The Nation in a limbo

Let's imagine we are a couple of foreigners having wide experience with Indians in business matters. How'll we assess an average Indian between us? " A typical Indian encompasses qualities of falsification, telling lies, dishonest,being fraudulent, arrogant,boastful, speaking loudly, bothering others in public places or while travelling, swindling at the slightest opportunity and spreading rumours about others in office and outside...." the list is never ending!
I went through an article that appeared in today's Business Line by the former CII director for Europe Mr.Mohan Murty who lives now in Cologne about the corruption in India. What I read deeply disturbed me. I never knew the magnitude of this pestilence till Mr.Murty enlightened me through his article. I knew we are corrupt to the core but I didn't realize that people thought so poorly about us.
Mr.Murty was one of the panel members of a discussion that took place recently with an audience of 100 well-known European CEOs. Other panel members were senior officials of two of the largest car makers of Europe and two top insurance cos all German multinationals operating in India. The discussion was moderated by a professsor of a reputed European Business school. Mr.Murty was the only Indian.
After the panel discussion came the question hour. The questions were fired at him. "Is your nation in a coma?" They were obviously referring to the corruption at high places even in the judiciary, impeachment of a judge on the brink, telecom scam-again it is a long list. When I read it I wished I could go and hide myself. I was so ashamed that I'm an Indian. Mr.Murty mentions here what a prime time German TV discussion had to disclose. One of the panellists a German Parliament member quoting a blog says: If all the scams of the last 5 years add up, it'll rival and even exceed the British colonial loot of India of about a trillion dollars!
Mr.Murty goes on to quote a German business daily editorial on India: " India is becoming a banana republic instead of being an economic super power. To get the cut motion designated out, assurances are made to political allays. Special treatmentis promised at the expense of the people. So,Ms.Mayavati who is the chiefminister of the most densely inhabited state is calmed when an intelligence probe isscrapped. The multimillion dollar fodder scam of another chief minister wielding enormous power is put in cold storage. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chairs over this kind of unparalled loot."
According to Mr.Mohan murty, French newspapers also don't leave us alone. He says: An article in a French newspaper titled " Playing game the Indian style" says: " Investigations into the shadowy financial deals of the Indian cricket league have revealed a web of transactions across tax havens...."Another story mentioned in the same paper is about the former chiefminister of Jharkhand Madhu Koda and his riches. " Unfortunately, the Indian public do not know the status of that enquiry. (not only that enquiry-we don't know the fate of several such enquiries!)
Mr.Murty invites our attention to an Austrian newspaper." In the nastiest business scam in Indian records -Satyam- the government adroitly covered upthe political aspects of the swindle-predominantly involving real estate.....If the Indian Prime Minister knows nothing about these scandals, he is ignorant of ground realities. If he does, IS HE A COLLOBORATOR IN CRIME?" (emphasis is mine)
Mr.Murty signs off with a prediction which has very ominous undertones. He says: Europeans believe that Indian leaders in politics and business are so blissfully blinded by the new, sometimes ill-gotten wealth and deceit that they are living in defiance, insolence and denial to comprehendthat the day will come, sooner or later, when the have-nots would hit the streets. In a way it has already started with the monstrous acts of the Maoists. And when that rot occurs not one political tuncoats will escape being lynched. He blames our laidback attitude of "chalta hai" that has helped these unscrupulous men to continue without any hindrance.

It'll be greatest understatement of the year if I say I'm not scared. I had to face a barrage of questions of my conscience when I sat thinking about the whole story. Am I not a part of it? Haven't I descretely encouraged corruption in the haste of getting my driving licence renewed or passport updated? How much I paid to get the marriage of my son registered with the local municipality? Yes, Aiding and abetting are also criminal. I'm inextricably linked to this squalid social and poitical evil and there seems to be no escape.

May God bless us!!!