Vincent Kundukulam

Experts in various Social sciences, human empowerment and motivational formation have seriously studied the question why Indians, in spite of the higher rate of education, sound Constitutional measures and zealous instructions from different religions, don’t succeed in building up an India without corruption, caste discrimination and religious extremism. Their findings show that rules and regulations in this regard will not be enough to solve the issues because they are deeply rooted in the experiences of people, their history, customs and culture.

We will understand it better if we are ready for a comparison with how in the West wealth is created by the young people. In the developed countries the motivation of the youngsters who invest themselves in original enterprises was not first making money but to do something innovative and entrepreneurial. For instance, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of the Facebook, when he started it from his college dormitory his intention was not at all money making. In the West people who display the qualities of hard work, innovation, talent and enterprise move up in life. At the same time, anyone who tries to break the laws and come up in life is punished severely. Schools and colleges have a strict honour code against cheating.

We, on the other hand, don’t have good laws to prosecute the corrupt. Instead, many consider insider trading as a privilege of being in a position of status or power. We are exposed to corruption from our childhood. This creates a value system in the mind of the students that a bit of lying here or a bit of cheating there can be done as long as you are not caught for it. Being part of a corrupt society has made us all somewhat corrupt. From copying assignments to faking our children’s ages on railway tickets, we have all done something wrong or accepted something wrong as part of life. We strive to be rich without being good. That is how our ministers get the courage to remain in power with the excuse, ‘I did not benefit’. It is also because of this cultural background that the government attacks the anticorruption crusaders and protects the corrupt.

Hence the electorate does neither care about the financial impropriety of the politicians nor about their performance. In such scenario the candidates don’t have any incentive to do a good job for the nation. The present day thinking is, it does not matter that one is unethical, selfish, greedy or violent provided s/he is successful. Greed is good and even valid. Money provides stature. With money you acquire a higher place above than others in the society. People idolize those who lead expensive life. The newspapers and televisions celebrate those who conduct expensive weddings and festivals. A lady decked in jewellery is more respected than a school teacher who educates hundreds of children. The executives make more news than the journalists who unveil the truth and doctors who treat the poor. In such a society the temptation to acquire wealth through even false means is very high. It is not enough that we moan and fuss about the politicians looting us. We as a society must feel that unethical behaviour and nepotism are huge problems and then only politicians will take them seriously.

kundu1962@mail.com