Five Years back, my article on corruption was selected in an essay competition organized by a well-known magazine, Competition Success Review (CSR). In last five years, I made few progresses in my career. I graduated, got job and came to U.S for project work. But meanwhile, corruption made gargantuan strides. It graduated from few thousand sandals of Ms.Jayalalitha to billion dollar 2G scam of Mr. A.Raja. In last one month, corruption was undoubtedly remained a consistent performer. The country witnessed a new scam every day. Only thing that varied from one scam to other was the magnitude of scams and position of people involved in scams.
Corruption has never been an “alien” for millions of Indians. It has crept so comfortably in our life that we no longer consider it as a major topic to discuss over. Admission of wards into schools and colleges, getting a railway berth, getting a passport, getting a stamp paper, these are very few out of a long list of our daily life activities where corruption has taken an indelible position. We really don’t care about it these days as we have become so used to it.
But can corruption threaten our nation internally as well as externally?? Does corruption have the potential to choke the very survival of our country??
Corruption is a cancer which loathes breathing within a boundary. First it spreads internally and then its symptoms begin to appear externally. Huge Corruption in implementing government policies lead to wide scale economic disparity in the society. When this gap pushes extreme poverty, the illiterate and starved population fell prey to the mature exploitation of callous politicians and anti-national elements. The stolid poverty and indifferent government wean people from the moral standards of society and pillars of democracy at last.
Supply of food, money and arms give them power to tackle the system embroiled in layers of corruption. After some period of time, they are compelled to follow the path chosen by their suppliers. That path can lead them to part time burglars to full time naxalites or terrorists. Rotten branches are always easier to sever from the tree than a firm one. Voices of separation and overhaul of India’s rule have already started to rise from different corners of India. And there are many corners of the country sitting on the bed of dynamite just waiting for the slight lit of a lighter. This is how corruption dilapidates our country internally.
India is the second fastest growing economy in the world. India’s rise put some fine lines of wrinkles on the faces of statesmen of the so called ‘friendly’ countries. Ironically their concerns are eased by none other than India herself. A recent article, published in “The Hindu” newspaper, put some light on this diplomatic resolution of ‘wrinkles’. U.S offers scholarships to broods of top bureaucrats, diplomats, military officers and potential politicians based in New Delhi.
The relaxation in Visa norms, extension of Visas and ease in grant of green cards are some of the small favours, U.S is already offering to please our policy makers. All of us know these favours are not token of friendship or selfless act of diplomacy. Getting huge arms deal, power projects and heavy infrastructure projects of the budding economy at huge cost are some of these exchanges in lieu of those ‘Coveted’ green cards for the broods.
This is one of the many ways; corruption exposes India’s vulnerability externally and establishes India as a soft state on the world map. Five years back, the topic of my article was ‘Will India ever get rid of corruption?’ I am still guessing. And you?
This article has been written by Kunal Thakur. Currently, he is working as Senior Software Engineer in TCS.
Nice article. I think, India can’t become developed nation in such environment. What do you think??
Well written Abhi. Its a very sensitive topic..
Most of the communities in India (such as Bengali), are succumbed in ‘Culture of Poverty'(a theory introduced by an American anthropologist Oscar Lewis), irrespective of class or economic strata, lives in pavement or apartment. Nobody is at all ashamed of the deep-rooted corruption, decaying general quality of life, worst Politico-administrative system, weak mother language, continuous absorption of common space (mental as well as physical, both). We are becoming fathers & mothers only by self-procreation, mindlessly & blindfold. Simply depriving their(the children) fundamental rights of a decent, caring society, fearless & dignified living. Do not ever look for any other positive alternative behaviour (values) to perform human way of parenthood, i.e. deliberately co-parenting of those children those are born out of ignorance, real poverty. All of us are being driven only by the very animal instinct. If the Bengali people ever be able to bring that genuine freedom (from vicious cycle of ‘poverty’) in their own life/attitude, involve themselves in ‘Production of Space’(Henri Lefebvre), at least initiate a movement by heart, decent & dedicated Politics will definitely come up.
– Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, 16/4, Girish Banerjee Lane, Howrah-711101, India.