We have already completed the Golden Jubilee of the Independence, and this is perhaps the most appropriate occasion to assess our achievements, introspect our behaviour and also the shortfalls in the context of the social objectives. Corruption and terrorism seem to be the most poisonous evils in the present Indian society.
Modern world has become a hotbed of corruption, terrorism, hatred and violence. Civilization has not made many people different from brutal animals. Corruption and Terrorism bring nothing, but ruin and disaster; build nothing but tombs; multiply orphans and widows and leave behind a long trail of misery, starvation and sickness. During the days of terrorism affectionate brothers part, friendship receives smashing blows and love cools down.
Without protecting the safety and security of the nation, individual rights cannot be protected. However, the worth of a nation is the worth of the individuals constituting it. Both national integrity as well as individual dignity is core values in the constitution. The need is to balance the two. Survival is the most important right of the people and to ensure that there is nothing that we cannot give up, civil liberties and rights included. The Indian society will have to decide which of these two – a bit of curtailed rights or cut short life is preferable.
India is ranked 72 out of 91 countries listed in the order from the least corrupt to the most corrupt as per Transparency International’s Corruption perception index. Neighbouring Bangladesh occupies the last rank. The Prevention of Corruption Act 1988is the major Act available for prosecuting corrupt public servants. A citizen faces corruption practically at every level and every sector of life. It could be the local rationing department, police, Municipal Corporation, etc.
Corruption is harmful in three different ways:
1. It is anti – national. The Hawala scam showed how the anti – national militants were getting money from abroad through hawala.
2. Corruption is anti – poor since the resources meant for poverty alleviation schemes get siphoned off by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.
3. It is anti – economic development as demonstrated by the collapse of the South East Asian economies in mid 1997.
Every thinking Indian would admit that the enormous black money that oils the wheels of all political parties should be an issue that needs to be seriously addressed by the political class. The major reason for the “Tehelka’ episode happened was, of course, the financial needs of political parties and more important, the money coming from unaccounted sources. Why can’t the political parties acknowledge this as an evil that is corroding public morals and find some ways of curbing, if not totally eliminating, this pernicious practice?
A practice which is perhaps prevalent even now is the way in which the private expenses of officials are charged to their organization and no questions asked. For example, if a Central Government Minister celebrates the wedding of his son/daughter, at a place outside New Delhi, the senior officials of his ministry make an “official” trip to the place, often without any worthwhile official work. Such a practice is, one aspects, widely prevalent even in the public sector organizations, with the entire top management making an “official” trip to attend the private function of the top boss.
Though corruption is rampant in our system, the results of elections where corrupt candidates are elected again and again raise the question whether the removal of corruption or improving probity in public life is considered relevant by the people at large. The Education is an important factor. According to a study made by the India Today in 1997, Kerala emerged as the least corrupt State. Probably this can be directly related to the increased literacy in that State and also the corresponding awareness in the people of Kerala about exercising their rights. One method by which one can tackle the problem of corruption is by sensitizing the people at large about the evil effects of corruption and how corruption comes in the way of fulfilling the genuine demands of the public like drinking water, better roads, better power supply, etc. The Indian citizen is paying 40 per cent extra for the power he is using because of corruption. Sensitivity to the evil effects of corruption will grow if the true facts are presented to the public. This calls for making all relevant information available to the public. It is possible for the Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and enlightened citizens to take up with the departments concerned the question of providing such information as is needed for greater transparency and checking corruption in those departments.
Honesty in politics, spreading awareness to the public, need for transparency, etc are some of the ways by which corruption can be eliminated.
While the people of the advanced countries of the world have been enjoying phenomenal affluence, the people of the Third World continue to live in conditions of appalling poverty, hunger and disease. These are the very conditions that provide a fertile breeding ground for terrorism, unrest and violence. They lead to a progressive disintegration of these societies into different group identities based on race, language, religion and caste, and to fundamentalist mobilisation within groups, that destroys harmony and promotes hate.
The assassination of great leaders and killings of the innocents once again confirm what is fast becoming a postulate in world politics – terrorism is a parricide that recoils on its parents. From the selective killings of politicians and police functionaries, terrorism has graduated to the stage of senseless massacres of innocent civilians. The old anarchist concept of propaganda by deed, it is learned, inspired the blast in Mumbai and the recent violence against the North Indians.
Terrorism takes many forms. The most common form is found in senseless killing of innocents. Anyone who has a gun in his hands and loses his sense of balance takes it into his head that he must use his gun against anyone, unmindful of whether the latter is a known enemy or a stranger. There is another class of terrorism where some are interested in looting banks, petrol bunks or other places where they can lay their hands on easy money. While in the act of looting, they do not hesitate to kill people who might stand in their way.
Political terrorism has become a widespread disease all over the world. People and nations have forgotten that solutions to political problems and disputes can never be obtained by terroristic activities but only through negotiations.
Terrorists do not understand or they are not aware of the fact that terrorism does not pay. It is a double-edged weapon, which can affect both sides. And it is the most dangerous calamity known to the society. It is an engine of tyranny and a danger to civilization. No religion or prophet favours terrorism; it settles nothing, but unsettles everything. It breeds violence that does good to none.
To get back to the roots of today’s terrorist upsurges in the Indian subcontinent, the ruling powers there cannot absolve themselves by blaming the U.S. and the Western arms traders alone. They had devalued the concept of democracy and oppressed their own people. In a democratic set up, anyone with a grievance has first to get a hearing. Whether he “militants” in Kashmir or the Sikh victims of 1984 massacre – their voices had never been heeded o by their rulers.
Only the spirit of love, tolerance, mutual understanding and generosity of heart can remove terrorism. The people should be trained in the art of purposeful life. They must be made understand that life is the precious gift of God and it cannot be put an end in this inhuman manner.
Terrorists attract the young – mostly unemployed – with boxes of money and bottles of honey and life long promises. The youth too, not thinking about their motherland and her welfare, join hands with the terrorists for momentary gratification. Behind this bitter reality remains unemployment, lack of hope for future and erosion of ethical values in society.
International terrorism has become a reality. It disturbs us to see that more and more youth take to terrorism abandoning the civilized life. Terrorism has swallowed our very hope for the future. One wonders if the youth of the land believe that they can establish freedom and amity with violence. Accountability in public life has gone with the wind and the youth have lost hope of a promising future. Restoring faith in democracy is the need of the hour. A radical change in policy approach can’t wait. And who other than the youth can carry that torch of hope?
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