Diabolic Mutant

Corruption based on “Doctrine of Functionality”, must be the biggest social game changer of recent times apart from Jasmine revolution shaping our societies and changing genetic composition of its fabrics. Corruption is like HIV virus weakening our social, political and economic fabric’s immunity and resilience. Corrupt people are like cold zombies gobbling onto normal warm blooded humans as in the movie “I am Legend” starring my favorite Will Smith. Corruption reinforces belligerent corruption and leads to vicious cycle of corruption like malign viral multiplication and acquiring a demonic status in the society. We know the problem even the causes and the processes of the virus but then we are far from any “Anti-Corruption Vaccine”. Away from the Corruption of Avogadro numbers in Delhi, corruption at the cutting edge level of governance is demeaning the social and ethical fabric of this country. And this cutting edge includes executive, judiciary and legislative (so called “Panchayati Raj”). I get a shiver down my spine thinking of such a ubiquitous nature of corruption.

Patwaris or Halka Patwaris form the lowest rung of revenue officials. But for common man they are next only to crazy gods when it comes to revenue/land matters or disputes related to them totally indifferent and vague. It’s easier to persuade IndruNag Devta of Dharamshala not to rain when India is playing a cricket tie in controversial HPCA stadium than to get a revenue work done by these Patwaris without the under table payments. And think of the poor who can hardly make their both ends meet, if they have to get their small holdings partitioned or demarcated only the demi-god Rajanikant can rescue them. These officials wield influence and are powerful agents in society on account of their indifference and corrupt practices. The story I am about to narrate will further explain their clout. My colleagues in IAS will find it more humorous. Once an old lady aggrieved by the long standing problems related to her small land holding went to a young IAS officer who was working in the capacity of an SDM. This young, energetic and dynamic officer solved her problems in a few phone calls and said, “Mataji Ghar jao aap ka kaam ho Gaya” (Mother your work is done, go back home). The old lady was so overwhelmed by the quick disposal of her problem that she started crying and blessing this officer. She said to him, “Beta jaldi promotion leke Patwari ban jao humara Patwari bina paisa liye kaam nahi Karta”. That’s the sordid tale of corrupt revenue officials at the cutting edge.

Corruption is directly proportional to governance deficit. And this deficit at the grass root level is preposterous. As per the Gandhi’s vision of ‘Gram-Rajya’, we have an elaborate system of three-tier Panchayati Raj system in place with 33 % reservation for women in representation as per article 243(D) of constitution. Finally after each election what we get in reality is 66 % Pradhans and rest Pradhan-Patis and no women representation for any practical purposes. Corruption in Panchayati Raj institutions is humongous. MGNREGA has become the biggest tool of corruption at the grass-root level. When people in Delhi were busy planning for big ticket corruption they thought over how to keep our brothers at grass-root busy. So they devised an immaculate system of siphoning money from the government treasuries into the hands of petty politicians breeding like cockroaches at the grass-root level. MGNREGA has actually funded the party cadre growth at the grass-root level. MGNREGA has given implicit crutches to oblivion grass-root democracy. MGNREGA could have been a magic wand for rural development, financial inclusion and the elusive idea of Inclusive growth but thanks to corrupt intentions.

Historically during British era most corrupt and lethargic Indian Civil Servants were posted as judges in the High Courts of Presidencies. They were not fit for or rather ineffective in carrying out any kind of developmental activities in far flung areas so were made to sit in courts to decide cases, as Justice was the least of the concerns of British Raj. And ironically we are still blessed with that legacy. Today talking about the corruption in the cutting edge or lower judiciary only one word comes to my mind, ‘Chindi-Chori’. More than 2 crores cases are pending in the lower judiciary not because we are a litigation loving nation or because of inadequate staffing of lower judiciary but more so because of corruption. Wait a minute I will explain.  Have you ever heard that most of the cases in lower judiciary are decided on day one depending on the bargaining power of parties? And then judges take power naps during the hearings. Once the hearing is over judge asks the winning party advocate to write the judgement and decree as well. They are least bothered even to do the last rituals. Where is the principle of natural justice in all these? And have you ever pondered over why even straight forward and petty cases run into several years? The advocates in order to maximize their fees in collusion with judges keep on pleading for more dates and it’s a win-win situation for both. Sometimes poor parties are unable to pay even the fees of their advocates and advocates are left with no choice but to keep postponing the final judgement to recover their fees and off course they can’t do so without the help of ever gluttonous judges. What impact this is going to have on the society? Justice delayed is justice denied. This injustice is not only going to produce huge unrest among poor masses but also will tear down the fabric of rule based just society and the result would be a total chaos someday. And then poor will not require the escape velocity of Jupiter but corrupt and suppressors would have to find safe havens at the speed of light to escape the fury of suppressed.

As a part of our IAS training we had a tribal tour of Himachal Pradesh for an exposure to gain insights into lives of tribal people and to experience the unforgiving terrains they inhabit. We started from Shimla crossed USA (That’s Upper Shimla Area not to be confused with Uncle Sam) reached Reckong Peo, Kinnaur. From Reckong Peo went to Kaza in Spiti, crossed Kunzum pass entered Lahaul and after a brief stay in Lahaul crossed Rohtang pass to reach Manali. I am an avid traveller and must have visited most of India. But after roaming in these areas and meeting hospitable beautiful and innocent people in the inhospitable topographies, I realised god has his own mysterious ways. When gods started making India and its people they must have started the ardent task from these regions. Soon gods realised they have created breath-taking landscapes and equally mesmerizing people. They started experiencing ecstasy at their creation and lost in high of their day created rest of India and its people. So if we really need to curse anybody for all our miseries then crazy gods must be blamed for that. But since taking revenge from the almighty is inconceivable like beyond infinity and technically near impossible, we have started marauding these areas corrupting their culture, their ethos, the peace and serenity in the region.

Don’t mind my language when I take the liberty to narrate you the stories of innocence of tribal people of Himachal Pradesh. I will be careful in the choice of my words. Not long back any outsider in Chamba district could have had coitus with a tribal female in exchange for a bundle or pack of ‘Bidis’. And this was very common till 1990s. Still registering a rape or sexual assault case in police station is rare occurrence in the region. Officials in Spiti complained they have no (I mean ZERO!) revenue and criminal cases pending in their courts. Is that not a conflict free Utopian society which many arm chair social theorist advocate for?  Conspicuously I used the word ‘complained’ to denote the money garnering opportunity eluding those officials in these regions. People of Kinnaur were very generous to people from intellectually stimulating land of Bengal when they used to get down from their hired tourist buses to devour their apple orchards. Soon Kinnauris got apprised that apart from eating apples for themselves they were carrying back bags for their folks at home for free. And Hospitality took a U-turn thanks to our greed. Kinnauris would have never heard Gandhi but surely they believe in his preaching, “Kinnaur has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed”. Only the eldest son of families in Pin valley of Spiti gets to enjoy the marital bliss and rest go to monasteries without any complains. But people from Pin valley (land of ibex and snow leopards) hurl abuses at government officials not because their Buddhist rich culture coerces them to do so but for agony they face at the hands of corrupt official present in the area flouting the vigilance scanner of so called good governance.

Corruption is distorting every facet of life in the tribal belt. Their society and primitive yet solid economy unlike the rest of India is taking a beating for no fault of their own. We mentally and physically corrupt people are injecting viruses in their perfectly alright ecosystem and disturbing their homeostasis. All this is happening in the name of development and to bring them to mainstream. What is main stream? Will the quality or quantity define mainstream? I would prefer the former over the latter. Per unit infrastructure cost in these areas is beyond the comprehension of absurdities of planning commission. These people would be like the last men and women on earth to reap the fruits of economic development even if they want so. And whatever they will experience will be attached with a heavy cost on their social, moral and ethical ethos. As of now all they have are barren terrains, mercy of god, never say die attitude, truckloads of innocence and floppiness of government officials.

It took 2% mutation for humans to evolve from Chimpanzees. How much more mutation is desirable to evolve as corruption free society is a million dollar question. Plato once remarked, “Only the dead have seen the end of war”. My question is, “Who will see the end of Corruption?” Plato’s Dead or Human 2.0? Who will be “The Legend”?