Anna Haraze did something amazing. Basically he awakened the nation that has been accepting corruption as a way of life. Secondly, with remarkable speed - he brought down the Government of the day to the knees. Well done! Millions of average Indians are now behind Anna Hazare for achieving incredible - debate on Honesty and transparency into the public life. But is it really possible remain at the same level of optimism and survive in the system?
If I say NO, I would be called a pessimist. If I say YES, I might be called a day dreamer. But the truth lies between this YES and No. Between these two, Anna Hazare is just a spark.
Can we really eradicate corruption in the public life? The simple answer is No. Every year we see the world corruption index. In that list, barring few countries (very small nations to be precise) most of the advanced and powerful nations also gets listed. To cut short story, for all those who are expecting something extraordinary would happen - it would be utter disappointed. The dream nation United States of America is hot bed for the corruption. This corruption goes into many categories. To start with, policy influences and funding the political parties. The nexus between the business and politicians. Wall Street and Capitol Hill. The evil relationships between world dictators and the proponents of the democracy. But, all these things would not effect common American. They need not cry for a Gas connection, Electricity nor they have to face the services that would demand "price" for every small thing in everyday life, even if you want to leave or enter an airport elsewhere. Despite all this, everyday we see calls for transparency and honesty from the US political and business class. This is ongoing story for a while until, the situation turns bad.
For India the situation is really bad. The key parameter is supply and demand. India is in short supply of many basic things for their citizens. This gap is exploited by the political class for the past 60 years or so. They want the nation to be backward or still a developing nation. They do not want it to be a developed and competing nation. The political power lies in the delivering the scarce commodity to their own people. Let it be a college seat or ration rice. They do not want to empower their citizens. And equally, citizens too do not have any intention to influence the political class - when they have the power of vote in the democracy. In the end, the nation is used to the choice between better of the worst options. There was never a best option.
With liberalisation of the Indian economy the shades of corporate corruptions and scams have now become ubiquitous. The power brokers, political class and the Businessmen have exploited all the best of opportunities and have become extremely wealthy in a short span of two decades, while the poor are still struggling with the supply and demand gaps. While wielding the power on their constituents, the political class is now enjoying the benefits of the Westernised corruption methods. The Teleom, Defence, Space and all the scams we have been reading these days are a testimony. Lobbyists are in demand than ever in the South and North Block power corridors in New Delhi.
Here comes the simmering frustration. Having denied of basics for a long time, the 90% of Indians in middle and poor category have seen some kind of a hope in Anna Hazare. They all have rallied behind.
Now, here comes the question - can Indians live without corruption? Corruptions is a way of getting things quicker and faster in most of the cases. Just imagine, if every honest Customs Officer at Mumbai international airport. You cannot bring any stuff into the country without paying duty. You wanted to bribe him or her. Imagine honest Income Tax department, honest police, honest Town Planning officer, honest clerk in the municipal office and honest Registrar. Even honest Politician - who could not do anything outside the law and rule book! Life does not move. You cannot get a seat to your child, you have to go to court every time your vehicle is seized, your building would be bulldozed for violating planning rules. It is hell. And it will become an hell.
The word honesty demands lot of courage. But, for most of the Indians - it is a good to preach subject than to practice. One Mahatma Gandhi - and may be another 10, 20 or 1000 Indians to name. This is just out of 1 billion living Indians. So, do not expect spring air - and it is something of an extraordinary pain to experience.
If Government is truly committed and pass the bill - then life would be a extremely difficult to manage. As long as huge supply and demand gap exists, it is not possible to be honest. Until then, corruption is only good for preaching. The Citizens wanted this corrupt systems and they make the civil servants, politicians and businessmen (or women) corrupt.
As it is said in the Wall Street Movie "Greed is good", if the laws come as an act, I wonder - how many Indians would stop short of saying "Corruption is better"
Good luck to Indians. Remember - Anna Harare got the courage to lead - but do you have courage to follow and remain strong willed. Or is it only, till you have an opportunity or necessity to become dishonest?
Time only would tell all the answers
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