred to. During our auto travel we had some difficulty in finding the address and this fuelled my apprehension that someone is playing a bad joke with us. Finally I arrived at the address and I apprised the security guard there of the situation. The security guard started laughing loudly and said” What? You lost your mobile on the road? And some one wants to give it back to you! No dear, go back. Some felon is playing with you. No one is going to give you back your lost mobile.” Again this statement raised my apprehension.
So I finally had to call Vivek and request him to come near the gate. He readily agreed. And after 10 minutes he was before me. The guy appeared to be very friendly and what he said is clearly etched in my mind,” Dear, I knew that this mobile set is currently priced at 8000 but I could not have filled my stomach with money from selling this”. I stood there dazed and dumb struck. I thanked him profusely and returned to my hostel. I had a perception that the police personnel in our nation are the most corrupt lot –that it is most easy to grease their hands. But this magnanimous action by a potential police recruit forced me to change my beliefs.
This incident gave me notions that still some shreds of morality are left in our national DNA. It gave me a hope that we have not yet crossed the irreversible line of dishonesty .Though a large part of our nation has succumbed to the robust tentacles of graft, still a small part have been able to resolutely keep themselves immune to the scourge. It is the responsibility of upright people who constitute this immune part to endeavor in freeing their fellow countrymen from the strong shackles of corruption. On the eve of this New Year, let’s take a pledge to lend our helping hand to this noble cause.
Tamaso ma jyotirgmaya.-May we rise from darkness (Graft society) to light (Moral Utopia).
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