Rationalising Corruption (?)

Why does anyone indulge in corruption in the first place? Greed. That is the one word which comes to our minds when we talk about corruption and corrupt people. But often there are other reasons or rationales which people give for such acts- helplessness being one, and security for the future being the other. But no justification is sufficient for a wrong doing.

Now, this year’s budget is not an event to rejoice about. In the wake of so many scams, India has faced a severe financial setback. The money that can be useful for the development of the country is going directly in these corrupt peoples’ pockets. In fact, India is said to have made as much as a $40 billion loss in the 2G scam alone. But when the concentration is all on these major scams (thanks to the media and the people involved, of course!), we are forgetting the corruption taking place on a day to day basis. Even though these incidents are smaller, and result in lesser financial losses, compared to the $40 billion at least, they are nevertheless shameful and bad for the country’s overall financial health. And anything that starts as a small fraud, may sooner or later take a gigantic form, as corruption is like a disease. Here is a small anecdote to help you understand why it is a disease.

Have you all come across any honest corrupt person? Isn’t it funny? Two opposing ideas- honesty and corruption in the same line! Well recently I had the privilege of meeting one such saint (at least he is honest). On a trip to Hyderabad, where the means of transport that I chose to go about was rickshaws (cheapest…or that’s what I had thought). I decided to take a rickshaw to go to Ramoji film city, as it was not that far away from the place where I was staying.

The rickshaw driver said, “Madam, 250 rupaiya hoga (it will take Rs.250 to go there).” I was stunned at what he said, ‘coz the hotel manager had told me that it will take just about Rs.50 to 55 for the same distance.

My aunt, (a very funny and a fun loving person) immediately asked him, “Aamir Khan ka Ad nahi dekha? Tourist logon ko lootna nahi chahiye, unka swagat karna chahiye (Haven’t you seen Aamir khan’s ad? You shouldn’t take advantage of the tourists, you must welcome them).

To that, he said, “Madam mujhe teen betiyan hai, teeno ki shaadi karvani hai, ek beta bhi hai (I have three daughters and I have to get them married; I also have a son).”

“Toh kya humse lootoge (So you will take extra money from us for that)? Meter se lo gadi (Take the rickshaw by the meter),” I said.

He flatly refused to take us as per the meter. He also told that everyone here does the same thing. “Mera ek flat hai, jo maine 14000 rupaiyon mein liya tha, ab uski kimat 60 lakh rupaiye ho gayi hai. Par woh mere bete ki shaadi ke liye rakha hai. Paisa paisa jod ke liya tha who ghar, ab betiyon ke liye bhi jama karma hai paisa (I have a flat which I had bought for Rs.14000 and now its price has gone to 60lakh rupees. But that is kept aside for my son’s marriage. I took a lot of efforts to buy that flat, now I have to do something for my daughters as well).

My aunt immediately asked him, “Toh fir ekbaar bahchon ki shaadi hone ke baad to nahi lutoge na (So once your kids get married, then you won’t take extra money from the passengers right)?”

“Uske baad toh aadat ho jayega na Madam, (Till that time it will have become a habit)…” he responded with brutal honesty.

So, like I said, no matter how small or big the form of corruption is, it should neither be ignored nor encouraged, no matter what. ‘Coz once corrupt, always a corrupt!