British could not have beaten the Nawab of Bengal: Mirza Muhammad Siraj ud Da Daulah (more commonly known as Siraj ud-Daulah), who was the last independent Nawab of Bengal, unless there existed a person named Mir Jaffer. The commander who was supposed to be the lead protector for the Nawab, Mir Jaffer fell victim to bribing by the Robert Clive, the British invader. What an amazing circumstances and feelings amongst its subjects might be then!
The episode of betrayal ended in Nawab’s reign and marked the start of British East India Company rule over Bengal when Siraj ud-Daulah lost the Battle of Plassey on 23 June 1757. The forces of the East India Company under Robert Clive conquered and the administration of Bengal fell into the hands of the British Corporate governance of ancient time!
History is witness to these facts of bribery, betrayal, disloyalty, unfaithfulness, treachery all presumed to be encompassed in one word of modern day ‘corruption’. More interestingly, the entry the Britishers’ gained is through Bengal and later spread over almost all of South Asia. Can Bengal therefore be named as the weak link or in the path of least resistance, through which any inroads, if any one plan to make can make? Do the enemies, mercenaries, terrorists are aware about this phenomenon and are they planning anything in the same line of thought? Well then, we all must be indeed careful and not allow repeating history, one more time. Otherwise what is the reason for bomb blasts and terrorists attacks in all places except Kolkata?
If we go by the history of India’s culture, then it would not be very difficult to ascertain that corruption and bribery has been integral part of our lives, deeply embedded into our belief system. Indians are not weak per se’ but their weakness lies in susceptibility to get bribed at the slightest provocation. Because of this compulsive behavior of accepting bribes in exchange of immorality, Indians get enslaved by their own uncontrollable desire and greed.
Question is not the quantum of immorality but the degree of immoral behavior, which leads to dangerous circumstances and catastrophe!
History repeats itself and keeps on repeating till date, when in the year 2016, we seem to have assumed corruption as way of our lives and not “Hindu as way of our life.” This was categorically adjudicated by the Honourable Supreme Court of India during the course of proceedings of landmark Hindutva Judgment in the year 1995. We have become so used to corruption that now we feel it is normal to engage in corrupt ways and get smallest things done in our lives, right from breaking traffic signal and getting away with it, to obtaining cash in exchange of our old notes during the process of recent de-monitisation. We have become so habituated to corrupt practices that we have accepted it as part of the game and part of our lives. It is not that for the whole thing we can blame the Government of the day but as citizens we all are equally responsible, if not more.
All the time in the World, we are looking for shortcuts in our lives and wish to achieve fame, money, recognition, eminence, assume celebrity status overnight and everything else ‘material’, which we think can make ourselves happy. If corrupt ways are not available at will, some people start feeling of breathlessness? The ‘corruption’ word has thus become part of our belief system and it is quite shameful to observe in a democracy that political parties cutting across lines indirectly and passionately advocate in favour of corruption and tries hard to justify corrupt practices. Their attempt may not be direct but it is for all the people, for whom it is not so impossible to comprehend the camouflaging in its simplest way as what is behind that cry which is palpably coloured in no uncertain terms.
These acts of our legislators and politicians are not far away from the doctrine of colorable legislation, which itself a repugnant act while legislating of course, but feel should be applied outside the parliament while not legislating as well. The principle where it is profoundly spelt out that “what you cannot do directly cannot do indirectly”, should also apply in legislators conduct all the time.
The unending pursuit for money sustains, because we have been somehow made to believe that money is everything and assumes top priority and everything else is secondary. In a recent incident where a 45 year old man stood in an ATM queue and died of heart attack in Bandel, Kolkata on 3rd December 2016 and people watched him to die for half an hour and nobody even tried to lift him or offer help for because none is ready to give up their serial number, so that a dying person in need could be extended a helping hand. Humanity has touched its lowest ebb in recent times!
This unfortunately reminds of the 1976 Bollywood movie, “Na Baap Bada Na Bhaiyaa, Sabse Bara Rupaiyaa.” – Nether Father nor brother is great but Money is greatest. (#3)
Politicians are screaming in the name of commoner but the actual cry is coming out of the pain they personally suffered due to de-monitisation. As for political parties they can deposit all their cash and other donations in installments of Rs 20000/- (twenty thousands) each transaction and need not declare the contributor or donor. And all that is free from Income tax! So what is their problem when party fund was not to be affected? Mind it, all these were devised as per Income Tax Act far way back in 1961 and the same was strengthened in 2005 in Right to Information Act. (RTI), where Indian political parties were kept out of the ambit of the people’s right to know about their wrongdoings through simple instrument of filing RTI application. So this conspiracy to encourage corruption is deep rooted and not a matter of 5 or 10 years that we can attempt to eradicate.
According to less privileged people, after de-monitisation there is at least talks of differentiation between rich and poor people, otherwise all the time there used to be discussion about Hindus and Muslims; this is a welcome change for better. Most of the poor people I met recently are happy, may be on the account that they feel rich may be less privileged now. Actually there is a word in German as ‘Schadenfreude’ which means deriving pleasure out of other people’s misfortune, this well may also be the case, as effect of such financial reform is bound to have good amount of gestation period.
British formulated Indian Penal code for its dominion but did not do so it even today in their own country. British Judicial system runs on common law of precedence, ratio decidenti but no codal provisions. This discrimination is glaring and reasons for not adopting a Criminal code in the UK till date is a matter of great research. So can it be presumed that Britishers’ are more civilized and honest in their approach, that may as well be researched or British have intentionally corrupted Indian minds through narrowly designed missionary education. One in many ways it might as well be true as the convent school curriculum is devoid of spirituality, psychology, patriotism and vehement methods of imparting as to how to behave and conduct later in life. But then our parents are gullible about it and instantly adopts with no hesitations.
If India wants to achieve its goals of development, patriotism becomes an important factor towards contribution to development as it will radically reduce the enemies within our own country. Press reports and past incidents suggest that the terrorist’s attacks of Jammu & Kashmir and Mumbai 26/11 could not have taken place, if there were no local handlers assisting the enemies with logistics and information. Patriots to remain more vigilant for any kind of suspicious activity in the neihbourhood and there may be rewards for reporting by the Government.
Another source of corruption is undoubtedly poorly laid electoral system since Independence and Income Tax Act 1961, all these make earnings by political parties tax free and the system awfully encourages corruption in public life. In the name of political donations people are encouraged to divert funds for personal use. There is no accountability and unwillingness to conduct electoral reform as the this intention of the legislature or Sententia Legis is further proved and furthers the cause that while legislating RTI Act as late as in 2005, it did not had any provision to allow public to seek information on the political parties of its financial functioning. What more saddening can be for the ordinary masses of this country?
The remuneration of the police and security force is dreadfully low and the living standard that they are subjected to is far below the international norms. The salary of qualified professionals also far below international level, all these factors contribute to utter frustration and leads to corruption. The highest paid job in the west is that of a teacher which is not the case in India, Gurus are not honoured and rewarded adequately and suitably, what could be the principle and policy behind, is just not comprehensible.
Indian’s mistake may be in getting away from Vedic traditions, emphasizing and seeking external comforts and not peeking within so as to ascertain what is the root of the problem? One reason could be adoption of too much of western ways of life, assigning too much prominence to it, thereby neglecting our own ethos and traditions. Especially, if we get into the depth of Vedic wisdom traditions, we would begin to appreciate that it has otherwise all the necessary ingredients to guide us through the right direction towards peace, tranquility and prosperity and development in real terms. (#2)
It may not be out of place to mention here that ‘Development’ as such do not necessarily mean only building up of roads, infrastructures but improvement in “The Human Development Index” (HDI) which is a composite statistics of life expectancy, education and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development.
A country scores higher HDI when the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, the GDP per capita is higher, the fertility rate is lower, and the inflation rate is lower. Development has to be commensurate to ordinary human consumption and thus sustainable and not at the cost of the future generations’ lives, so that with days to come earth becomes better and better place to live in.
India today falls in the medium range of HDI in World map but it needs to be taken to next level of high HDI index like Europe, US and Australia who are around 0.9 whereas for India it is around 0.6, on the top of HDI chart it is Norway with 0.944, followed by Australia 0.935, Switzerland 0.930, USA 0.915, UK 0.907 and in comparison Pakistan 0.538, Sri Lanka 0.757 and India is ranked 130th at 0.609 amongst 188 countries (#1), so it is a long way to go, isn’t it, as far as the development is concerned?
Right to development as per the United Nations proclamation in 1986 is, “The right to development” is an inalienable, natural human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized.
Communist Party of China conducts examinations and classes on whatever principle they believe is the right one for their country and the same is conducted throughout the year and for all age groups. May be India can take a leaf out of China’s book and ensure that character building and shape up of a national consciousness which would lead to development of the human index in real terms, takes place with all earnestness.
Unless we are able to comprehend in the premonition of impending danger, our culture and traditions is heading southward for destruction. The one basic character which we need to bear in mind is the weakness of Indians is toleration of any wrongdoing and quick acceptance by the society. If we are to conserve our heritage, culture and ensure our future generation better days to come or “Anchee Din” or Good Old days, then character, building, morality, patriotism are to be imbibed in our future citizen’s mind and belief system right way with specially designed curricula in basic levels and refreshing course at all levels.
So has alarm bell rang and is the time come to deal with matters of national importance with iron hand? Many of us may think so.
#JaiHind
References:
#1. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-up-5-spots-ranks-130th-in-Human-Development-Index-UNDP/articleshow/50170343.cms
#2. http://shantanuc1985.blogspot.in/2016/07/why-vedic-traditions-refuse-to-die.html
#3. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/demonetisation-atm-west-bengal-mamata-banerjee-modi-kolkata/1/826035.html
