If everyone is corrupt then only one person cannot make the change - it
has to be a group efort. By refering to an NGO i meant a group who is
concerned. A local group which can collect data and take concrete, positive
action -- perhaps some student group - as a part time activity -do some
research, collect data--with no strikes or demonstrations.
Here in US I have learnt that research does have value--- the govt
wouldn't do research to reveal its mistakes. Traditionally this role has been
with the newspapers. But a reporter hardly has the resources or the time to do
indepth study, given these times of sensationalism.
So it must be with a group of educated people - maybe some educated
housewives based in Assam -who can phone people and get data.
>There are only three members of the society who can remove
corruption ----They are father,mother and elementary school
>teacher."
I think what AK is saying has some
truth in it.
First let us see what he is
saying.
He is not saying that the parents and
elementary school teachers of the present corrupt leaders were also corrupt,
and that is why the present leaders are now corrupt. What he is saying,
on the other hand, is that corruption is basically a moral issue,
and that the parents and the teacher did not instill enough upon
their children and students a high moral value in their time.
This is however only one part of the
equation, but a great part. This is a necessary but not a sufficient
condition, we may say. In Indian corrupt socities, and Assamese in
particular, we lack this morale education. In Assamese society now a days
nobody really believe that" Xotyor xodai joi"
I think the 20th century will go down
in history as the worst century so far as morale value is concerned for
various reasons.
Another big part of the equation
is that the society in which we live must not condone corruption if it
wants to stop corruption. But in present Assamese society specially, we
have been seeing that society not only condone corruption but actually
encourages corruption. I still remember when I first joined Oil India long
time ago, one of my uncles asked me, "Now that you joined this company, do
you think you will have any 'bahira poisa'? And without 'bahira poisa'
how do you think you will be able to manage in these hard
days?"
The above goes a long way to show how
morally degraded the Assamese middle class have been. This may be new
phenomenon in Assamese society may be developed after the WW-II; but that is
the state of affair. The son is considered successful if he
is able to buy good property in Guwahati, build a good house, and be
rich. No question is ever asked in the family how he is making the money. It
is a sign of unofficial recognition of a 'macho' man. He become such a
'macho' man that he even become eligible to criticise about
corruption in government administration. He can even donate to
the local Namghor and will be honored as a very religous man. Such is the
stae of corruption in Assamese society.
In western societies, both these
parts are strong. They have a high morale elementary school
education, strong Christian family values at home, and a society who does
not condine corruption. That may be one reason why corruption is less
here.
There are various faces and aspects of
corruption. Corruptioin is there in practically every society to some
extent. But in my view it is worst in Assamese socity. Assamese
society probably first learned of these corrupton from their elder
brothers the Bengalis during the first phase of British rule in Assam.
However, there is one alarming aspects of public corruption in Assam
compared to the other states. While in other sates, in spite of corruption a
project is get done may be at a higher cost. This can be seen fromn the
results. But if road conditions and results of other projects in Assam
are any measure, in Assam, all money seem to be spent simply in
corruption itself, and no money is left for the project itself.
It is like trying to fell an mango
with a 'phormuthi'. Without sending a 'phormuthi' you cannot expect to
get the mango. If we consider the 'phormuthi' as the corruption, in other
states you loose the 'phormuthi' but at least you get the 'am' or mango. But
in Assam, you send the 'phormuthi' and you loose both. This is what we say
in Assamese : "Am-wo gol, phormuthi-wo gol'.
The state of affairs shows a high
moral degradation of in every lavel of the Assamese the
society.
One clue to end the
situation that the anti-process must be started at the bottom and
at the top at the same time. But that is just a clue in my personal
view.
Rajen Barua
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 8:54
PM
Subject: [Assam] something about
corruption
What would be the best way to bring down the level of corruption to the
minimum,if not completely,in a state like Assam? President A Kalam,in his
Republic day address to the nation said " There are only three members of
the society who can remove corruption ----They are father,mother and
elementary school teacher."
Is corruption then a problem of moral character ? Or,is it something to
do with the transformation of our system?
What is your view ?
KJD
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