Skip to main content

Corruption in India: Roots, Challenges, Solutions


There doesn't need to be a commentary on the problem of corruption in India. It is widespread and infecting every nerve and cell of the governmental administrative system. It's important to ax the tree at the root in order to destroy it.

ROOTS
The problem is systemic. One who gets into it usually ends up practicing it not just because others are practicing it, but because he might have got into the system through a corrupt mechanism of bribery on one hand. On the other, it may also mean that there are people out there who are willing to keep the mechanism going for their own benefit, meting injustice to the poor, and, perhaps, avoiding it would mean a loss of job or favor.

CHALLENGES
The challenge is not to uproot the wheat with the weed. There are many still in the system who are right, while the judicial system that relies mainly on evidences would fail to find some to condemn the corrupt. There is also the danger that the just ones are falsely condemned in place of or with the corrupt. The challenge is not chiefly for retributive justice, but for corrective justice.

SOLUTIONS
Plato compared the State to the human body. Administration of proper drugs can weed out diseases and allow natural healing to take place. Truth is the best drug. Justice is the result of it. To a great extent, entertainment media and traditional cultures foster false world-views and expectations that provide real space for corruption as a quick alternative. These have to be adequately and properly countered by truth.

Minimum doses of Truth will not work. Since the disease is heavy, the doses need to be heavy and voluminous. Information has power. Hitler knew that and the Nazi government thrived on a system of heavy propaganda. The propaganda was false, therefore the results were disastrous. The modern world doesn't have time for truth. It wants anything that could bring fast wealth, prosperity, and materialist meaning in life. This is submission of spirit to brute forces. It is only when matter fails that people realize they need to halt and seek spiritual wisdom. Those who realize experience a gradual but happy convalescence. In order to bring healing to the nation, we need more ambassadors of truth who will stand for it, in their own little corners, bringing light to the darkest sections of our community.

Truth is Victorious. Truth Prevails. But, it can't without its ambassadors. Candles need to be burnt, lanterns need to be taken out in the open. Who will do it? Not those who are enslaved; only those who are free.



PS:

Corruption and Government
Corruption is a governmental problem, basically speaking. If there weren't government, "corruption" as such wouldn't exist. But, throwing the baby with the bath water is not a solution. It has been said well, "That government is best that governs the least". There are more instances of corruption in states under dictatorship than under any other form of government. Corruption exists where governmental hold exists, but in weakness. The government is not omnipresent and omniscient, and so cracks start up and grow large, allowing injustice, disorder, and lust to corrupt the governmental rule. There is always hope as long as the ship hasn't violated the law of buoyancy; however, once the shipwreck has occurred, the only salvation remains in abandoning the ship and getting into some safe place (if it exists....). But there is always hope as long as there is life (Eccl. 9:4). The body will only survive if the members don't turn on each other to consume them; but, will work in harmony and mutual construction. Those in authority must remember that authority or power is a huge responsibility. The "rulers" are responsible to keep the head in its proper place. The failure of the head leads to self-destruction in every way possible. The wise man keeps his eyes on his head. Those who have lost the ability to see cannot oversee. The kind of leadership and the choice of the right leadership is pivotal to the health and life of the nation.

Becoming Corruption-Free
A corruption free government is itself a law. It's like the law of gravity or the law of aerodynamics. It is the way it functions. The functioning creates the experience of Justice, Liberty, and Equality. The letter of the Law is not the chief point of focus. The spirit of the Law is important; and, the spirit of the Law is Justice, Liberty, and Equality.

A corrupt government curtails Moral Justice, Moral Liberty, and Moral Equality. It is immoral in essence. It is immoral because it is essentially lawless. It may have written, verbal laws. But, it lacks the spirit of the Law of human community function. A corrupt government is also a law: a law of disease and death.

The Essence of A Healthy Nation
The essence of morality is Love. "Love your neighbor as yourself" is the sum of all law. Love is what integrates a person into a healthy living. Love is what integrates a nation into healthy living. Therefore, any law that discourages the principle of "Love your neighbor as yourself" is immoral and devoid of the spirit of Justice, Liberty, and Equality.

Love is not just an emotional game. Love is the act that flows from a recognition of the dignity of the human individual, the human person. Love is not mere idealistic. It is personal.

A corrupt government leads the nation into:1. Distrust of governmental justice
2. Bribery, aristocracy, and marginalization
3. Terror. The government is looked at as a monster. It has weapons. It has forces. It has power. It rules by force and not by honor and love.

Citizen's role in creating corrupt government:1. Desire to escape justice and personal responsibility. (If you wish justice done to you, then you must also be willing to fully suffer for the injustice you have done to others; or else, you're partner with injustice.)
2. Love of money and wealth to the extent that the dignity of a human as human loses value.
3. Selfishness. Lack of love for one's fellow man/woman, whoever it is, is the first act of murder.
4. Cherishing inequality by allowing religion, anti-religion, communalism, cultural nationalism, sexism, racism, etc to dictate feelings of inequality. Cultism.
5. Pride. Crave for power through despotic thinking: desiring everyone to believe what you believe and think as you think. Such things are usually not possible even in families. Disagreements do occur, since diversity is the rule of community.
6. Rational blindness, and non-scientific temper, even in the name of science. Fanaticism that is not open to rational verification.
7. Tolerating injustice. Allowing violence to dampen the voice of reason and truth.
8. False hope that ultimately everything will be alright without us doing anything.

Citizen's role in creating corruption-free government:
1. Articulate absolute aversion to corruption.
2. Unite against all practices of corruption.
3. Challenge laws that promote corruption.
4. Instill in children hatred against bribery and immoral practices.
5. Be an example to children and youth of true patriotism, integrity of character, purity in love towards fellow-citizens, and moral responsibility.
6. Strip the esteem of money-mongering culture; repudiate greed and avarice; exalt the virtue of social responsibility.
7. Find out NGOs, Media workers, etc who are committed to a corruption-free government and inform them of any instance of corruption anywhere.
8. Believe in God, the True Judge of the Universe. He will give justice.



Quotes about Corruption from the Bible (NLT)

Proverbs 28:1-28
(1) The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.
(2) When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability.
(3) A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.
(4) To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.
(5) Evil people don't understand justice, but those who follow the LORD understand completely.
(6) It is better to be poor and honest than rich and crooked.
(7) Young people who obey the law are wise; those who seek out worthless companions bring shame to their parents.
(8) A person who makes money by charging interest will lose it. It will end up in the hands of someone who is kind to the poor.
(9) The prayers of a person who ignores the law are despised.
(10) Those who lead the upright into sin will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.
(11) Rich people picture themselves as wise, but their real poverty is evident to the poor.
(12) When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.
(13) People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy.
(14) Blessed are those who have a tender conscience, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.
(15) A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a lion or bear attacking them.
(16) Only a stupid prince will oppress his people, but a king will have a long reign if he hates dishonesty and bribes.
(17) A murderer's tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don't protect him!
(18) The honest will be rescued from harm, but those who are crooked will be destroyed.
(19) Hard workers have plenty of food; playing around brings poverty.
(20) The trustworthy will get a rich reward. But the person who wants to get rich quick will only get into trouble.
(21) Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for something as small as a piece of bread.
(22) A greedy person tries to get rich quick, but it only leads to poverty.
(23) In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery.
(24) Robbing your parents and then saying, "What's wrong with that?" is as serious as committing murder.
(25) Greed causes fighting; trusting the LORD leads to prosperity.
(26) Trusting oneself is foolish, but those who walk in wisdom are safe.
(27) Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing. But a curse will come upon those who close their eyes to poverty.
(28) When the wicked take charge, people hide. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly multiply.



Internet Resources

CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX MAP
Corruption Perception Index (Transparency International). Photo: Wikipedia

External Links

Corruption in India according to Transparency International
India Against Corruption.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is Water Baptism Necessary Before Partaking in Lord's Supper

"Last Supper" by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1750) Yes, it is. Water baptism identifies one with the redemption work of Jesus Christ, with His death, burial, and resurrection. It is anticipated of visible identification with Christ and His Church. Every person has the personal responsibility to examine him/herself before deciding to partake in the Lord's Table. The Bible makes it clear that those who chose not to be baptized were rejecting the counsel of God (Lk.7:30). In a mixed congregation, it is not possible to always know who is worthy to partake of the Table; however, the minister must encourage only those who have been baptized for remission of sins (not just as a ritual but by faith in Jesus Christ) to partake of the Table. Before Jesus sat down to dip bread in the cup, He washed His disciples' feet. He makes the statement that they are already "washed" and only need feet to be washed. Of course, this may not explicitly/only refer to their baptism, fo

Matthew 6:31-33

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Mat 6:31-33) The original sense of nakedness was from that deep insecurity of autonomy that sprung from man's first alienation from God due to sin-- spiritual death. Seeking God marks man's refusal to stay alienated by turning towards His Maker in whom alone is Covering and true Security and no reason to be ashamed anymore.

Placebo and the Philosophy of Mind and Matter in Drug Research

A placebo is a non-therapeutic substance administered under the camouflage of medication to deceive patients into believing that they are receiving medications; this done solely for psychological and not for physiological effects. Placebo may usually be used to compare its effects with the effects of other drugs in drug research. Let's take the case of an experiment that tries to establish whether a particular drug, say to treat weariness, is genuine or merely has the effects of a placebo. Suppose 20 candidates are chosen for this experiment. 10 are given the drug and the rest are put on a placebo while they are told that the placebo is a genuine medication. They need to make sure that the deception is well carried on for the success of the experiment. If both the groups make similar improvements after taking the treatments, the new drug seems to only function as a placebo in effect. The basic hypothesis of the placebo raises the question of mind over matter. Of course, this pushes