A magazine aricle.
We Indians are Hobbesian (culture of self interest). Corruption in India is a cultural aspect. We seem to think nothing peculiar about corruption. It is everywhere. We tolerate corrupt individuals rather than correct them. No race can be congenitally corrupt. But can a race be corrupted by its culture? To know why we are corrupt, look at our patterns and practices. >>>> >>>>First >>>> >>>>Religion is transactional in India. We give God cash and anticipate an >>>>out-of-turn reward. Such a plea acknowledges that favours are needed for >>>>the >>>>undeserving. In the world outside the temple walls, such a transaction >>>>is named >>>>by one word - bribe. A wealthy Indian gives not cash to temples, but gold >>>>and >>>>such valuables. His gifts cannot feed the poor. His pay-off is for God. He >>>>thinks it will be wasted if it goes to a needy man. >>>> >>>> >>>>In June 2009, The Hindu published a report of Karnataka minister Janardhan >>>>Reddy >>>>gifting a crown of gold and diamonds worth Rs 45 crore to Tirupati. India’s >>>>temples collect so much that they don't know what to do with it. Billions >>>>are gathering dust in temple vaults. When Europeans came to India they >>>>built >>>>schools. When Indians go to Europe & USA, they build temples. >>>> >>>> >>>>We believe that if God accepts money for his favours, then nothing is wrong >>>>in >>>>doing the same thing. This is why we are so easily corruptible. >>>>Indian culture >>>>accommodates such transactions morally. There is no real stigma. >>>> >>>>Second >>>> >>>>Our moral ambiguity towards corruption is visible in its history. Our >>>>history >>>>tells of the capture of cities and kingdoms after guards >>>>were paid off to open the gates, and commanders paid off to surrender. This >>>>is >>>>unique to India. Our corrupt nature has meant limited warfare on the >>>>subcontinent. It is striking how little we have actually fought compared to >>>>ancient Greece and modern Europe. >>>> >>>> >>>>The Turks’ battles with Nadir Shah were vicious and fought to the finish. >>>>In >>>>India fighting wasn't needed, bribing was enough to see off armies. Any >>>>invader >>>>willing to spend cash could brush aside our kings, no matter how many tens >>>>of >>>>thousands soldiers were in their infantry. Little resistance was given by >>>>us at >>>>the Battle of Plassey. Clive paid off Mir Jaffar and all of Bengal folded >>>>to an >>>>army of 3,000. >>>> >>>>There was always a financial exchange to taking Indian forts. Golconda was >>>>captured in 1687 after the secret back door was left open. >>>> >>>>Mughals vanquished Marathas and Rajputs with nothing but bribes. The Raja >>>>of >>>>Srinagar gave up Dara Shikoh’s son Sulaiman to Aurangzeb after receiving a >>>>bribe. There are many cases where Indians participated >>>> >>>>on a large scale in treason due to bribery. >>>> >>>>Question is: Why do we have a transactional culture while other 'civilized' >>>>nations don't? >>>> >>>>Third >>>> >>>>We do not believe in the theory that they all can rise if each of >>>>them behaves >>>>morally, because that is not the message of our faith. Our caste system >>>>separates us. We don't believe that all men are equal. This resulted in >>>>division >>>>and migration to other religions. Many Hindus started their own faiths like >>>>Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and many converted to Christianity and Islam. >>>>The >>>>result is that we don't trust one another. >>>> >>>>Today, there are no Indians in India; there are Hindus, Christians, Muslims >>>>and >>>>what not. We forget that 400 years ago we all belonged to one faith. This >>>>division evolved an unhealthy culture. The inequality has resulted in a >>>>corrupt >>>>society. In India everyone is thus against everyone else, except God and >>>>even >>>>he must be bribed. >>>> >>>>Regards >>>> >>>__._,_.___ >>> > > >
