CORRUPTION, LEADERSHIP, POLITICS, AND INDIA - RANDOM THOUGHTS

Corruption is so deeply entrenched in our systems and psyche that it is going to be tough to rid us of it. 

Today we have a leader with a vision, which is beyond 'self, family & friends'. 

A lot of infrastructure work has been done/ is being done, whose impact will only be felt in the long term. 

However, people are looking for short term results; none visible so far. 

We have got used to doles/ subsidies; paying for stuff hurts. 

Short circuiting any system/ cheating/ lying seems to have become our birthright. 

Every TV channel/ journalist partisanly magnifies failures of Modi, but keeps quiet about others. 

People, especially our political class, are not looking at what is right or wrong, but wish to make political capital out of everything, whether right or wrong, e.g. the sealing drive in Delhi. 

Where are we heading as a nation. 

Disparate ideologies coalesce with a single point agenda of 'oust Modi'; their survival is threatened. 

We all cherish diversity, which I believe is our greatest strength. However, sometimes one wonders whether with the 'divide & rule' policies that our so called 'secular' political parties follow, it has now become our weakness.

Why isn't our Indianness highlighted by all political parties. Why isn't our constitution highlighted, which promises us equal citizenship, irrespective of our differences.

Maybe emphasising this equality will create a win-win situation where our elected representatives will have to perform to increase the size of the pie.

Creating win-lose situations is easier through the much practiced art of divide & rule. Guess why the Lingayat issue came just before the elections in Karnataka.

This cannot continue for much longer without damaging the basic fabric of our society.

All of us have to rise above our comfort zones & go beyond ourselves first to build our nation, or we will all drown together. We all have to stand for what is right. 

Vote only for leaders who have a win-win agenda rather than a win-lose agenda. In the short term this may look attractive to a certain segment, but eventually every one loses.

Do we spot any other leader, from any party, who can lead this nation today? 

Our nation needs leaders, not 'famiy and friends' chief executives. I have no time for any political party; they are same, including the BJP. 

It is a leader only who can make the difference in a party, a leader who believes in 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'. Every citizen must enjoy the fruits of progress, by just being a citizen of this country, irrespective of other considerations.

Rule of law is another important issue that the leader has to focus on.

Comments

Renu said…
Sometimes i feel so frustrated when i see people who take bribes and who work thru black money criticising for their own loss, not thinking at all about ethics or long term.
J P Joshi said…
I agree with you Renu. We have all become very selfish in India; we look for our short term gains even when we know that it is not right & not good for the long term health of our country.
How do we know said…
I agree with you. But there is one more truth - the most corrupt person in India is the Indian voter. The ones who are educated will not go to vote, then they will sit and crib when the ones who vote for 2 bottles go and elect someone on their behalf.
J P Joshi said…
HDWK: This is my pet peeve. We have a very weak national character. I feel that Gandhiji taught us non-cooperation & civil disobedience to achieve Swaraj, but did not live long enough after 'swaraj' to re-teach us to cooperate with the govt to take our country forward. Public property is treated like govt property, without realising that it is our own money; maybe because very few pay direct taxes. Our politicians are nothing that any average person can be proud of. When I listen to our political rally speeches, I shudder as to where are we heading.

Two things we need immediately to stabilise in the true sense; first being, equal treatment in public life as citizens, and secondly rule of law meaning the law treating every one as equals, irrespective of religion, caste, ethnicity, position, etc. This will only happen when every govt employee lives up to the reponsibility that is bestowed in the chair that he occupies rather than looking over his shoulder towards his benefactor, with the sole aim of his personal career advancement.