CORRUPTION - A plague alright but the real plague is the gang!

CORRUPTION INVADED A LAND KNOWN AS “INDIA” AND DROVE A PEACEFUL DRAVIDIAN SETTLEMENT DOWN TO SOUTH

COMMUNALISM HAS NO PLACE IN A DRAVIDIAN LAND

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Is India, the real India that is being projected from time to time, by media and people alike, both within the country as well as abroad? There is a need to take a closer look at the issue now, especially owing to the recent developments which made people of lesser denomination, who lack basic culture, education and sophistication, yea with hardly any education too, making a beeline to take a democratically elected government head on as their target on issues that have been hanging fire since the decline of the Indian National Congress since a couple of decades now.  But to what effect have they succeeded?  Incidentally, the topic which has been wrongly and deliberately raked up by a number of people, that too for wrong reasons is corruption.

A study of Indian History would leave no one in doubt about the umpteen instances of fraud, barbarity, treachery, persecution and crime committed by people of diverse regions, of different tribes, dynasties, kingdoms or people.  Unfortunately, the thrust has always come from the religious majority which group casts an ominous shadow of threat over the rest of the religious minorities like Muslims, Christians or any other religious group. Incidentally, people of India never managed to establish a rapport among its diverse people or regions, so as to ensure an unbroken and unblemished record of righteous living, be it at the very start of civilization in the Indian sub-continent or right up to the present day modern age.

Today, as we take pride in having survived those turbulent days of rivalry, communal tension, intriguing riots, intercaste feud, ominous wars and battles, followed by usurping of throne, butchery of kith and kin as well as making or breaking with neighbouring countries , there is a crying need to look back at the agonizing centuries or years which made our today possible.

People who, with little or no education to their credit but daring to circumvent facts and figures for taking on an elected government presently doing their term to the utmost satisfaction of people and regions, ought to know that the nation they pretend to defend on one issue or the other, has a very obscure and dubious past, the facts of which do not at all speak well of its people. 

During the early ages when Dravidians crossed over from the Indus valley in to the northern regions to settled there, tilling the soil and taming cattle for a living, they neither had a religion to rely on, nor a government to cater to their needs. However, with firm faith in their own ability to rely on nature and its produce, they kept up their bid to live and let live hordes of other people like themselves who too made a living through hard work and the sweat of their brow.

Unfortunately, it did not take them long to understand that their race were a far superior one with an identity which would tell highly on their attitude, which fact makes them a unique people who live like one whole nation without making the others their own victim of highhandedness. History speaks of how a different race called Aryans soon crossed over from the Indus regions and after driving them out forcefully came to occupy the north on their own. Naturally, the Dravidians had to abandon what little they had for a possession and run away to the south. Today they are a people with an identity of their own. They the Dravidians are a submissive lot giving no place to mar the relations between diverse people and religions. Frankly speaking, the act of driving the Dravidians out of their settlements by Aryans, obviously a vicious people, amounted to gross corruption, which trait cannot be overlooked even today.  

How much butchery the Aryans might then have inflicted on the Dravidians is nobody’s guess. When all is said and done, one needs to admit that the Dravidians and their descendants even today exhibit an exemplary attitude vis-a-vis the Aryans, who are yet to come to terms with a civilized age of modern day world. 

Corruption, howsoever one might view it, is an innate tendency within everyone, with the one only difference that the extent to which this fire of greed might rage within a person can only be gauged individually by each one.  But naming people in the government or pointing fingers at others only makes one vulnerable to aspersions that being flung by people who have a better outlook of life and its related aspects. 

During the middle of the 18^th century as the industrial revolution and technical advancement took England first and soon the other parts of Europe by surprise, giving tremendous boost to the overall domestic and agricultural life of people, there also started a race by various nations in an attempt to dominate the Indian arena for enarging their own base.  However, the British under the East India Company, who enjoyed the monopoly in trade by the Royal Grant, secured a strong base to expand its trade in India and other Asian countries. With the prospects of many of the local dynasties and empires showing a decline in trend and influence, the British managed to monopolize most Indian markets triggering a tremendous boost to the East India Company, the magnitude of which only matched their nearest rival the Dutch. 

Gradually the trade rivalry frittered away leaving the British to hold sway over vast areas of Indian markets thus bringing the Indian peninsula under the influence of England headed by its Queen Elizabeth I. 

Finding the overall situation conducive to extensive trade and for confiscating the rich minerals and wealth of the nation, the British opted to stay on to colonize the land and rule the people with a heavy hand. However, the natives read through their ploy realizing the while how the country was being plundered by the British and therefore, they rose in unison and engaged in a revolt for gaining control of their motherland.

Since time immemorial, India has been inclined to clash on the line of religion.  The tussle on most occasions happen to be between Hindus, who constitute the majority sect in India and the Muslims for whom the slightest antagonism could send them charging at the other community.

The animosity between these two groups has always been in the fore and many of the wars and battles which have taken place have been on account of the religious divide which separate the two neighbors. The enmity between Hindus and Muslims persist even today and issues that have long been outstanding without a solution remain as much even today.

Among the many instances of clash which took place between the two communities, noteworthy among them and worthy of mention are the instances of Gujarat riots and the Ayodhya issue. These two contentious issues have remained the bone of contention between the two communities. 

As a matter of fact, after a long drawn out battle in court, the recent judgment brought out by Allahabad High Court in respect of Ayodhya issue did look biased, inclined more towards the majority sect although the judgment favoured bartering of the Ayodhya land between three groups, two of the groups other than the Muslim community pertaining to separate factions within the Hindu based organizations.

In this context, it is also noteworthy mentioning the riots which took place in Gujarat where menacing mobs (Hindus to be precise) charged at Muslim families hacking hundreds of them to death to avenge an earlier incident of burning of a number of boggies of train carrying Hindu worshippers on their return from pilgrimage.

Overall, the Indian sub-continent has always been seething with anger, hatred and revenge between various communities on the line of religion and politics. In such a situation the only alternative that could tone down their nerves of people in order to return to equilibrium is money, wealth, luxuries and comfort. In short, money has been the root of all evils and what could divert the attention from riots and yet unite people of various communities happened to be money or the need for earning cheap buck.

Such a situation pulled the so called crusaders against corruption.  Much controversy was created by Hazare and Ramdev but both achieved little or no outcome in the end. So, meet the outcome here and now.

When the attention and focus of the nation was unnecessarily and indiscreetly dragged in to areas and topics that were well within the scope of an elected government, Hazare followed by Ramdev came trekking all the way to hold the government to ransom with fast unto death.

The menace so brought about by these crusaders against corruption under the banner of Kisan Baburao Hazare did create a situation conducive to lurking behind the back of government by extremists who only need an opportunity to hoodwink the government or people.  And it occurred on 13^th July, 2011 when the extremists sneaked through the South Mumbai to trigger three blasts which took a toll of more than 60 lives.  Fortunately or unfortunately the crusaders againsg corruption survived the blasts.

The out of turn events during the few months preceding July 2011 had allowed the miscreants to sneak in to areas and places to wreak damage to lives and properties. The twin issues of blasts of 7/13 and issue of corruption appear to have complimented each other to the detriment of the nation and people. However, the nation and the world are unaware of the real miscreants who allowed a situation of the sort to develop right under their own eyes. The death toll has kept mounting and many more battling for their lives. This may be summed up as the result of individual arrogance. It was arrogance by the two for carving out niches of fame and renown by Hazare and Ramdev which directly added fuel to the raging fire of controversies.

Such disorderly attitude by people with narrow objectives had the nation blinking in the face of difficult times that was reasonably set after the CWG related securities. However, the controversies so created by these two namely Hazare and Ramdev resulted in an air of frustration or disturbance all around which were appropriately made use of by the sinister elements for carrying out their errands.

So the blame for the blasts too go to the government.  That is how the public would piece the outcome.  Fortunately for public, the government under Congress Party never stand up to refute such futile bid by public to lay blame on government for any silly attempts by miscreants nor would they charge Hazare and Ramdev for being so casual about the security and integrity of the nation and its people.

Some people have a penchant for raking up wrong issues at inopportune time with scant regard for priorities, the general good and future of the nation. It implies that we are unable to see eye to eye with honesty, reality and truth. To be precise, we lack in judgment. In our quest for a scapegoat, we frantically run around like headless cock to let our fury go off at person or people whose name name strikes uppermost in our minds.   No wonder then the government is there to take the blame for the public menace as well! Thanks! 

Had there been no government, how many innocent people would have become victims of our inordinate fury and light headed justifications that we make scapegoat of, owing to our narrowing patience? How our response to day to day problems resemble so closely with that of the extremists, who make use of our lesson for their experience! Incidentally, they are a step ahead of us by way of “attitude” in that they at least own up responsibility for dastardly acts committed by them after they are through with it!

While the extremists counter our peace loving attitude with deafening blasts to create record mayhem, we do the like by slamming the government, which (government) too consists of human beings like ourselves being and forming part of our own set up. Like simpleton, we ignore the daily occurrences of corruption in courts, government departments and at the cross road of everyday day life. We forget the unscrupulous manner in which we cheat our neighbor (nay, even our relative when it comes to property and bulk buck matters).  We ignore the match fixing menace, and thousands of other nefarious activities committed on a day to day basis.  We rob the government of the tax due thereof and commit all irregularities in a most sophisticated manner. And still see corruption in others, with government or people who do not fall within our circle.

We care a hoot when pot-bellied gentlemen in government departments demand that we dole out huge amounts in return for favors that would have been loathe in coming in the normal course. These, according to our assessment, do not fall under corruption. But when the likes of Hazare followed by Ramdev raise a banner of revolt under ‘Corruption’, we judge the government as the ‘scapegoat’. Our responsibility ended the moment we uttered our judgment on government. That settles our final verdict whether the government ought to stay or go.  The next time an election comes round the corner, we jump in to the fray for a seat. And if by any chance we get elected, we act the same old way giving others their opportunity to make us the scapegoat.  So the life moves on and we with the blast.

Where exactly are we right that the determined extremists are not, who affirm themselves to be in the wrong but carry out their errands with determination and then own up responsibility? Do we have an attitude to do some soul searching here or there and find ourselves any the different than the authors of Bombay blasts?

The nation is weary of the like of Kisan Baburao Hazare and Ramdev who do not tire of stalking a sophisticated age with feeble attempts to rock the government for earning cheap fame and popularity.

The out of turn events of last few months had made the miscreants sneak in to areas and places to do as much and more damage to lives and properties than what the whole issue of corruption could have wreaked on a nation of innocents sufferers. The death toll is mounting and many more battling for their lives. This may be summed up as the result of individual arrogance by some narrow elements to carve out niches of individual arrogance, thus adding fuel to the raging fire of controversies by proclaiming fast unto death.

Much controversy was created by Hazare and Ramdev, achieving little or no outcome in the end. Such disorderly attitude by people with narrow objectives had the nation blinking in the face of difficult times that was reasonably set after the CWG related securities. However, the controversies so created by these people that resulted in an air of disturbance all around were appropriately made use of by the sinister elements for carrying out their errands.

With the attention of the nation and focus diverted, unnecessary tension did the round making smooth working of government and departments impossible. The miscreants took full advantage of the haphazard situation to plant mischief which would otherwise have been nearest to impossible in the face of a vigilant people and government ready to thwart any extremist acts after the 26/11. Beating breasts at this belated stage for the controversies created by a few zealous hoodlums will not retrieve the situation from the scourge of agony and suffering brought upon the innocents.

Even at this belated stage, there is need for people to realize that streamlining matters and getting the people safely under an umbrella of security is not achieved through blackmail tactics. There is need to suggest measures through interaction and not by placing spokes in the wheel of government machinery. There is need for one and all to ponder upon the need to restrain rather than run around for cheap fame and popularity.

Since last many months, there have been too much trumpeting by individuals and holding the government to ransom on one count or the other.  Such meanness by narrow thinking people must end if the nation has to advance together. Elderly people with mean intellect must learn to restrain their arrogance and allow a generation to advance. Discipline must enter their brain and not mean minded ‘fast unto death’ for a ploy to prod the government.

The unfortunate victims of the blast would now be staring in to an uncertain future and deciding that there is need for greater vigil all around, not only by the government but by the society as well to keep strict watch on many grave issues rather than pinning all our thrust on any one particular area. Let everyone allow the government to function with greater vigor and thrust and not cater to their fast unto death as the one slated for 16^th August, 2011. Hope Hazare is hearing my call?

Every democratically elected government functions within the framework of trust and confidence. People – at least the ones who are educated and cultured – need to cherish the preamble to Constitution as a solemn pledge whereby, we as one people have accepted to work united in purpose and determination. In doing so, we need to abide by the norms, laws or bylaws of unity and discipline in the larger interest of the millions for whom the government endeavors to bring about progress and development. It is unfortunate that the present day mob have discarded the pledge of upholding values and ideals of democracy and in its stead they have opted for an approach of confrontation with the Constitution and the Government.

Any agitation by people ought to be carried out within the periphery of democracy. The approach by people ought to be suggestive or constructive but it ought not be an attempt to gag the government or the Constitution. This attitude forebodes evil for a democratic nation like India which is aspiring to be a super power.

Such an attitude favors the extremists and unsocial elements. It amounts to harboring mistrust against the government thus corroding the very process of democracy and government. This would be like giving the extremists a free hand to step up their mischief unchecked.

People have a notion that the government is there to work magic, that they hold a constitutional right to hammer their demands out. This manifests scant regard for priorities and the larger good. If the public cannot see eye to eye with the government, if the public cannot put forward their points of view across the table without allowing government to freely legislate keeping the larger interest of the nation, it would imply utter disregard by the mob for values that a nation and the people ought to cherish viz. honesty, reality and truth.

Accordingly, the primary responsibility of every citizen is to abide by the norms, laws or bylaws of discipline by extending a hand of cooperation to the government. However, the present day mob has unevenly twisted the values and ideals of democracy to press for their arbitrary and unilateral demands without heeding the presence of government put in place.

Agitation within the periphery of democracy ought to be suggestive and constructive for the government but stretching the rights and opportunities granted to people to extreme levels is making a mockery of the very Constitution adopted by the nation for a self rule by way of democracy.  This attitude does not augur well for a democratic nation (India) aspiring to be a super power.

This attitude only favors the extremists or unsocial elements. This amounts to harboring mistrust towards the government or looking the other way, while the extremist gain a free hand to move about unchecked.

People have a notion that the government is there to work magic and they hold a constitutional right to hammer their demands out. This manifests scant regard for priorities, bypassing of general good and future of the nation. If the public cannot see eye to eye with the government, if the public cannot put forward their points of view across the table without allowing the government to legislate with due regard for the entire nation, it would imply a certain amount of disregard for values that matter viz. honesty, reality and truth.

Invariably, at the very drop of a hat, the mob runs amuck looking for scapegoat, and the only one they pick to pour out their fury is the government! Thanks! Had there been no government, imagine the number of innocent human beings who would have fallen victim to these extremist-tainted mob who would leave no stone unturned to bury their ire taking a heavy toll in its wake. 

The attempts by Kisan Babu Hazare and Ramdev to stall functioning of the government by undertaking fast unto death did sent law and order helter skelter, which opportunity was advantageously utilized by the extremists to plant their mischief at various places that triggered the deafening blasts taking a heavy toll of human lives.

If people do not learn from such grave mistakes, there is every possibility of extremists taking an upper hand to make the entire country vulnerable for which, the government or the Home Ministry cannot be held responsible. If we have inherited the land, it is our bounden duty to safeguard it or assist the government to overcome the impossible. But disturbing peace of the land is no answer to any question of law and order.

Corruption for which Hazare and Ramdev undertook a flurry of activities merely to self promote their own arrogance is rampant all over the country. It is another matter that we ignore or disregard attempts by pot-bellied people in government departments demanding monetary favors for merely doing that which for which they are paid and fuelling corruption indiscriminately.  So the life moves on and we with the blast.

Where exactly are we right in our intentions that the determined extremists are not? How do we distinguish ourselves as peace loving citizens, but miserably fail to compromise with day to day problems arising out of our own culpability and place the onus on the government? If everyone attempted to do some soul searching for the causes and reasons for the unfortunate incidents, we might as well find ourselves at both ends i.e. the perpetrators of the act as also the victims!  Here is hard cash – take it or leave it!

The prime responsibility of people is to trust the government, abide by laws and norms of discipline and extend a hand of cooperation. No amount of control can war off the extremist elements if people look the other way. There is no magic wand and if people harbor mistrust about the rulers such a situation can only favor the terrorists, hence the blasts!

People have a notion that the government is there to work magic and they have the constitutional right to hammer down their demands. They have scant regard for priorities, the general good and future of the nation. It implies that we are unable to see eye to eye with honesty, reality and truth. To be precise, we lack in judgment. In our quest for a scapegoat, we frantically run around like headless cock to let our fury go at the first name that strikes uppermost in our minds. The government! Thanks! 

Had there been no government, how many innocent people would have become victims of our inordinate fury and light headed justifications to make scapegoat of, owing to our narrowing patience? How our response to day to day problems resemble so closely with that of the extremists, who make use of our lesson for their experience! Incidentally, they are a step ahead of us by way of “attitude” in that they at least by own responsibility for the dastardly acts!

While the extremists counter our peace loving attitude with deafening blasts to create record mayhem, we do the like by slamming the government, which too consists of human beings like ourselves being but part of our own set up. Like simpleton, we ignore the daily occurrences of corruption in courts, government departments and at the cross road of everyday day life. We forget the unscrupulous manner in which we cheat our neighbor (nay, even our relative when it comes to property and bulk buck matters), rob the government of the tax due there and commit all irregularities in the most sophisticated manner. And still see corruption in others, with government or people who do not fall within our circle.

We care a hoot when pot-bellied gentlemen in government departments demand that we dole out huge amounts in return for favors which otherwise would have been loathe in coming in the normal course. Our contention is that such nefarious activities do not fall under purview of corruption. But when the likes of Hazare followed by Ramdev raise a banner of revolt against ‘Corruption’, we make the government a ‘scapegoat’ and are eager to demand our pound of flesh. Our responsibility ended the moment we uttered our judgment on government. That settles our final verdict whether the government ought to stay or go. The next time an election comes round the corner, we jump in to the fray for a seat. And if by any chance we get elected, we act the same old way giving others their opportunity to make us the scapegoat. So the life moves on and we with the blast.

Where exactly are we right that the determined extremists are not, who affirm themselves to be in the wrong, carry out their errands with determination and then own responsibility? Do we have an attitude to do some soul searching here or there and find ourselves any the different than the authors of Bombay blasts?

The communal outfits self styled as RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena etc. are a blot on the nation and a curse brought on the people by evil spirit or the devil. These outfits are a menace for the progress of the country and a hurdle in the way of oneness in a country of over 1.3 billion people of diverse culture and thinking. It is unfortunate that the nation is being continuously made to stoop low to redeem its image from an awfully embarrassed world as also its own people.

The only purpose in having recourse to formation of such extremist outfits like RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Ram Sena etc. is to torment the minorities as has happened off and on within the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Orissa and such other places, where from time to time the communal party namely the BJP has managed to garner votes in the name of their communal agenda. It is unfortunate that the very courts including Supreme Court appear to be looking the other way without raining in these self-styled stalwarts of Hindu fanaticism who have already much blood of innocents in their hands.

People who profess a degree of ostentatious devotion to animal idols need to be told in no uncertain terms that they by means of their activities can only appease the evil spirits and the devil. Even the recent judgment in the case of Ayodhya by the Allahabad High Court clearly manifested the biased attitude of people even in high places who are entrusted with the responsibility of imparting justice to people but are acting like their monopoly to pass judgments suiting their individual tastes.

By indulging in hooliganism and heaping insult over a responsible and dignified Minister like Shri Digvijay Singh, the RSS (including the other outfits) have shown that they are a possessed lot, and carrying out the bid of evil spirits or the devil. It is, to say the least, an animal wisdom of different hue, not akin to human nature but enacted within the framework of human form and caricature.

Shri Singh has rightly called upon the country to unite against these extremists and probe their activities to seal the outfits as ‘untouchables’ both as a part of Hindu religion as also as outcast citizens of extremist fame and character.

Agitation within the periphery of democracy ought to be suggestive and constructive for the government but stretching the rights and opportunities granted to people to extreme levels is making a mockery of the very Constitution adopted by the nation for a self rule by way of democracy.  This attitude does not augur well for a democratic nation (India) aspiring to be a super power.

This attitude only favors the extremists or unsocial elements. This amounts to harboring mistrust towards the government or looking the other way, while the extremist gain a free hand to move about unchecked.