Friday, April 08, 2011

How We Feed This Monster Called Corruption

So here is yet another movement that is gaining steam; Anna Hazare's fast unto death. Great bold initiative I must admit. Every once in a while, there are these few great ones that show up, hoping to make a difference. Hazare has indeed done great deeds and might do a few more, but the focus here is on corruption. How much will his hunger strike achieve and what impact will it have in future?

First off, corruption in rampant. In fact, we as a nation created this monster called corruption and knowingly or unknowingly, we are all a part of this body of corruption. I hope the Jan Lokpal Bill gets passed. It has not been cleared for a good 42 years, but better late than never. If it does get passed, that might go a long way in dealing with corrupt politicians and those holding any office. But does it eliminate corruption completely? I guess not.

We always blame our politicians for being corrupt, but that is only because we have allowed them to be. We always speak about how corrupt a traffic cop or a government employee can be, but they are because we have not held back from slipping a Rs 100 note into their palms so that we can get away with something. Our palms are as greasy as theirs. We feed this monster called corruption and we suddenly we want to kill it.

Suddenly everyone on Facebook has been clicking the "like" button to any comment in support of Hazare. Everyone is joining a Facebook page in support of Hazare. Everyone seems to be busy clicking "attending" to the numerous support events that have come up. These very same people will bribe a cop, bribe an official, buy pirated movies, download illegally, buy stuff from the black market and so on. So much for clicking the "like" button. No doubts, I am one of those downloaders and bribe a cop person and hence I find it pretty hypocritical to click "like" or "attending".

We need to be the change we want to see, and sadly that we never can be. Hazare will fast and the bill might be passed and eventually he might end his fast. We cannot expect corruption to end the minute he ends his fast. That wont happen. Chances are that with the IPL starting, Hazare might be forgotten in a few days by us. To begin with, getting the Lokpal bill passed would be the best start. From then on, it is in our hands. Let us stop blaming the politicians, like they are the only ones corrupt. Maybe a look into the mirror might do us good.

3 wise sayings:

the dangerous mind said...

so so SO TRUE! Agreed that networking platforms are great for spreading awareness about a cause, but I'm extremely sceptical about the badges,the 'attendings' and the 'likes'. Sure, we'd all LIKE to end corruption, but we didnt get this way overnight and things are not going to change overnight either. It IS hypocritical and useless if the mobilisation for this campaign doesnt come from within. Yay for Mr.Hazare, he's worked in his own microcosm to effect the change he seeks. We could all learn from that, more than "attending" and "liking" such banality.

Good going,Mac - I've missed your opinions that I'm entitled to!!:D

CuppajavaMattiz said...

I avoid bribing, even if it makes me go an extra mile. But there are embarrassing situations, I know, for all of us that we would rather bribe and get away with rather than waste time and resource. But Anna Hazare had caught the nation's attention. Hope something good comes of it!
Cheers!

RAM said...

true and i hope we all can also get the bill for forming the indian police commission passed so that like the election commission the police ll directly be answering only to the head of the commission rather than to all those shameless creatures right from a councillor to the CM