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Is Corruption in India is a cultural aspect?
We, Indians seem to think nothing peculiar about corruption . It is everywhere. They seem to tolerate corrupt individuals rather than correct them! Our Culture has been that of Tolerance!
Can any race can be congenitally corrupt. Maybe it could be corrupted by its culture?
Sometimes I wonder is it our beliefs and practices?
I received an email, some of the contents of which which set me thinking! I have added some of my own thoughts am sharing some points from that……I hope to get some answers from Friends!
Is Religion transactional in India?
Sometimes I wonder is it our beliefs and practices?
I received an email, some of the contents of which which set me thinking! I have added some of my own thoughts am sharing some points from that……I hope to get some answers from Friends!
Is Religion transactional in India?
Do Indians give God cash and anticipate an out-of-turn reward?
Do such pleas acknowledge that favours are needed for the undeserving?
A wealthy Indian gives not cash to temples,but gold crowns and such baubles. In June 2009, The Hindu published a report of Karnataka former Minister Mr G. Janardhan Reddy gifting a crown of gold and diamonds worth Rs 45 crore to Tirupati!His gifts can not feed the poor!His pay-off is to God!
Do such pleas acknowledge that favours are needed for the undeserving?
A wealthy Indian gives not cash to temples,but gold crowns and such baubles. In June 2009, The Hindu published a report of Karnataka former Minister Mr G. Janardhan Reddy gifting a crown of gold and diamonds worth Rs 45 crore to Tirupati!His gifts can not feed the poor!His pay-off is to God!
Does he thinks it will be wasted if it goes to a needy man? or is it some kind of atonement for his sins?
Do some religious places of worship collect so much that they don't know what to do with it?
Are Billions gathering dust in temple vaults? The Padmanabhaswamy temple was an example of Wealth collecting dust in vaults!
When Europeans came to India they built schools. When Indians go to Europe & USA, why do they build religious places of worship?Do we Indians believe that if God accepts money for his favours, then nothing is wrong in doing the same thing. Could this be a reason why we don’t take corruption seriously?
Does Indian culture accommodates such transactions morally?Is there is no real stigma?An utterly corrupt Amma in Tamil Nadu or an already accused Sriramulu in Karnataka can make a comeback in India, just unthinkable in the West!
Is Indian moral ambiguity towards corruption visible in its history?
Do some religious places of worship collect so much that they don't know what to do with it?
Are Billions gathering dust in temple vaults? The Padmanabhaswamy temple was an example of Wealth collecting dust in vaults!
When Europeans came to India they built schools. When Indians go to Europe & USA, why do they build religious places of worship?Do we Indians believe that if God accepts money for his favours, then nothing is wrong in doing the same thing. Could this be a reason why we don’t take corruption seriously?
Does Indian culture accommodates such transactions morally?Is there is no real stigma?An utterly corrupt Amma in Tamil Nadu or an already accused Sriramulu in Karnataka can make a comeback in India, just unthinkable in the West!
Is Indian moral ambiguity towards corruption visible in its history?
Indian 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. This corrupt nature has meant limited warfare on the subcontinent.It is striking how little Indians have actually fought compared to ancient Greece and modern Europe. In India fighting wasn't needed, bribing was enough to see off armies? Any invader willing to spend cash could brush aside kings, no matter how many tens of thousands soldiers were in their infantry. Check what’s happening with Terror and it’s control today!Our terrorists after having slaughtered hundreds are enjoying a good lifestyle and being cared for in our prisons! Athithi Devo Bhava?
Little resistance was given by the Indians 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 Shukoh’s son Sulaiman to Aurangzeb after receiving a bribe. There are many cases in history where Indians participated on a large scale in treason due to bribery.
The question is-Why we Indians have a transactional culture while other 'civilized' nations don't?
Mostly we Indians not believe in the theory that they all can rise if each of us 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. Has this resulted in our division and migration to other faith/religion?
Many Hindus started their own faith like Sikh, Jain, Buddha and many more.Many converted to Christianity and Islam. There are no Indians in India ,mostly there are Hindus ,Christians, Muslims and what not.
Don't Indians trust one another ? Indians forget that 400 years ago they all belonged to one faith. This division evolved an unhealthy culture. Has inequality resulted in a corrupt society?
Why is it that In India every one seems against everyone else, except God?- and even he/she must be bribed?
Great insightful write up!
ReplyDeleteAn eye opener to all...!!
ReplyDeleteBonjour Madame, C'est une excellente écriture jusqu'à
ReplyDeleteExcellent one. Whether you offer 10 Rs or 10 Crore hardly matters. It Bhakti that is more important. The ugly money offered to God is essentially atonement of sins.
Secondly, this is my personal belief that the system of offerings will never go. It will merely increase in this materialistic world.
Keep penning more!!
Sincerely
77Aks77
Like always a fantastic insight there. Totally agree with the bottom-line of your write up.
ReplyDeleteWell ... the fact is that it seems we are against every one else except God. However; in my POV some elements of the society are should I say very radical and extremist and I guess that bunch of people have a bad influence and lend a bad name to the country as a whole.
Secondly, answering your question "Why we Indians have a transactional culture while other 'civilized' nations don't?" I would say in my POV I find all societies and cultures are transactional in nature, come on lets accept the fact man is a social animal and his affairs are always gonna be give and take (read transactional) I would say it's not just India but every nation in this world is having a transactional cultures right from individual to small societies to their nations government. The degree of such specific nature may vary but it's there and I guess there is not denying to what exists.
Its well written blog.
ReplyDeleteRight from childhood, we have listened .. "DE DI HAMEIN AAZADI, BINA KHADHAG BINA DHALL" ... Though in case of Pakistan's abetted terrorism, we talk about Israel type response. Word knows, how they won freedom and how they are holding it.
So is the case with corruption, its same. "MAALE MUFT DILE BERAHAM"
Ushy,
ReplyDeleteIt is essential to know and understand how did the practice of offering donations start in the temples. Do elaborate on it and enlighten us.
And how systematically, this has been accepted as a norm. Societial changes and mis-interpretations over the generations?
Thanks,
77Aks77
Also ... in addition ... what R E A L L Y sets us back is the nature of tolerance we have developed for almost anything and everything (mind you, I am no exception, for I have been born and brought in a family and society where I was trained and thought to be tolerant). Take away the tolerance factor by a X% and we have a fail-proof solution to almost all our nations ails. But how?
ReplyDeleteHey Daljeet
ReplyDeleteSo good to see your comments!...thank you and really appreciate the time you have taken to do the same!
Robby Dear
ReplyDeleteSurely would try a lot more to throw some light on certain aspects!
Fail Proof?...the problem is with us---want everything Fast... tolerant and impatient...two contradictory words but that's how we are!
I sure hope in the times to come some change happens within each one of us
Thanx a lot for sharing!
Dear Aks
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup mon amis!
Lots of joy to read what friends give as feed back!
Surely would attempt to research some more on Donations and how they became a part of this temple tradition of ours!
It so sad but true...the state of affairs...this diversity seems to get in the way all the time!