Blog site of iVarta.com » Entries tagged with "Corruption"
Corruption and Social Order in South Asia
The media often presents a variety of views from seasoned journalists, bloggers, and aam admi (common man) discussions on corruption in South Asia; the tone and substance of the discussions generally have left me more confused than enlightened. We understand that corruption is not unique to South Asia; it is all across globe but at different levels. In the WASP* (#1) culture dominated nations the social order has moved on from that developed by ‘the old boy’s network’ of elites representing the traditional upper crust of society. The new elite meritocracy took over about a couple of decades after the WWII (1970 onwards). The subject was discussed by David Brooks* (#2). Brooks had based his arguments after reviewing a book by Christopher Hayes* (#3). Both author’s arguments reflected the US and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Corruption, Economy, India
Anna Hazare is a Flash in the Pan: Corruption is an Indian addiction
Corruption is a symptom of supply and demand, it is here to stay. “Corruption, the most fallible symptom of constitutional liberty” – Edward Gibbon “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members, who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.” - Abdul Kalam, President of India-2002-07 Beginning with Gandhi, India has had a tradition of fielding fasting activists in every decade. It is an impressive field: Vinobha Bhave, J. B. Kripalani, Morarji Desai, even Atal Bihari Vajpayee to some extent in the late 70s and early 80s; and now Anna Hazare, not to mention the hundreds of self proclaimed “saints” waltzing around the countryside preaching goodness and restraint. Every fringe group has … Read entire article »
Filed under: Corruption, Economy, India, Politics
Anna Hazare’s Jan Lokpal – a puppet on a string?
Like most Indians, I have been following the anti-corruption movement that has taken center stage in India over the past few months. Anna Hazare and his Friends have been staging protests seeking a tough anti-corruption law. I must confess that the attention that this movement has commanded is indeed remarkable – I would say too remarkable for comfort to be a spontaneous venting we are used to seeing all these years in India. The speed and professionalism with which Anna Fast I and Anna Fast II have been organized has not missed anyone’s notice. Further, many have also noticed the ultra-professionalism with which the media has been handled. Contrast this with Baba Ramdev’s fast at Ramlila maidan and the chaos that descended there when police sought to disperse the gathering. Given … Read entire article »
Filed under: Corruption, India, Media, Politics
Congress’s own “Gott Strafe India”- Baba Ramdev – Ramlila Debate
The media have not yet got around to denouncing UPA, but that will come soon, no doubt, since the bonafide Citizens are already bringing out billingsgate attack on Congress ,UPA and the Delhi Sarkar, in their emails, blogs, & tweets, for Truncating the Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev’s anti-corruption movement. The precariously perched UPA, lead by a factious congress party, and the loathsome attack on Baba Ramdev was reminiscent of pre 1947 independence resistance against the imperial British. Taking an inventory of sorts, where Baba went wrong is now unforgivable, as he escaped by a hair’s breadth. The largest democracy, had instantaneously become the largest dictator for nearly eight hours to begin with, with the omnipresent section 144, a draconian formulate, imposed arbitrarily by the British, before 1947, when ever their authority was … Read entire article »
Filed under: Corruption, India, Media, Politics
India Corruption: Anna Hazare and Indians Against Corruption
EPIC BATTLE AT JANTAR MANTAR Anna Hazare’s hunger strike, reminiscent of Mahatma Gandhi’s mass Satyagrahas, has truly awakened the citizenry of this country. A moribund citizenry has at last come alive to fight corruption and venality in public life. The groundswell of public anger against corruption that fueled the movement ensured Hazare’s self-less Satyagraha has not gone in vain. At first the ruling dispensation tried to deflect the issue hoping public attention would move on to other issues. The ‘Adarsh Society’ 2G, CWG et al. don’t evoke the kind of emotional responses now as they did only a few months ago. Who remembers Bofors’? It was anyway minuscule in scale compared to the twenty-first century scams. The spokes-persons of UPA were so cock-sure of the ‘public-memory-is-short’ dictum, that they now claim they have … Read entire article »
Filed under: Corruption, India
India: Anti-corruption Drive by Shanti Bhushan
SUPPORT SHANTI BHUSHAN AND HIS TEAM IT IS EITHER NOW OR NEVER 85 years ago, Shanti Bhushan was born in the home of an eminent Public Prosecutor of the British Raj. Little did anyone imagine that one day this man would shake the corrupt foundations of independent India from its very roots. Shanti Bhushan became a lawyer much against the wishes of his father, and eventually went on to become the Law Minister of India. Shanti Bhushan’s son Prashant Bhushan, who left IIT Madras and Princeton to pursue law from Allahabad University, chose the most un-travelled path for an eminent Indian lawyer. As a son of a former law minister, Prashant Bhushan could have hobnobbed with the high and mighty like most other luminaries in the legal profession. But instead of representing the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Corruption, India, NRI
Conversion, Corruption, Congress and bloody Indians
Recently, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured a Christian delegation that he was trying to evolve a consensus on granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. This is interesting since just a few days ago; the Gujarat High Court has rejected a plea filed by a converted Christian seeking access to benefits extended to him earlier as a Scheduled Caste Hindu. In addition the Prime Minister reportedly promised “to act on the Saldanha report on violence against minorities in Karnataka”. This is in reference to the independent inquiry report of Michael Saldanha, of The Catholic-Christian Secular Forum (Catholic but Secular? Hmm!), a retired judge of the Bombay and Karnataka High Courts, (and just happen to be the President of the Catholic Association of South Kanara or Dakshina Kannada, the place where violent incidents had … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Corruption, NRI, Politics
Corruption in India and Fixing it
Corruption corrodes national economy, makes life difficult for citizens and inhibits investors not interested or skilled in managing corrupt politicians and bureaucratic establishment. There are many facets to corruption. Some corruption involves paying off power holders (politicians, bureaucrats, police, judges, etc and middlemen including clerks and peons who control access to officials or process paper work). Some corruption reflects on the prevailing morality and ethical values in the country, as well as international politics. This blog addresses several facets of corruptions and offers some viable solution to tackle it. To solve the wide spread corruption problems of India several strategies are suggested: A publicly voted national code of conduct to encourage citizens to be disciplined or morally and ethically responsible by not practicing selfish business practices. Honoring basic human rights guaranteed to all citizens … Read entire article »
Filed under: Corruption, India, Politics
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