So says the Bible calling upon all men ( and of course women) to be true to their calling.
The year 2010 will go down in Indian history as the most shameful year with scam after scam breaking out in the open and almost every politician being "smoked out" of the muck and morass that he had burrowed himself ( or herself ) into. The media hounded them out and the authorities are today having their hands full making sure that the guilty do not go unpunished.
Amidst all this din and noise is the controversy that people from the judiciary have also got themselves embroiled in the various scams. The CVC at the Central Government level and one of the ex CJIs too have become involved in scams that have affected the confidence of the public.
As for the image and reputation of the country as seen by foreign eyes - who cares ? Who cares if we are at the bottom of the pile in the ranking of Transparency International ? Next year if there is a let up ( no, not eradication totally as we can never achieve this ) of these scams by a small measure and India moves up even by one rank up on this ranking, we can all rejoice as a nation and state proudly India is shining !!!
There is a joke about corruption in India and it goes like this :
Once an American died and went to Heaven. He asked God, "God, I am ashamed of all the corruption that exists in the US. If you were to eradicate it, pray tell me how long will it take ?" God replied, "Well at the rate at which it is prevalent, I reckon about one year". Similarly a Russian died and went up to heaven and asked God the same question as he was ashamed and wanted to eradicate corruption in Russia. God replied, "Going by the rate and record of corruption in Russia, I reckon it will take about three years". and finally, one of the Indians died and goes to heaven. He also wants to be up there with the US and Russia and so he also asks God the same question......
Suddenly he notices tears coming out of God's eyes....he asks in great alarm, "Oh Almighty, pray what is the matter ? Why are there tears in your eyes ?" To which God answers, "The answer to your question.....I don't see it happening in MY LIFETIME" !!
No progress can be ever made by the country despite the fact that we may beat our chests and say we will average 8.5% to 9% GDP growth etc etc etc as long as there are people around who are efficiently and effectively siphoning off the wealth that is being generated for their own benefit.
Amidst all this din and noise is the controversy that people from the judiciary have also got themselves embroiled in the various scams. The CVC at the Central Government level and one of the ex CJIs too have become involved in scams that have affected the confidence of the public.
As for the image and reputation of the country as seen by foreign eyes - who cares ? Who cares if we are at the bottom of the pile in the ranking of Transparency International ? Next year if there is a let up ( no, not eradication totally as we can never achieve this ) of these scams by a small measure and India moves up even by one rank up on this ranking, we can all rejoice as a nation and state proudly India is shining !!!
There is a joke about corruption in India and it goes like this :
Once an American died and went to Heaven. He asked God, "God, I am ashamed of all the corruption that exists in the US. If you were to eradicate it, pray tell me how long will it take ?" God replied, "Well at the rate at which it is prevalent, I reckon about one year". Similarly a Russian died and went up to heaven and asked God the same question as he was ashamed and wanted to eradicate corruption in Russia. God replied, "Going by the rate and record of corruption in Russia, I reckon it will take about three years". and finally, one of the Indians died and goes to heaven. He also wants to be up there with the US and Russia and so he also asks God the same question......
Suddenly he notices tears coming out of God's eyes....he asks in great alarm, "Oh Almighty, pray what is the matter ? Why are there tears in your eyes ?" To which God answers, "The answer to your question.....I don't see it happening in MY LIFETIME" !!
No progress can be ever made by the country despite the fact that we may beat our chests and say we will average 8.5% to 9% GDP growth etc etc etc as long as there are people around who are efficiently and effectively siphoning off the wealth that is being generated for their own benefit.
We have had the two institutions so far in exposing these scams - the first institution, the media, relentlessly pursuing those involved in various scams and the second, the judiciary bringing the accused before them for trail. We must ensure that these two institutions are manned by men
( and women ) of impeccable qualities and values that would make them seem to be "holier than the Pope" in all their acts, deeds and actions.
We have a long way to go to instill and continually monitor the governance mechanisms that we should have in place to prevent such scams from taking place in the country in the future. We need to have the political will, the judicial objectiveness and the tenacity and doggedness of the media to eradicate them. Having forums and speaking at the various functions hosted by them will not be enough.....we have to demonstrate that we mean business when we are ruthless with those who are guilty of creating, aiding, abetting and perpetuating scams in the country.
Question is : Do we have all these qualities ? In my next blog I will touch upon the corporate sector and what it can do to play a part in cleansing the system.....by keeping its own nose clean.
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