Saturday, December 6, 2008

Corruption is in our blood

Los Angeles

Last week, was condolence week. People were out in streets, and in numbers to light candles and pay their homage to martyrs and victims of 11/26. It was a perfect week in terms of catharsis, the process to clean your mind and body, Since Mumbai 11/26 shook the nation, it filled every one to heighten emotions, anger and frustration. Catharsis was necessary. I must thank all my media friends to give us a platform to cry and shout loud enough to deaf the ears of neighbors. Media in general all print and visuals scored a lot, no one talks about the money they made at this time. We needed a platform, no matter how costly it was, we would not ask how much media houses made by reaping the emotions against Political class of the nation. In the time of economic recession, they are the only one, who show the accession in their Profit and margin numbers.

One of my close friend Vasudha, kept a message on her messenger to shoot the politicians. People in Mumbai kept the slogans, “ We have killed all the terrorists, but we still have some left in our political system”. One of the country’s best communication guru, Suhail Seth appeared on Times now channel and gave an scarily impressive account of what he went through during 11/26 wee hours and he told, I quote, “Wimps are running this Country”. It seems to me that people are shouting from rooftop that, political class is the reason for the failure of our country, security, economy, poverty, education and all lapses. Media challenged the so called ‘Common men” and they were out in response of the challenge and in this rhetoric every one cursed the Godsons (Politicians) of our country. Since catharsis was necessary and it was successfully organized and articulated so that people go back to their respective comfort zones and sleep well.

Politicians are corrupt, useless and not fit for their jobs. Yes that’s true, but lets look at the system. Lets talk about common man. First and foremost, common men in this country are the most selfish and selfish then politicians. Lets accept this fact. We pay to schools for admission of our kids, we pay to teachers to pass the kids, we pay the police, not to do their duty, we pay beurocrats to move our files, we pay doctors to change reports, we pay lawyers and judges for favored decisions, we pay law makers for favored laws, we pay Parliamentarians for raising questions in parliament, filmmaker pays for U certificates and we pay to get awards, we pay to TC for berth in trains. We pay to every one who requires money legally or illegally to get our work done. Look at the way we cross the street, if you observe the pattern of people walking on the street, you can make simplest analogy with that, we know how to get our work done. In this way of paying, we get our work done, but forget the most important thing, that we are corrupting our own system.

If these common men know how to work in the system and businesses are flourishing, believe me they are paying at all levels from fourth class to elite class of this society. Selfish common man is doing all corruption and paying to politicians also and making them corrupt. If politicians are corrupt, who is paying them; it is “WE’ the common men of this country. Now if you and me can pay to our Godsons, why not Pakistanis and Bangladeshis can pay. I can say at least that, politicians are not corrupt in doing their business, and they don’t believe in untouchability. They treat equally to every one when it comes to do real business, of taking money. Have you ever heard any corrupt politician (after charged and confessed, though this class hardly exists), who said, I have taken money from Indians only and not from Pakistanis or Bangladeshis. Corruption is in our blood and we corrupted every one from Saddam Hussein (Natwar singh’s oil scam) to Quotrachi (Italian Broker) and we are continuously doing this. On Corruption index we are lying so low, that even foreign investor fear to invest in our country.

The late Prime Minister, then Mr. clean Rajiv Gandhi said, we send RS. 1 from Delhi, and at lowest level only 15 paisa reaches. And after 5 years of service of prime minister office, he became the synonym of corruption in the country. Seems like corruption took its biggest revenge, talking against it. After that almost all politicians decided not to speak about this.

We are so corrupt, that we corrupted our Gods also. Look at the way we go in Temples, Mosques and Churches. We bribe god also, please do this for me; I will do that for you. We offer fast rituals, sacrifices, money and what not. Businessmen go with their ledgers to Tirupati balaji and offer percentage to god. For just successful marriages only, even eminent people, who lost their sleeps during 11/26 offer diamond necklace, bracelets and cash offers. So when God can be pleased with these offerings why cant Godsons also. The basic philosophy of our country is based upon offering and makes one happy (God and Godsons). Corruption starts from here, and it goes at highest level, and one form of corruption is favoring our own community and religion. So-called common people vote for the name of cast and religion, and expect politician to save the nation. Dynastic ruled prevailed till this date in country. Nehru favored Indira, Indira favored Sanjay and later Rajiv, Soniya favored Rahul, and other political patrons favored their own sons, daughters and wife. People like Shahabuddin and Phoolan Devi got elected as Member of Parliament in this country. Have we ever understood the meaning of Representative? Representative is one amongst us and who represent us, if we are choosing corrupts, criminals and useless politicians, what are we? People claim that we don’t have choices, if we don’t have choices why not we become a choice and voice by ourselves. And politicians are happy to reap the votes of common men, because it is vicious circle. Selfish common man has no choice, because they don’t want and ineffective politicians will continue to be in power, because we don’t give them alternatives.

System requires a ‘Samudra manthan” to treat thoroughly. As one of my teachers, CP Jhawar Sir (Principal, Vaishnav School, Indore), told me recently, “Can you believe, a country like us who is teaching and preaching Geeta since last 5000 years remain so corrupt till this date.” And mind it, this corruption is not 60 year old, this corruptions is with us since centuries, Let me take you to the history, Prathviraj Chauhan lost to Gauri because of corrupt Jaichand. In year 1757 during Palashi war, Sirajuddaula lost to East Indian army because of corrupt Generals. Do you want to know, why we were slave for thousand years, it is because of corruption from highest to lowest level. Corruption is in our blood, when we teach to our kids, that to win over enemy use all weapons (Sam, Dam, Dand and Bhed, meaning Friendship, Buying (Bribes/offerings), Force and Division respectively (this is coming from Panchatantra). Most of the common people do not deal with enemy outside country. They apply these teachings within, so what best we can expect from our society.

Fight with the corruption and not with the politicians. Basic rule of thumb is, attack the root cause not to the flowerings(thorns). Politicians are our own people, pity on them; to get a ticket of any legislative assembly they themselves pay the money. Why to blame them only. Security lapses and other problems, which require ‘people interface’ for corrections, will continue to survive in our country, until and unless we change “the People”.

Epilogue

JP* once told, I guarantee that I wont take money but I cant guarantee that I will not give money. If I have to come Delhi to attend a session, and I don’t have berth in train, I will prefer to pay money to Ticket conductor to get a berth.

And when I was studying bachelor of civil engineering, most of my classmates wanted to join government jobs, and many commented, to survive in the system one has to accept bribe. I said immediately, I prefer to give money rather then taking. My logic was simple, the one, who gives, obviously has more money. I don’t think that day I knew how system or for that matter big corporate houses and power corridors work in this country so tightly knitted.

* Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan

33 comments:

Random thoughts .... said...

Good words Jitu,
I was also shocked by the Mumbai incident but I am not at all angry @ politicians. Real culprit is "we", by we I mean 99% Indians. Its "us" who elected these politicians either due to the greed (sometimes for a "pavva"), fear (goonda) or stupid reasons such as caste, religion, subcaste. So "Jo boyega, wahi payega" is very much relevant here for us Indians - cant expect honest and capable leaders if people are voting (for or against) based on who demolished babri masjid in 1992 or who can guarantee "Job Quota" for my caste.
Also, would like to "criticize" media's role during recent tragedy - the Live show, and interview of police officers about there strategies was helping them gaining TRP and also TERRORISTS who were monitoring situation from hotel room TV as well causing public panic around the world. I fully support suggested govt proposal of "Banning" live media coverage of such incidents.
Anyways, as you correctly put it,we use corruption to gain favor at varios levels but criticize pioneers of this art who are leading the country today.

Unknown said...

hey bhaiya.....

One of the finest collections of words & gud examples to explain corruption...
loved your all blogs..
And really its "WE" who are responsible for all this..
We all should fight against corruptions as-well-as media people for their worst role during terrorist attack on Mumbai(11/26),
and if individually we can't fight we can support people like Vishal Dadlani by adding our signature on [www.smallchange.in] on the petition against media.. So that we can contribute a-bit for our nation..

Unknown said...

Quite thoughtful blog Jitendra..

Brutal truth..

It will require revolution to change all this...everyone is willing to complain and no one is willing to take leadership to initiate this change.

Aarti Bhardwaj said...

Hey jits great work,

The whole scenario we are following is in the blood , no doubts, somewhere we are always there to nurture it. In recent atttacks in Mumbai on 11/26, (according to The Telegraph, UK) the time right before 18 hours when last terrorist was shot Southern Army Commander visited the scene with his wife and they were inside Taj when operations were going on...this is one part of the story, the other is, we feel repulsed when a Chief Minister takes his son and his friends for a round of disaster tourism after the NSG operations are over. The much reprobated politician got the boot for his insensitivity and callousness, What do we suppose to perceive from that ?

Should the general be treated differently frm the politicians who took his family for the same disaster tourism and he is soon going to be the second seniormost General in the Army , that is vice chief, in a couple of weeks or so ? I leave this to your discretion and to the people who might be reading this comment. We should know for ourselves how biased in the corruption within us is ? I leave it for your conscience tour.

Secondly, when you have talked about the corruption from past centuries you have hit the perfect nerve of the system.

Here I am adding an excerpt :

"Because we love to hate ourselves while walking in the shoes of the colonial masters. We treat our own people with the same contempt and distrust as the British and previous rulers did. Our laws governing publication of a book and a newspaper, policing are same or directly derived from the nineteenth-century British laws which were created for a subjugated people to be strangulated for wanting to be free. They treated Indian Army men inferior to the firangs and gave them discriminatory salaries, using them as tools to strengthen colonial rule, yet the Indian Army celebrates with honour their predecessor British officers, Raising Days and Victory Days. That’s our sense of a national legacy of heroes and war-victories. It’s nothing but a manifestation of self-negation overpowering self-realisation."
And we feel pride while doing all this, do we still need to tell anyone else out there that we are still carrying their legacy in our own Independent country. I dont think we need to, its evident as rightly remarked is in the blood or to add upto this, it is in the genes.

Now the thing that is left is How did we learn to do this so efficiently and magnanimously?

The answer is, that the Customs are ‘Accepted or habitual practices’ and Etiquettes are ‘Rules governing socially acceptable behaviour’ that form a miniscule part of the organisational traditions and the substantial part of our lives.

And this is the Thumb Rule for Our Society !! Nothing else can drive them better...!!

About changing the world and all the souls who wails for the SAMPOORNA KRANTI including me and as JP is quoted in your blog, he was one our kinds or to be precise we are one of his kinds when we talk about Revolution, it is a nice romantic dream to bawl about; but we need to ascertain certain real workable options that have to succeed against insuperable odds. Where do we start?

We need to define the philosophy to redeem the situation..

So we are here to answer this vexed question standing for all these centuries. All valuable contributions from all the commentators should might pave the way to at least few of our questions.. so lets enjoy this wonderfully exciting and explorative journey

May our Corrupt souls do stand together for this sacred corruption of ongoing system and practices... Aameen...

Jitendra Gahlot said...

Aameen

Unknown said...

Jitu,

What you have said is the hard truth of our nation and our history. No battle has been lost in History without corrupt insider. Infact, Lord Ram also required Vibhishan's help to win over Ravan.

There are two part of corruption, giving and taking. We only have to tackle one of them. Taking is not in our control but giving can be stopped, if we all realised our responsibilities. Problem today is, no one feels resposible toward nation. We are becoming more and more self-fish. Instead of paying tax to the nation, we always think of cheating the IT department. One reason for this is again the same, corruption in the system. I am not confident, if my tax amount is reaching in the safe hand or not.

As you mentioned, blaming and removing the politian is not the solution for today's problem. We need to take much bigger steps. Here "We" represent Indian Common man.

At last, I must appreciate your writing on this subject. The refrences and example pointed out by you shows your knowledge in various subjects. I am seeing new side of yours. Great going buddy. Keep it up.

Virendra said...

Jitu :

Good to read your article . I was so happy to see such a thought provoking one . Corruption is really a big challenge and but I am sure things would be better in future , we are still a young and growing nation . One of the causes of corruption is a mismatch in supply and demand for example we pay to ticket conductors because there are too less berths compared to passenger who want them . So people who have extra bucks pay and get that berth . Now lets imagine that no of berths are more , so there is no need for people to pay that bribe .Since India is growing , people would be more educated , we will become richer , things would be better .If you read history of America you would find there was a great corruption there also after USA got independence and now you see they follow much more honest practice since over the years they have developed a system where facilities are available . I think India would also learn and improve but yes it will take time and definitely it will be a challenge . Hopefully we see a better India in our Life Span ..
Keep writing :Virendra

Bala said...

Good article Jeetu ... agree with all suggestions .. any plans to goto India and overhaul this corrupt system.

I am sure ... lots of us would support thoughtful leaders like you.

Unknown said...

Baba,
You Rock!! Now you are talking!

Jitendra Gahlot said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Bhai mere...pahle desh vaapas aajao, phir desh sudhaarne ki baat karo...

Rohit Saxena said...

My dear friend,

As a person who studied at Aligarh Muslim University, NITIE, worked at Express Towers ( next to oberoi) frequented leopold, i am truely surprised by your comments on indian corruption from centuries as response to the Mumbai terror attacks. I think your anger although justified is a bit misdirected.
Do you blame the american culture for 9/11 or british for 7/11 or infact spainish culture for madrid bombing.
Rather than being so aggressive on the indian culture and its negatives i think you need to understand the terrorists are ISLAMIC terrorists. A phenomenon seen world over these days but i guess people like you blame your ownself first rather than pointing fingers at the aggressors ( for centuries). I couldnt expect more from the generation who followed gandhism or infact was forced to follow it thanks to the NCERT books written by communists whose first agenda is to denounce any local culutre & call anything in praise of it as Right wing. I suggest you a reading of "Eminent Historian - by Arun Shourie" to open your eyes.
Yes, India is corrupt, over populated but sitting outside and commenting wont help. Infact against terrorism it can never help coz the cause is different. The cause is malicious, 6th century, barbaric, anti-freedom Islamic teachings and brainwashing. Islamic terrorism is fuelled by totalitarian ideology of killing till everone becomes a believer ( in what.. killing people. It can not be moderated it can not be defeated but only attacked. People around the world have seen it and are tired of being politically correct. I was surprised to see the kind of midirected anger agains politicians at the mumbai rally. Many were surprised that had we been not corrupt even then can we stop brainwashed people to kill innocents. The real anger should be against a pathetic, barbaric & abosultely antireality cult like radical islam rather than a civilization who was never an aggressor, killed no-one in the name of god ( like the abrahamic religions) accepted everyone with open hands ( even the jews say its the only nation that dint persecute us for being jews), who never stole anyones wealth and then called that country thirld world, never bombed country for GREED ( oil for luxurious living), doesnt believe in double standards of protecting its own farmers( like the country where u proudly work) while preaching the world open trade.
No man no india was great, is great and will always remain great because corruption is everywhere. Quatrrochi was corrupt too, Americans are the most corrupt people, Europe has the worst human rights record ( hitler anywhere). True the people can change countries for better but that would require tough stands like bombing terrorist camps and being ready for after math, making you forcefully work in INDIA for 5 yrs atleast, minmum 2 yrs of army deputation, Yoga compulsory at schools, Geeta being taught at Public schools too... but are you ready for that..
Blaming politicians, ancestors & the country is the easiest job but actually being here, changing things is a bit tough.
As far as i am concerned i am TEACHING INDIA... I am educating them.. not about GAY rights, not about independent media, not about ifidelity being cool, not about writing books like white tiger to impress white masters and win booker... but teaching them INDIAN Pride & its proud culture.. because if you are educated to hate your own glorious past you are actually creating bad future..

Lastly, about a comment on vibhishan by Pavan on your blog.. Dude you need to read some books, vibhishan knew what is right and he sided with the GOOD.Read Ramayan, mahabharata and GEETA to first understand our culture instead of blindly commenting on it.

I am no RSS, VHP no right wing but I am someone who has read indian books too...

rao said...

I do not think you paid a lot of money as corruption in your life. Neither did I so far. While corruption is significant, it really does not go down to common man. A common man is forced to pay but is not willing to pay voluntarily. We need to keep thinking as well as acting to minimize human weaknesses or vices in the society on a continuous basis as well as on a trial and error basis.

Narayana KVSS, faculty, NITIE.


http://knol.google.com/k/narayana-rao-kvss/narayana-rao-kvss/2utb2lsm2k7a/1

Unknown said...

He jitu , this is good you r doinng but main kuchh aur sochati hun .kitne log hain jo in khabro ko padh kar ,sun kar kuchh karne ke liye nikal padte hain ?sirf blog banane se ya usme add karne se kuchh hone wala nahi he.yahaan to jad se lekar phal aur phul me tak kut kut kar bharshtachar bhara pada he.

Arnab Baneree said...

Jitu:- I absolutely agree with your line of thought. But did you think a little deep for the reason of corruption?
The foremost thing is lack of good life which forces common people to take that short cut. But then if that would have been the case rich will never have supported this. So more basic reason is discipline. When is again something which is not there in our blood. We follow discipline only when we are bound to follow that. Its discipline which leads to corruption ans which spreads further with other more deadly problems.

Unknown said...

Good thoughts
Let me add few more points to it.
> Actually , money has taken center stage in once life and even you and me are the product of money driven society.
> It is very easy to blame system (politician, Hippocrates,Bureaucrats)minus 'US' (You and me)
> Basically we as a people are corrupt.
> Moral and ethics are relative instead of absolute.
> Sole focus of education is bread and only bread, There is no link of education with life building and character building.
> Yes "Geeta" has been sung by Lord Krishna 5000 years ago on the holy land of Bharat. But how many of us really able to understand and interpret it ?
> We love to speak and write and understand English (No offense ), how many of us are willing to learn Sanskrit, the only way to understand soul of Bharat.
> How many of us know the true history of Bharat ? Our knowledge and intellect is so shallow that we can only think of Mughals, Europe, Britain and Gandhiji.
> And the youth of this country is most corrupted, he has neither intellectual honesty nor intellectual modesty. He is dancing on others tune, he forgot that he is here to create the history not merely to read the history. He has lost the faith in his own capability, culture and values. No love for our cultural tradition and no courage to embrace to new order of the society. Ek Trishankoo bana hua.
> Once we accept that it is 'US' than it should reelect in our action. It is most unfortunate part of us that we talk laud instead of walk the talk.
> Is anybody thinking our cultural tools like temple are rusted, man is getting alienating from nature, from self and from God.
> Corruption cannot be forced out by making Laws, or by blaming or punishing few, we have to shift the center of man and society from money and power to something more meaningful.
How , well some other time
>

DP said...

JIT... the more important question is what are we as individuals doing about this ? A start would be to give back something to the community. Go to the site kiva.org . It is all about micro-finance and giving small loans to entrepreneurs in under-developed economies. It is better to give a loan rather than donate money because the recipient feels a little bit more dignity and self respect when he/she pays the money back.

Anonymous said...

Oee Jitendra,
Angrezi kaafi sudhar gayi yaar teri from those accented oracle days, phoren jaake lagta hain pseude bangaya tu :)

Life traveler said...

Mentioning the problems, not the solutions.
Finding mistakes in oneself and moving in deep grief and thus unable to think any corrective remedy.

Unknown said...

Hi jitu/all,

why is that we need to pay for berths in train to delhi, or why is that we need to pay money to move our files... just imagine we have enough trains to delhi or enough work force to look after our files...do we pay at this time? no we won't
The cause here mentioned is corruption, but why we paying illegaly to get it done.. its because of population. if we had less population then we dont have to pay for TC..
and coming to corruption in our blood... corruption is every where not only in india all parts of world and in devloped countries.

taking population of this amount corruption arises because of ours selfish... we want to get first we want berth in train... and so we go for paying

What i want to conclude is more than corruption its our population the major threat..

Jitendra Gahlot said...

Thank you Abhishek and Rohit for your comments. Media now a days, is behaving more like a combination of political party and a business house. They make news more intresting by new words, theories and add on spices. The whole game is about grabing more and more attention (eye balls). The third pillar of democracy (Court of Law) should definately probe the role of the so called fourth pillar of democracy.

Jitendra Gahlot said...

Hello Aarti,

It has been a great add on to my article “Corruption is in our Blood”. You have successfully articulated the situations in your response. In no ways General can be treated differently then a sacked chief minister for his disaster tourism. However Chief minister is a visible face but general is not. So most of the people, might not noticed this situation and I am also amongst the one who came to know from your blog only. There are responsible people, and responsible layers in our system, which should really take this as case for further investigation and if General found guilty, we need to take necessary action. If not, I would definitely consider this as case of corruption and negligence in the society.

The point, which you and I are trying to bring in, is very simple, situations and our responses to those situations are double edge swords. Due to corruption, we gain in short term but we lose in long terms. These entire big businessmen lobby, not only big but also on average every one, do corruption. They pay to every one from bottom to top, and when situation like 11/26 comes they behave as this is some one else responsibility. Reliance was greatest example and shows our entire character. The saga of Dhirubhai Ambani, can be painted in golden and platinum colors, but no one can deny his ability to mend the system in his favor actually corrupted the nation. And not only Ambanis, whole system was responsible and we as national behaved as ‘Ostrich’. If Army, Police, bureaucrats and politicians are not following in the line of their duty, it is we as society responsible for that.

You rightly took the case to highest level, when you say, it is not only in our blood, but its in our genes. Habits and conditioning of centuries will not die so soon, but someone at some point of time has to take the necessary action. SAMPOORN KRANTI is not a distant dream; it is a required reality of our country. The Dreams of JP died because of followers (as always followers are blind). JP gave the dream to people like Jagjeevan ram and Charan Singh. There are some capable leaders also, but ultimately the old habits clearly scored over Morarji and Vajpayee. Democracy must have cried with bloody tears in this country during 1980’ when Indira Gandhi had won the election.

Sacred soul of corruption requires a death penalty as it has lived long. Longer then expected. And nation should see this as priority even before Afzal guru.

KVSSNrao said...

I am reading the comments as I posted one comment and as each time new comment is posted I get one alert. While I did not participate in the great corruption outside either as a giver or as a receiver, I see rot in the MBA education system. I worked in three of the top 10 institutes and what I see is rot. If societies are going to be managed by the products of these rotten systems, who will improve whom. As many of you have the real experience of MBA system you should try on improve the MBA education system in India as well as all over the world.

If some of you are in states and can understand the systems there comment on them. And I am sure the rot in MBA system is in USA only. It is getting exported from there to rest of the world.

I repeat my statement - many of us are in not involved in corruption in our everday life. We may be lucky. Trying to correct politicians, top bureaucrats and top business men is one thing. But trying to correct blemishes around us is another thing.Only when you can improve something around yourself, You become a role model for others and others imitate you. You can influence others only by doing the thing you are recommending yourself.

Narayana Rao, faculty, NITIE


http://www.nitie-alumni.blogspot.com/

Jitendra Gahlot said...

Dear Rao Sir,

I completely agree with you, when you write that there is a rot in MBA system, but why to blame MBA system only, we have rot in our whole Education system. The education system, which we boast to be one amongst best, is just producing the clerks and service class people, without building the character; MBA system is still better, in terms of quality of people, which it receives after so many filtrations. As surely NITIE/IIT is best in terms of people we are getting as compared to other institutes and universities in nation. It is “the people” form the institutes and society and these institutes are reflections of the people only.

The reason to I wrote this blog, is to bring the key message, that if we are seeing the corruption and rot ness in our society, it is we as the people of country are responsible. No one else can rectify this problem. We are habitual of expecting messiahs and great men to come and cure the system. But we don’t want to take the responsibility.

Common man is involved in very basic corruption, and this corruption is making the system porous. The important thing here is not amount, whether small or large or level either bureaucrats or politicians, but even a single paisa goes in corruption, actually creates problem in the system, which we might not able to for see in short duration but affect the generations.

In United States, we might not see the visible corruption, like to get driving license or a seat in train you need to pay, but the Illinois Governor’s case is still open with charges of corruption at higher level. I am yet to see how universities function here for Business administration education. But so far my experience with education in US is quite positive.

Regarding role model, I think the time has lot of things in its womb to share with all of us. I am not sure, if I am the person. But surely, I am trying to improve the things around me.

With best wishes
Jitendra Gahlot

Jitendra Gahlot said...

Dear Rohit,

Exceptionally well written response from you. Lets look at the arguments one by one,
First of all my blog, was not pointed on Mumbai terror attack only, it was more pointed out on the people who are commenting that politicians are the only one who are responsible for this nightmare.

Regarding ISLAMIC terrorism, as you gave more emphasis on this, Islam as of today has more then 1 billion followers, spread across different countires. Please don’t forget the following important line. Yes, most of the terrorists belong to Islam however, not every one in Islam belongs to terrorism. There are fanatic people across the world not necessarily Islamic only, who want to rule the world based upon some thousands years old book/s. We should be capable enough to defend our freedom; our own way of life and our own culture, there is no second thought in that. But you need to understand that, we failed to protect more then 180 lives, we failed at various level, intelligence, Security, governance, on time decision-making and most importantly to protect the foreigners, which were our guest. The preparators, which include some of Islamic terrorists and Pakistanis, need to be blamed and brought to justice; there is no denial for this. But every time you fail, you just don’t blame others only, you also need to introspect, why we failed and what levels of corrections are required. So at first level, we see that we as society don’t value human rights of our own people, be it politicians, bureaucrats or for that matter common man. Corruption is one of the biggest violations of human rights. And I see corruption as one of the biggest problem in the country, which affects our deterrent to almost every thing. We failed to provide the basic health, education, living and food security to our own masses. Security comes next to this list.

World comes to India and see that beggars around every nook and corner, doesn’t feel the same way as you and me think. If you and me keep enchanting India is great, India is great, world will not enchant the same message. Give this chance to others to say yes India is great. And to do this, we just can’t write books, article and theories to prove that how great was our history or teach just India. History is dead, so all the great men of past. Time is today and now. What are we today? We are a struggling nation, which has pockets of developed and developing hinterlands and most of the nation is in darkness of third world. Do you know, what is the limit of poverty line in India? 30% people (government figure) still living below the poverty line. They don’t want to listen that how great Ram or Krishna was, or for that matter “ God resides in India” a “Devo bumi”. My friend, their problems are food, clothes and shelter. And before, we prove to the world, that Indians are the best generations so far on this planet (which is again unnecessary boasting), we need to tackle these problems of India.

Do you know why conversion is happening in India? Do you know 85% of Muslim population in India is a convert in last 6-8 centuries by either force or by choice? And when I say by choice, it means that people have been left the Hindu religion because of the atrocities at different point of time. Do you know half the population of country (females) has been kept out from basic rights of freedom, education, economics and social justice from centuries?

And when you claim, that we are the country who didn’t attacked on any one for the name of religion, the simplest reason was, we were never so united. When we got our independence, there were 562 independent states. And the kings of these states, before British or Mughal came were fighting with each other’s only. Not only for the name of religion, or caste but because of human greed and pride. The Second last Hindu king, Prithavi Raj Chauhan had his kingdom across three states only, at present, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. We were never a political power in the history of time. We can claim greatness only because of some of the great men like Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha, Kabir, Nanak, Ramkrisna Paramhans and Adi Shankaracharya born in India. The spirituality is our only heritage, which has kept us alive and united so far. And those Gandhian principles, which you are talking about, as history, have proven timelessness in their acceptability across the universe. Again, those are not necessarily belonging to Gandhi, but Indian value system implemented in highest political order. Gandhi was successful in implementing, the spirituality of India in his own life style. He might failed in many of them, but you cannot take the credit from Gandhi for your freedom today.

Different civilizations set different moral standards for themselves. You need to study Khajuraho and Kamasutra. They also belong to Indian culture and are deeply imbibed the spirituality of India. So when you comment on gay rights and infidelity, please consider the standards of civilization between India and United states. Whenever a civilization becomes rich materially, it has choices to explore the other aspects of life also. Indians chose different aspects in different point of time in history. Neither Sexuality is wrong nor spirituality is correct. Both have its own values and depend upon the personal observation and degree of freedom.

So my friend, I am also like you an Indian in very core. I also disregard the communist history of India. And I believe in the following lines, which give you other answers also

“Yug ki Jadata ke khilaf, ek Inqlab hai,
Hind ke Jawano ka ek sunhara khawab hai,
Bhartiya Sanskrakatik Kranti,
Manviya Sanskratik Kranti “

Unknown said...

Hi Bhaiya...GOOD to read ut thoughts alias OUR FRUSTATION, OUR PITTY SITUATION.My question is where was that Idiot Raj Thakrey when terrorists were killing his "Marathi People"?? In Next attack Politicians like Thackrey, Rane, Naqvi, R R Patil etc should be sent to combat terrorists.Their lives would fetch them some respect from Indians and India would also get rid of some Dirty politicians.

NARESH GAMANLAL said...

Although not born or lived in India, as you all have, yet, the brutal and criminal act must end, and, that, too, will only be possible with newer generation emerging in India, this was visible, from the media coverage, the protests, the rallies, and the prayers, demostrates a new level of anger, and, frustration.
The above people, are to blame for sure, warning signs were there, with previous act of brutality and terrorism acts in several cities, yet no reaction, tolerance must persist, but with limits.
Wake up, be corruption or else, UNITE WE WILL WIN, after the blood is INDIAN

BinaryBonsai: Stunted Thoughts, Digital Dreams said...

Well penned thoughts....

I have always being intruiged by issues like Indian Corruption, Indian politics etc...my reading of western democracies history tells that many of them evolved in similar fashion....what is peculiar about india is that 1. we have a very flexible democracy, 2. we have so many regional, relgious equations....these have complicated matters.
maybe Lebanon needs some study by political scientists...they had a plural, progressive economy in 1960s and see where they are today....
ominous signs for india if we are not careful...



I

Unknown said...

Nice blog sir..
I must say that it is the most fitted articulation of the fact that all of us, in some way or other, are responsible for the current state of our system. It indeed is a brutal truth and put the onus back on “we” the individuals. I think that if all individuals change, the whole system will change automatically. Hope to see more blogs from you.

Aarti Bhardwaj said...

Reply to Rohit Saxena...

Hi Rohit,

A decent variety of books you have been reading !!!!! Its a pleasure to share this platform with you...

Its been a great teaser to have your so IT (Islamic Terror) infested views on the current topic.. But what I could not understand is that the person who is been reading Paulo Coelho, Swami Vivekananda, A great believer in Srimad Bhagwad Geeta, who respects views of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu can talk like a fanatic and yet forgot the drops of oil on his spoon too..

I donno how your views should be taken as you believe something else and yet behave like a total fanatic. We are not here to create an Anti Islam lobby as you followed in your comments but we expect a better and conservative politically, socially and for you specially, of course, spiritually correct viewpoint...not to blame religions to satiate and neutralise our frustrations...

You say you follow Geeta.. but look what you have been sayin above in your comments.. Geeta never taught anybody to be "anti particular religion or genre"... and who knows it better than Sri Krishna how much tactical he had been all through giving all the opportunities to the Kauravas and went in as far as asking for just 5 villages for Pandavas before Mahabharata..

He did all his duties and never spared anyone beyond a limit...

This is where we are standing at...at the Doorstep of a Great Change in Thought process.

Secondly, no one including top investigating agencies can testify the authenticity or correctness of religion of any of the terrorists who has been involved in any of the terror attacks worldwide so far being prudishly Islamic..

Lets take another viewpoint.. What would you like to say about those few who impersonate as terrorists (Islamic) and kill people in disguise, they could be of any religion or caste or creed.. They could be one of those who might be fighting for the resurrection of Dharma in their conscience.. sayin Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya Glanir Bhavati Bharata.. No IT involved ??

I appreciate that you are a reader of good books and we do expect you to share your knowledge and intellect you have achieved so far.. dont be just a reader be a believer and make believe it.

Aarti Bhardwaj said...

To Rohit Saxena,

And yes whatever you have added is blindly telling Arun Shourie's ideas and investigations he did to write "Eminent Historians". No doubts its a great work, but to you ,its just a comment of which you yourself doesnt seem to conceive the very basic idea underlying.. Verbal Terrorism is equally destructive !!!

This is the first thought that comes on everybody's mind is... Right from 632 AD when Muslims started arriving in India it started a series of murders, destructions, massacres etc etc in the name of Holy War. They could do it, because we allowed them to do it..

And there is no point repeating invasions on India since 632 AD and getting bullish on it, because we cant go back to undo that. We were equally a part to that. Because we could not stand up. We need to take corrective measures my dear friend, for what we have already lost and what all we are on verge of losing.

If you see as a matter of fact life gives us a choice at every juncture either to accept what is being offerred or make you own path to tread, which we always declined to do or shunned away in the disguise of submission or fear or alliances.

And as said, History repeats itelf and gives us opportunity, if cant undo the past, then at least redo the future which we have seen with earlier "No Efforts Idiosyncracy" in past and present.

This is about redoing the future, so that we do not discuss these same issues 50 years or say 100 years down the line being a part of that same erroneous history we designed..

Still No IT involved !!!!!

Unknown said...

Jitubhai,

You draw a clear picture of India and this world. I cent agrees to all your points of corruption. Corruption begins with US (WE) only. If JP said that he would not take money but could not guarantee giving money to others, what common man can do. No one can change people or Samaj by giving money or facility.

The root of the corruption is fear, to gain undue advantage, effortless expectation, and selfishness and there may be many more reason to be corrupted.

We have to build Samaj / People on the basis of selfless unconditional love. Is this possible, yes, this is also possible but not easy. Gandhi has picked 2 words from Gita Satyam Vadaha (Truth) and Aahinsa (Non-violence). There are many such words in Gita which is sung by Lord Krishna in the battlefield of Mahabharata. What is Samaj – Samaj is not Hindu, Muslims, Christians – Samaj is represented by people.

People should be Nirbhay, swabhimani, Kartavya Nishth. Gita also tells us that Fokat Nu Layish Nahi (Do not take anything free), Kam Karto Ja Pan Fal Ni Asha Na Rakh (Do your work but do not expect fruit) and tells us that Saru Kam Karelu Fokat Jatu Nathi (Good work will always have rewards). Look at the others as your divine brother and sister. Whole world is one Family (Parivar). When we have this kind of people (Samaj) I am sure there will not be any corruption. We will not require elected politician. We will have selected administrator like Vadil or Father in our family.

KK Agrawal said...

Hello All

I read the comments from all. I want to bring to your notice that we the Indians were slaves for the last 1000 years and cannot become great by calling ourself great. We cannot become great in 60 years of freedom. Over all, ours is a overpopulated corrupt society. It seems corruption has been accepted as part of our social value.
It is funny and hysterical when we call ourself great world champions after playing a few games and tons of prizes are showered on the players.Matches are fixed due to corruption therefore our greatness is also doubtful.
I have noted that people are commenting on their own few cases, why not comment with an over all view to the problems.
Over all problem today is population which is eating away our resources. To get more of our share we bribe right from the bottom to the top of the system and we get it. So nothing to worry !!!

kk