John Gomes is right. We have as a nation to rethink our whole approach to the matter of corruption. This will not be an easy task and may take considerable time to achieve. To achieve the principal goal it would be prudent to start small and to nurture the success achieved in these small steps. The examples set will in themselves project a perception of what can be achieved on a larger scale if the people and the Government are willing to take bold and sometimes hurtful steps to achieve. It can be achieved and should be perused in earnest.
One has only to look at Singapore where prior to the metamorphosis that set the stage for the current society, corruption was as rampant as in India. If this could be achieved in Singapore, then we have an example which we should emulate. The people should rise up and demand that Government enact legislation to rid the country of this scourge enforcing strict laws and severely punishing those who circumvent the law for personal gain. Unfortunately the Indian due to Hindu religious beliefs even feels that he can bribe the gods, donating parts of ill gotten gains to appease deities and believe that they have achieved this end continuing to amass fortunes illegally with impunity. There must therefore be a total change in attitude and the religious class must participate fully preaching the true tenets of Hinduism and not the manipulated version which is prevalent. John's thesis of 'Shoot the messenger forget the message ' should be taken seriously. If the majority of people rise up and proclaim the message, how many messengers can be shot before radical change is achieved? This should be our aim and if sufficient numbers are for this cause, then it is achievable. We must act now before there is panic fleeing from other major areas of India which could cause a huge refugee problem. Manuel (Eddie) Tavares.
