Astitva.... The Fountainhead

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

India, corruption and us....

Every day we hear each other talk about how corrupt India is. We express our opinions about it.. We spoof on it and make jokes on the Indian politics and politicians. Most of us hate this corruption. Most of us wish it were not here. But ask yourself this. What have you done in the past 2 years of your life that could improve the situation?

Let me focus on some core aspects of this article.....

Who are We?

We are India's new generation of professionals who have emerged over the past 15 years. Most of us have completed university/college education and have a well paying job. We are the best brains of the nation.

What do We do for living?
Some of us work in large/small MNC while others in emerging Indian Firms. We are employed in India as well as many countries worldwide. We work in IT, Banking, Manufacturing, Consulting, Research, Education etc.

How are We helping the nation?
We attract foreign firms to setup offices in India and help in the FDI. Those of us earning abroad help improve the foreign reserves of our nation. The emerging firms in India provide tough competition to global firms due to low costs and facilitate the local firms as well as economic growth and exports.

Great going folks... I see a lot of economic development and growth but has there been any improvement in the political situation in the country. The Answer is No. Ever thought why? Read on...

All that money you earn converts to taxes and leads to an increase in govt spending. The more they have to spend, the more corrupt officials can pocket. Our earnings helps them more that we think its helping the nation.

The best brains of the nation are not even close to politics. Not only they hate it, they do not even want to think about it. So who ends up going into politics...
Those who can't run their own family, forget running a nation.
Those who got thrown out of college because they pocketed the students union funds.
Those who murdered a lad coz he stood against them in college elections.
Those who have no idea which is the biggest democracy in the world.

Its not going to help if we do nothing but say everything.
Someday we will have to clean the shit that has been laid in the past 57 years, and to do that we will have to get our hands dirty. It will stink a lot but that's the only way.

I can't ask a drought struck farmer from Andhra to do it....He is not sure of his next meal, how can he make the decision for the nation.
Or the suppressed housewife in rajasthan... She does not know whether her husband will beat her tonight... or will she be spared.
Or hungry kid in UP who does no know why his father did not come back home after elections.

Its not them folks....Its us who will have to take on this responsibility....
Coz we are the ones most able to do it. Say that we are the lucky or unlucky ones... but we have to take a lead on this. That's the only way I see it happening if at all.

Adios!!