Corruption

It has garnered worldwide interest amongst the youth and elders alike. Suddenly we witness a sea of change. Awakening of the sleeping dragon within each one of us. As we raise slogans and shout ourselves hoarse in the name of anti-corruption, I still wonder whether Indians felt the pang and hurt of corrupt practices only 64 years after independence. Why has there never been such a massive movement to fight evil amongst the countrymen for so many years is beyond me. 

But then, I realised the daunting truth. I could hear my heart's whispers. "We are responsible" it said. For every damn act of corruption in the country, we as Indians are responsible. For every single movement that stirs the demons within corrupt people to "use" us, we are responsible. Not me. Not you. Not him. Not her. Each and everyone. From the multicrore entrepreneur to the beggar on the street. Everyone of us spread corruption. 

It started when our expectant mother bribed the authorities with money to speedily procure a birth certificate for us. It started when we paid ridiculous amounts of money to the pujari for the naming ceremony. It started when our mom and dad played hide-and-seek with us as kids. Lies. "On the moon lives a silver king and a golden queen". Lies. "Tooth fairy rewards you with gifts for every tooth that you lose". Lies. It started when they spoilt us for choice whenever we let out a small wail or a fake tear. It happened when they rewarded us with money for the small things we do. They instilled in us the logic that when we do something, we need to get paid. They instilled in us the logic that when we throw a tantrum, we will be spoilt for choice. "Run and get me milk from the store, take 50 rupees from my purse and keep the change". Small demons of corruption planted unknowingly within each of us.

When we turn youngsters, the wheel doesn't stop. Our parents undergo a "personality test" themselves to ensure our admission. They pay more for a school seat than for that of a college seat. "It's all for our future", we convince ourselves. We need to pay extra for excursions in schools even after an "all-inclusive" fee structure. Do we argue ? Do we complain ? We just let it go and pay the required fee. Why ? Are we scared ? No. Are we not aware ? NO ! Are we just plain lazy ? Hell yeah ! We can never wait for the next show. We NEED to watch it on the first day first show. Hunt for blackticket sellers. 100 rupees more per ticket ? That's WORTH it. I want to watch my favorite hero on the big screen. Endhiran ticket sold for 2000 rupees ? Am game. After all, he's my superstar ! Ticket for a charity event. 50 rupees ? Oops sorry !! I'm out of cash ! Lies. We are fooling ourselves. 

We buy cool drinks from a store for 2 rupees more than the MRP, do we care ? "It's for keeping it 'cool' " they say and we don't give a damn. We need the drink to quench our thirst. End of story. We can't wait to see the God in the temple. Queues ?? Poor people. I have the money. They don't. I will pay 500 extra to get a 'special' darshan. Who cares ? God must be happy. Am his ardent devotee. And I do this for HIM. Ok, not for Him alone, I need a favor from Him, I need more money so that I can get more 'special' darshans. 

100 rupees for an auto ?? Atrocious. "It's drizzling, and petrol rate is high" Ok. Take it then.   Lays sells us a "packet of air with some chips in it" Do we care ? "Atleast those few chips are good" we say. Company X pays me 1000 rupees more than company Y. Great. Let's shift. Are we showing loyalty ? We are corrupting our own minds. 

How many times have we knowingly accepted our own friends or 'distant' family relations into a public service posting instead of another more deserving candidate ? How many times have we run around for recommendations so that our child can get the best seat available in a good college ? How many times have we paid a donation of 5 lakhs to the college of your choice fooling yourself that it is just an "investment for the future" ? How many days have we loitered the entire city so that we would produce a fake community certificate ? Am just from Backward Community, it will hurt my chances. Done. Changed to Most Backward Community. How many times have we accepted 'gifts' from other people knowing fully well that they are just buying you out ? 


We go for private tuitions paying fortunes just because we need grades. We pay through our noses for Levis and Adidas because Indian brands are a laughing stock. We go to flea markets to get pendrives, memory cards, cellphones, cameras and digital players at a lower cost though it is deemed illegal. We think it better to pay 50 rupees to the policeman than pay 750 rupees at a local court for violating traffic rules. We go to the RTO office and pay a certain fee to get the license within 30 minutes instead of the standard long-drawn procedure. We buy sale deeds for houses and pay every tom, dick and harry along the way. 


We pay money to get nominal pensions after retirement, we pay money to get our ration card verified, we pay money to ensure a proper passport. We bribe the authorities to get our homeloans sanctioned, we pay them off to register illegal plots. We pay money to "speed-up" the procedure, we pay money to hoodwink the government of the 'unaccounted' wealth. We pay money to kill a deal, we pay money to build a deal. We pay money for every damn thing we know. We cheat others and we cheat the government, but above all we cheat ourselves. 


When we finally die, our family has to bribe the crematorium guy  to give us a proper pyre. Our family has to bribe the authorities to get us a proper death certificate. We keep paying money for every small act from the time we are born till the time we die. Do we dare to complain ? Or, better still, do we CARE to complain ?? We sure do not ! But, we keep blaming others for indulging in corruption. But, do we ever take a look at ourselves ?

Did we have a choice to NOT do the things we did ? YES. Did we have a choice to NOT pay extra money at schools and colleges ? YES, WE DID. Did we have a choice to NOT to buy blacktickets ? YES, WE DID. Did we have a choice to NOT pay extra money for a cool drink and roadside apples ? YES, WE DID. Did we have a choice to NOT pay extra money for dharshans ? YES, WE DID. Did we have a choice to NOT pay extra money for an auto home ? YES, WE DID. Did we have a choice to NOT pay donations ? YES, WE DID. Did we have a choice to follow the procedures in procuring a license and a sales deed ? YES, WE DID. Did we have a choice to NOT to ever indulge in corrupt activities ? YES, WE DID. Everywhere we go, we have the CHOICE. But, do we take it ? 

We say the politicians are corrupt. We say the entire world is corrupt. Except us. 


We go about hating people, mistrusting them, shitting them, killing their joy, killing their dreams, killing their futures, killing their lives, killing their relationships. But, no, we aren't corrupt.

We go about ripping peace, ripping harmony, ripping pride, ripping honor, ripping hearts. But, no, we aren't corrupt. 

This is a time to NOT look at Anna Hazare as our hero, as a God in disguise. Second Mahatma. The Second Father of the Nation. It just shows how idiotic we are to hero-worship someone as a replacement to the one who fought the might of the British without the aid of numerous media channels, twitter, blogs, facebook, orkut, ads, newspapers, phones. The real hero is not him. It's us. There is NO bill that will ever stop corruption. Ever. Corrupt people will still find a way out to indulge in their devious activities. But, what can stop is our indulgence in those activities. Lokpal is not important. WE are. If each and everyone of us strive for change, WE CAN. And, if we let our hearts beat for India, WE WILL.