History of corruption is very old in India and though recently, there is huge hue and cry against corruption. Indians, by default, are not willing to pay the price of remaining non-corrupt, so corruption is prevalent in every stage of life.
When was the first bribe offered in India which was documented ? Well, most probably, it happened some 3three thousand years back if one believes in the story of Ramayana. Even if some one does not believe in the epic Ramayana, just remember, it is in that epic, so someone thought about bribing in that period when Ramayana was conceived!
The story goes like this :-
Once Ravana, the powerful and rich king of Lanka, visited hell ( kingdom of Yama) disgusing as a Brahmin. A guard was assigned to Ravana to show around the hell. Ravana was watching all sinners getting punished. They he saw a big pot of boiling oil, but no man was in it. Getting curious, Ravana asked the guard why that oil is kept boiling while no body is being put ( punished) there. The guard replied that a big sinner Ravan would be punished in that boiling oil, so the oil is being kept ready for him. Ravana, disguised as Brahmin, face went white in fear, so he asked the guard if there is any way Ravana can escape from such punishment. The guard hesitated to tell. So, Ravana, immediately offered his Kamandalu ( water pot always carried by Brahmins, supposed to be having magical power) as bribe to the guard, and guard told him that, Ravana will escape such punishment only if he is killed by Rama who is non but avatar of Lord Vishnu.
So, that was the main reason why Ravana kidnapped Sita, so that he could be killed by Rama and escape the punishment in hell.
That is the first documented history of bribe in India and it is continuing gloriously since.
Many people just do know or realise that they are doing some corruption even when they are doing. Also the line between corruption and sympathy has very blurred line in India. For example, when a person pays one or two rupee coins in traffic junction to a beggar, they mostly pay it as bribe, not out of sympathy for the beggar. Even beggars know about this and that is the reason why begging is almost an industry in India.
There needs to be a change in the basics in Indian civilisation before it actually think of eradicating corruption.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Most of the communities in India (such as Bengali), are succumbed in ‘Culture of Poverty’(a theory introduced by an American anthropologist Oscar Lewis), irrespective of class or economic strata, lives in pavement or apartment. Nobody is at all ashamed of the deep-rooted corruption, decaying general quality of life, worst Politico-administrative system, weak mother language, continuous absorption of common space (mental as well as physical, both). We are becoming fathers & mothers only by self-procreation, mindlessly & blindfold. Simply depriving their(the children) fundamental rights of a decent, caring society, fearless & dignified living. Do not ever look for any other positive alternative behaviour (values) to perform human way of parenthood, i.e. deliberately co-parenting of those children those are born out of ignorance, real poverty. All of us are being driven only by the very animal instinct. If the Bengali people ever be able to bring that genuine freedom (from vicious cycle of ‘poverty’) in their own life/attitude, involve themselves in ‘Production of Space’(Henri Lefebvre), at least initiate a movement by heart, decent & dedicated Politics will definitely come up. – Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, 16/4, Girish Banerjee Lane, Howrah-711101.
aaj kal india me bahutt kchu galt chal rha hi per me essa nhi hone dunga.
1/08/2012 ko delhi me aa raha hu.
currption ko khatm krne ke lye.
vir aheer
corrpution will be finshed to 1/08/2012
vir aheer
I am a15 year old boy from Bangalore , I wanted to ask how will you alone end ti ? why only on 1/8/12 ?
act now or it will be too late
this rotting wave of politions sould be replased by young youth with no corruption backround
YOU f****** b******…
if you dont know the actual history of corruption in India…
just shut the f**k up!!