Qorruption begins with a Queue

Qorruption begins with a Queue

The agony of standing in a queue begins with the realization that it is not official. There will be many who jump in before you, keeping you stranded for forever. Two strangers can become best friends and a close friendship might be ruined for an argument in a queue. Tempers run high as people from all walks of life are suddenly forced to share physical space and breathing air. People pushing and pinching, people playing loud lousy music and chewing tobacco, people sweating and swearing; then when you can’t take it anymore you decide to dig your pockets and take that giant leap to the front of the line. This is the genesis of every big scam – Qorruption begins with a queue.

Corruption is a global phenomenon found in every society in one form or the other since time immemorial. In ancient times, the judges received bribes in Egyptian, Babylonian and Hebrew societies. In Rome, bribe was a common feature in elections and to public offices. In France, judicial offices were sold during the 15th century. England was described as a ‘sink-hole’ of corruption in the 17th and 18th century. The expansion of the economic activities during the first and second world wars opened new vistas of corruption in the country. War time controls, restrictions and scarcities provided ample opportunity for corruption. The licensing system of the government, the control regulations and the expansion of the public sectors spread corruption in all walks of life.

Political parties are founded and destroyed like a pack of cards. The latest being the brain child of a self-professed law abiding citizen named Kejriwal. Its initial stages were glorious; they came across as social workers cum freedom fighters cum detectives. The Aam Admi team woke up the nation with investigations that got the politicians burrowing into their golden caves and crime bureaus working overtime. Has that initial thunder vanished like every other revolutionary storm?

Every educated Indian knows that Kejriwal launched the party on a overzealous youthful drive, loaded with emotion and fragility. Hypothetically speaking, if the Aam Admi wins the elections; besides offering corrections, does the party have qualified experienced professionals to run the country? I think if Kejriwal really wanted to give something back to this country, he should have stuck by Anna and may be set up an academy to train and educate aspiring politicians to be better leaders. Jumping into the mess and trying to smoke out the rats doesn’t seem to be the solution at the moment.

The emergence of the political elite who believe in interest-oriented, rather than nation-oriented programs and policies are the main culprits. A majority of bureaucrats in our country are ‘ritualists’ and remain concerned more with perks and privileges than with ‘development-oriented’ policies for the society. It is not the rules but the interpretation of the rules which enables officers to receive kickbacks and pocket the bribe. Corruption is also caused and increased because of the change in value system and ethical qualities of men who administer.

The old ideals of morality, service, honesty and sacrifice are regarded as unfashionable and accepting ‘favours’ is viewed as a ‘need’ than a folly or an aberrant behavior. Is cheating in an examination corruption? Many clerks go to the offices and sign the attendance registers but are never found on their seats. They become available only when they are offered money to move the file.

The nature of corruption is different in foreign countries compared to the type we find in our country. In India, we have to pay extra for a railway reservation, admission to private institutions, for purchasing gas cylinders, for movie tickets. Thus, in other countries, money is paid for getting illegal things, in India it is paid for getting legal and authorized things.

Why are cases of corruption not reported by the people to the police? It is because we are afraid (that the corrupt will harm us), indifferent (that it is not their duty to reform the society) and pessimists (that the corrupt are influential and powerful people and no action will be taken against them). Corruption can be solved by the collective efforts of the people. If we make sure that dishonest people do not get elected to legislatures, half the battle is won.

Much of our corruption exists because of people’s tolerance or complete lack of public outcry against it, as well as the strong public forum to oppose it. While many intellectual, educated, well-informed and articulate citizens remain worried about this monstrous problem in the country, they fail to channelize their resentment into strong public opinion against it.

Once again the cure to a global disease lies with the individual. It is the choices we make that define the society’s value system. If you jump the queue then it makes no sense to condemn others. A 5rupee bribe is as good as a 500crore scam. Projecting yourself has an impeccable jingoist doesn’t hide the fact that you have your hands greased. The common man normally uses the following reasoning to justify his action. ‘As long as your action doesn’t directly harm somebody else, it’s not immoral.’ It’s a give and take policy.

Thus the real problem lies in our ‘flawless’ perception. We don’t see ourselves hurting anyone. When we just rush into a queue we don’t see the last person whose been standing there waiting for his turn; when we bribe to get our work done we don’t see the poor patient man waiting for his turn. The attitude implies, ‘I didn’t stamp you or curse you, so as long as I just blindly walk ahead, I am not hurting u.’ The serpentine queues will continue all our life; we need to justify the means we take to reach the end.