It’s been a few weeks now, and everything seems to have fallen in place, for the Government, the Parliament, for the people of India, for the news channels and the internet. “India Against Corruption”, seems to have shaken up a few people, actually, a whole lot of Indian population, and everyone seems to be talking about it everywhere.
I wonder if anything is going to change. Mind you, I am a very optimistic guy, so, don’t think that I don’t have any hopes. But, when you get to see, or hear about bizzare incidents happening almost every day, all around me, all this boils down to a very basic question.
Are we really ready for this change?
I seriously doubt. There was a case of a truck driver being beaten to death by some policemen because he refused to pay them a bribe. There was another incident, where a toll-gate attendant was shot by a person in a car, just because he didn’t want to pay the toll-tax. I know a friend, who had to pay Rs 2,00,000 to a doctor for getting a certificate(his was a genuine case).
The policemen who brutally killed the truck driver are perhaps sitting in the comfort of their homes. The other person who shot the toll attendant, has probably applied for bail, and his application would be soon accepted. The doctor would have bought a load of gold and stashed it somehwere in his house.
I really wish that one day, India would be on the list of the least corrupt nations of the world. But, I doubt that this will happen in a course of the next few years. It would take generations and decades all-together to bring about this change. It’s not only about the laws, or the judiciary or the punitive actions by the authorities. There should be a change in peoples’ mindset and their thinking.We should change the way we live each day. We should change the way we act each day.
Everyone from the Government that speaks against corruption, doesn’t really understand how to tackle it. Or rather, they don’t really have the will to eradicate corruption. I would agree that, 50% of the governement officials are corrupt, but the honest ones, who are still the half of the system, get branded as corrupt officials. Why is that so?
1. Until and unless I pay a bribe at the passport office, my application would continue gathering dust.
2. Until and unless I pay donation to some MP, I won’t get admission to a private school/college.
3. Until and unless I pay a bribe, my tender would be rejected.
4. Until and unless I pay bribe, I would be the last one to be promoted.
I am not yet talking about the big corporate bribes that large businesses NEED to pay the big ministers to get approvals or licenses to carry on their business. That’s another part of the story. A common man, would probably come across a government official, almost each and everyday, who would shamelessly demand a bribe to do what he is being paid for.
All of us must have seen the movie “Nayak”, where Anil Kapoor was asked to be the Chief Minister of a state for one day. It inspires me a lot. I also feel that whatever has been portrayed in that movie, is very practical. Given a chance, a common man can do a lot better than most of the Chief Ministers of India. But, in real life, nobody would ever get that chance, and so, our Shivaji Rao Gaekwad will always be remembered as a character of fiction and fantasy of the bollywood.
Let’s flip the story. If it were possible, just for a day, to ask Mr. Prime Minister, take leave from his office, to spend a life of a common man, what would he do? I am sure he will be begging for the day to end.
It doesn’t matter if he rides in a BMW. Take away his Z+ security, and let him drive on the pot-holed roads, and get stuck in traffic. Let him try to renew his vehicle insurance. Let him try to get a gas connection for his house. Let him try to get his PF amount withdrawn from the PF office. Let him try to successfully win a contract without bribing a penny. Let him try to dare and complain against a lazy government officer or a dishonest minister. Let him try to register a complaint in the police station about his stolen TV.
I am sure he will have a hard time. Just like each one of us go through all these troubles, every single day of our lives. I understand that a Prime Minister is not a super-man and he can’t really solve each and every problem of our nation. But then, whatever I can see around myself, or read about in the news papers, I don’t really feel that the Government is really trying hard. But again, that’s not the point. Even after we would have all the strict laws and the Jan Lokpal setup, do I really feel that, magically, one fine morning, corruption in India would end?
My obvious response is a big “NO”.
Until and unless we change, nothing’s really going to change. Things like these have to change.
1. People let their children stay in prison for a day or two instead of bribing the police, even if their children are innocent.
2. People don’t produce fake caste certificates to get their children admitted into good schools.
3. People themselves stop taking bribes or offering bribes.
4. People should encourage their children to be honest, not only to them, but to everyone else as well.
5. People stop asking for dowry. That’s also a kind of bribe.
6. People stop giving dowry.
7. Teach humanity. Be more humane. Killing someone for Rs. 5000/-!!!!! That’s not humane.
8. People should pay their taxes honestly, even if they feel that the Government is just eating up their hard-earned money.
So, what am I trying to suggest? As much as we ourselves need a radical change in our way of thinking and acting, our next generation should also be shown the way forward. Only then, the nation as a whole can change. Only then, would we be able to get this contagious corruption thrown out of our culture, our hearts, our minds and our nation.
I have tried very hard to refrain myself for quite a long time writing on this topic. I am in a frustrated state of mind.
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19 thoughts on “Will anything change!!!!”
🙂 good one…
It will change, because change is consistent. Things either bad or good can not persist, it has to change lets hope corruption will also perish one day and this day will come soon.
Despite so many reservations, which you have..I still think there is no better time than now to move towards that change…There have been some positive stories of people, govt employees..who refused to take bribe for their work…Definitely not immediately..but the time is ripe..to accept that we are on the cusp of a positive change..Lets hope so!
Good post 🙂
I agree…we have to change first to bring this change.
I too paid bribe to get my passport.
I just hope sometime we can see a more secure India, where u don't get killed for not paying bribe else its not possible to stand against it. I would prefer giving bribe then letting my loved one be beaten up by some Government official.
How can parents let their kids be in jail for a day or two….when they know what all d police officials do to the kids in jail. Its not that easy, we either have to become Bhagat Singh or just shut up as always….
Very interesting points. Thanks!
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Yeah i believe we can make change now. Its a number game, when people realize that 5 out of 10 people don't give bribe ,it will stop. FOR GOOD.
@amit: Thanks…Where art thou?
@Vishal: I am not very sure about "Soon".
@Kunal: Yes, I have hopes, and I am sure all of us are eagerly waiting for that day.
@It is me!: Thanks
@Vidushi: Well, Without a little struggle and pain, nothing can be achieved.
@saurabh: It's been quite some time, perhaps years, that I have bribed someone. Well, if accepting the extra fare quoted by the auto-walas count, errr!!! I am guilty.
I thought this would be interesting one…but i had a feeling it would be some serious stuff….I dint bother to read full as i knew it would be the same old "change" we looking for, ( Y r we looking for change let things go…)
I went to the last section where u said people dont take dowry its absolutely false dowry is still practiced and will be there for another 150 yrs people have not changed let me remind you…people keep on making kids till they get a boy this is a basic example of our community mentality i have seen this practise in especially rich and educated families, this is one fact what i know,
now others what u mentioned
. People don't produce fake caste certificates to get their children admitted into good schools. :- students have changed their names to get good seats, our state has the max number of kotas and crap everyone has to do some slight modification to get a certificate and they do it, people are selling MD seats for cost of 50 lakh. I guess looking for change u have been so deeply effected that u hallucinate about change and u think everything is changed, Nothing is changed and will never.
People themselves stop taking bribes or offering bribes.:- increase the Goddamn salary of employes please (what they earn is less then a guy working in MC Donalds I am referring to starting pay.)
People should encourage their children to be honest, not only to them, but to everyone else as well. :- Do you think someone would tell their children to be dishonest at first place…..and if there is a reason. SO this should be ruled out
People stop giving dowry. :- if some dad has all girls go and ask him…he would give away all of his property without asking he wants to give . So people giving dowry should be kept personal its a matter of choice.
Teach humanity. Be more humane. Killing someone for Rs. 5000/-!!!!! That's not humane. :l there are scenarios where u dont know what next step your goin to do in ur life..life takes to horrible places and situations its not matter of 5K its matter of emotions and cruelty which effects people mind, I guess if people start atlest killing they would be feared one day and this whole thing will stop but that is my last solution becasue as u said we shud have hope.
People should pay their taxes honestly, even if they feel that the Government is just eating up their hard-earned money. :- This is not goin to happen please…..
@dj_recker: I think you misread a few part. Those points, that you mentioned, I meant "Things like those should change". 🙂
Well, of course, you never know what you are going to do in the next minute. But that doesn't mean that you should be accountable for your actions by giving this excuse. If someone is misusing his power, I would prefer to lynch him, instead of being sympathetic towards him.
The last point, well, if you expect everything else to change first, and then you would fall in line, do you really think that is going to happen?
I think you misread me…u are telling things like this to change and i m telling its not gonna happen……
@dj_recker: Then, why would you expect the politicians or the scamsters stop taking bribes? If you don't think so, you don't have any hopes, do you? 🙂
About this "People let their children stay in prison for a day or two instead of bribing the police, even if their children are innocent. " …. WOuld u let ur kid spend 2 days in prison even if he is innocent???
When u get drunk and ur goin home and u get caught for drunken driving. Even tho u know u dint have much of a drink. The alcohol meters are rigged. Would you pay him 5000 or jst pay him 500 bucks???
And people resort to kill for 5000 shows how desperate they are to make a living. Do you think its possible to teach humanity to 1 billion people in india??
You wanna travel some place to meet ur family members and u gotta book a ticket and u dont have a reservation ur ticket is on waiting list. For eg: blore- mumbai would tke 22hrs would u prefer sittin 22 hrs or payin a bribe to the TC and gettin a reservation??
Evry1 aint so rich to travel by flight or take thier own car and travel.
Trust me the change that ur looking for is never ever gonna happen in our country.
@Dark: Well, I know these are difficult choices to make. But, if we are not willing to change this, then, I don't think we deserve to ask for eradication of corruption.
Would I let my children… : I don't have any children yet, but, I guess I would.
Teaching Humanity to 1 billion people might not sound practical, but surely, to a few, like the policemen… They are not being paid heftily, and that's the reason you are citing for their behaviour? Well, then, on the contrary, we should be asking the government to legalize bribes in the police department.
you have said it right and it is one of the most sensible post on this topic that i have come accross in quite some time..
As u said, change should start from inside..
@KP: Yep, And it should come soon.
@Vidushi: I hope this generation of ours does learn and preach humanity. We need a lot more than what we have now.
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@Namrata: Thanks.