“50% Indians have bribed atleast once in their lifetime, rest 50% are below poverty line”
So the Anna Hazzare drama is finally, over. It was all so fun! Wish it would have continued for a little longer. But now we have more entertaining stuff to look over- it’s the IPL, dude!
This is the reality! If you think that we Indians have won a war against corruption or something, then stop fooling yourself. Won’t you bribe the traffic policeman now? You will! Corruption is in our very blood, and we just can’t live without it.
Out of the population of 1.21 billion, there were only 200 people sitting on anshan. Few thousands protesting at Jantar Mantar or Gateway of India. And some more tweeting or updating their facebook status or writing blog like this. That’s it! And we call it a mass revolution? How many of the people actually even know about the Lokpal Bill? You know, the biggest irony of the protest was that we were using the by-product of the biggest (biggest among those revealed) corruption scandal in India, our mobile phone- the 2G, to register our protest against corruption.
No, I am not against Anna Hazare. Infact, I salute him for his work. But I am against this mass hysteria created around this protest. “The Second War of Independence” “Jantar Mantar- India’s Tahrir Chowk”- It was all nuisance. The Lokpal bill still has a long journey to make. There has to be done- drafting of bill, passing the bill in Parliament, proper implementation of law and then getting it functional to act against corruption. And still there is no surety that it will stop corruption.
All this protest was like a ganga-snan (bath in river Ganga, which is believed to wash away all the sins committed by a person). By watching Anna Hazare news or tweeting about this, we believe that our image is now corruption free. But when it would come to getting our child admitted in the most-reputed college or in nursery, we will simply shutdown our eyes. Why shouldn’t you be put in jail with A.Raja? Just because the amount varies?
The most common excuse that comes when giving bribe is that we don’t have any other option. And I buy this point. Sometimes, actually we don’t have any choice. But the problem grows, when we become habitual of it. Take this case-
“For the first time trying to give BRIBE to an INCOME TAX OFFICER..bt failed Will try again..may be better luck nxt time..:))”
This was my friend’s FB status few days ago. He was simply ecstatic on giving bribe. It was like a big achievement for him. How can a person be so happy over the idea of bribery, i just can’t understand. He doesn’t even find it wrong. And that’s the biggest problem.
Infact, I, being a chartered accountant student, am being taught (though unofficially) that how to bribe or not to raise a voice against corruption! C’mon this is just the limit! Stop having corruption as a part of our culture. Stop promoting it.
I don’t expect everyone to adopt “I will not bribe” policy, but atleast have “I feel ashamed to bribe” attitude.
One doubts if corruption can ever be rooted-out from India. But It can be, with some radical change in our thoughts- when we start feeling ashamed of being a part of corruption, and not happy like my fellow friend; when we will not boost bribing as our achievement, but something as very unfortunate.
This is where people like Anna Hazare play a crucial role. They provide us with a mirror to look upon where we stand. The movements like these give us hope that we are not the only ones who hate corruption. Everyone wants to get rid of it. And if we raise our voice, there are people to back us.
Picture this. You go to a government office wearing an ‘India Against Corruption’ t-shirt. That government official will atleast think once before asking you for bribe and may even perform your work without any mithayi. That would be real change. The real win against corruption.
And yes, one day-and that day will come very soon- we Indians will live without corruption!
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