Just two days ago, I wrote about how politicians in India think that corruption is “only a middle class concern” and that it’s not really that big of a problem. If you didn’t believe me then, here’s proof. Today, the Union commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said this about Anna Hazare’s anti corruption movement:
“The self appointed social activists are not fighting against larger concerns.
“Moving away from this, if I may add that India has larger concerns. Those are the issues of poverty alleviation, malnutrition, female infanticide, education, employment creation. I will wait for the day when the self-appointed civil society activists agitate on these issues”
Sharma’s words are very revealing. They show that what the government really thinks about corruption is this:
1. Social activists are “self appointed” and don’t represent the public at large
They think that other than a class of “elites” and “well heeled urbanites,” the real people of India are ok with corruption. They think poor people are stupid and just want what’s in front of their noses. They think no one sees that corruption in high places is more than just about money. It’s about a betrayal of faith. Of an attitude that says “I’m untouchable” and “I want power just so that I can personally benefit from it.”
2. No one should protest about anything unless they also protest about everything under the sun
So if I take out a rally against the discrimination of homosexuals, I also have to campaign against the treatment of tribals, farmer’s suicides, garbage disposal, untouchability, and class equality. Basically unless I campaign for everything together, someone will always say “Why aren’t you campaigning against xyz? Don’t you know that xyz is important?”
This is ridiculous. Everyone can’t fight over everything. Some people will take up one issue. Others will take up something else. To claim that unless a person protests against everything at the same time, their protest is meaningless is either stupid or seeking to cloud the issue.
3. Politicians are irritated by this constant focus on their corruption
They would naturally rather we turn our attention to something else. Preferably something that doesn’t involve the consequences of their actions.
4. Corruption isn’t a big deal
By saying that we need to focus on “larger issues”, politicians show that they think corruption is sort of okay. That poverty alleviation is in no way related to how much money they steal.
I say it’s time these jokers in power got a wake up call. The response to Anna Hazare’s movement has already shocked the political class by its intensity and inclusiveness. They never imagined that such a thing would be possible and they want to hang on to their delusions and the old way of doing things for as long as possible.
Let’s raise our voices and tell them that corruption is one of India’s biggest problems. That it’s not okay. That we won’t shift the focus onto something else. And that most importantly, all of us care.
I think for most politicians, the third point is true…I mean, why else did they get into politics?
In reply to Sraboney
Maybe some of them didn’t start with that intention…The law minister Moily really seems to be doing a great job. But from what I understand, the system itself forces its will upon them. Not to absolve them of course, but I think good intentions can get skewered along the way.
Well heeled ‘urbanites’ also face criticism for being indifferent, being hypocrites (because candle light marches are a western idea), or for picking causes that concern themselves- what’s wrong with fighting for something that concerns oneself? Why wait for someone else to fight our battles?
Love the second point.
//To claim that unless a person protests against everything at the same time, their protest is meaningless is either stupid or seeking to cloud the issue.//
A TV survey once showed that corruption is almost accepted as a part of politics – most voters had so little to choose from amongst murderers and rapists, that they saw thieves as lesser devils. So 4th point was a source of comfort to most politicians. Now Anna Hazare has created the point 3 situation :) What is an average politician to do?
In reply to Indianhomemaker
This separation into “east” and “west” always confuses me. Democracy is also a “western” idea. So are computers. Are we supposed to reinvent the wheel or can’t we just pick up good stuff from other people?
I like the fact that Indians are beginning to raise their standards. It’s time we showed politicians that corruption is not ok.
Errr…the politicians actually cannot understand that corruption has either encouraged or given birth to poverty, malnutrition, female infanticide, education issues, and unemployment? If most of the govt officials supposed to be taking care of improving all this are swallowing allocated funds and also taking lots more money to just take one little step in alleviating these ills…it’s all interconnnected, isn’t it? How can we sit and look at pieces of a puzzle and say this and that is less important or more of a major issue? How about these politicians put the pieces together??
In reply to starry eyed
Well put – it’s common sense no? I feel they just want people to campaign about something else…anything else!
The politicians are corrupt, because the people in India want them to be corrupt. It is a democracy. Corrupt people choose other corrupt people to lead them.
The non corrupt people feel its unfair and do candle light marches and other things. However, the vast majority in the country wants corruption. Life continues.
In reply to Required
I think you do a grave disservice to the people of India. I don’t think anyone wants corruption – rich, poor, or middle class. People just have no real choice so they choose what they think is the lesser of two evils.
In reply to bhagwad
everybody indulges in corruption. People want a shortcut in life. Corruption gives options to people with money. Given a choice between standing in a queue and paying speed money, most people choose speed money. Poor people not being corrupt is a myth. The man who delivers a gas cylinder to my home wants a Rs 10 tip. He terms it “delivery charges”. Its my understanding that it is a pan-Indian thing. I have lived in 14 states till date and in every state they want money for doing their job. They expect to be paid extra.
The lower you get in the government hierarchy, the more corrupt they become. I don’t blame the politicians too much. After all, they become ministers after winning elections. If the people really wanted the politicians to be corruption free, they would have chosen other people in the last elections.
India is a democracy, our people like ministers to be corrupt. How else would you get a seat in a school for your child, a gas connection for your house or a permit to build that extra floor? Really, what is the point of being rich if you cant bend a rule here and a rule there?
In reply to required
So let’s take a poll. Ask people if they would like corruption to be completely removed from India – both in their own lives and in the lives of others. I’m willing to bet that people want to be better than what they are and would choose to remove corruption everywhere – even if they can no longer bribe people to get their work doen.
People elect corrupt people because they have no choice. Otherwise why do you think there is so much support for Hazare? He’s seen as non political and even told politicians to get off the stage when he was protesting. People love him for that – because he’s not corrupt and the fact that he’s not a politician or has political ambitions proves it.
In reply to bhagwad
That is a great idea. Polls are a great way to gauge political opinion. See people in India had this idea many years ago. It is called a general election.
And the best part is, it gets conducted every 5 years or less. So if Anna Hazare and his group really represent the will of the majority, all they have to do is win the general elections.
The opinion of the people browsing the internet is the opinion of the minority in India. And politicians are the chosen representatives of the people. They represent the opinion of the majority. Maybe it is not ideal, but democracy is the best system we have.
If the government has to bow to Anna Hazare, maybe the government will also bow to every Tom, Dick and Harry that comes along?
In reply to required
If Hazare didn’t represent the will and opinion of the majority, the government would have simply ignored him. The govt. ignores most fasts to death, so why is it listening to this one?
Because it knows that it has the potential to topple it in the next elections. And that means Hazare represents the will of the majority.
In reply to bhagwad
If Hazare represents the majority, it should be easy for him to topple the government in the next elections. Where is the need for fasting? Right in the middle of the government’s term? Elections are less than three years away. What is the rush? why the drama?
In reply to required
There are many ways to skin a cat. The fact that Hazare’s able to force the government’s hand without contesting elections proves that running for office isn’t the only means to get the job done.
In reply to bhagwad
fast unto deaths are never ignored. All they do is force feed the person doing the fast.
one more thing, female infanticide is not caused by government corruption. If the parents pay money to a private ultrasound clinic to break the law, then there is little the government can do. If the people want to have boys then they will have boys. Of course one generation later, the boys would all die without getting married and hence the people will be less in number.
Natural selection at work. It reduced the population in India. Why would the government want to interfere?
In reply to required
Like I said, I believe people want to be better than they are. Given a choice they would choose to do away with the corruption culture entirely since they know it’s wrong.
In reply to bhagwad
things in the real world are not right or wrong. They are not black or white. There is a lot of grey.
we already have regular polls. Its called a general election. People say it is the largest polls conducted on the planet. People are free to fight elections, nobody stops you. In my location, I got to choose between 5 serious candidates and 14 non serious ones in the last elections.
We are spoiled for choice. Yet we choose them. What does it tell you about us?
sir,
I am for corruption. I was so far less corrupted because of the fear of the job and my reputation. By not being corrupt i lost so much. My peons have so many things that i do not have. Then why i should not be corrupt.
By being i am not corrupt i was put to so much of mental agony by my department by not giving what i am to be given. But my junior being a corrupt was given every thing for which i was entitled to be given.
Now it is not the case with me with so many people like me.
The question is whether is i am corrupt or not. and how the corruption shall be arrested.
There must be a single agenda that the corrupt must be punished at the earliest and show how he suffers after the punishment.
Most of the communities in India (such as Bengali), are succumbed in ‘Culture of Poverty'(a theory introduced by an American anthropologist Oscar Lewis), irrespective of cl-ass or economic strata, lives in pavement or apartment. Nobody is at all ashamed of the deep-rooted corruption, decaying general quality of life, worst Politico-administrative system, weak mother language, continuous absorption of common space (mental as well as physical, both). We are becoming fathers & mothers only by self-procreation, mindlessly & blindfold. Simply depriving their(the children) fundamental rights of a decent, caring society, fearless & dignified living. Do not ever look for any other positive alternative behaviour (values) to perform human way of parenthood, i.e. deliberately co-parenting of those children those are born out of ignorance, real poverty. All of us are being driven only by the very animal instinct. If the Bengali people ever be able to bring that genuine freedom (from vicious cycle of ‘poverty’) in their own life/attitude, involve themselves in ‘Production of Space’ (Henri Lefebvre), at least initiate a movement by heart, decent & dedicated Politics will definitely come up. – Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, 16/4, Girish Banerjee Lane, Howrah-711101, India.