Chaai-Paani
So, I finally had to do it.
My first time but in no case will be the last time because I am in India.
So what is it that I did?
I paid a bribe!
The other day, I had to visit the Thana Incharge for the verification purpose as I have applied for a passport. I had to pay him 100 bucks! According to rules rules, he is supposed to come at my residence and verify my identity and address without charging me a single penny. In stead, I had to go to him and energise him with a dose of vitamin M.
I felt very bad as I brought out that 100 rupee note from my purse. All the time I was thinking whether should I pay the bribe. Or should I put up a brave face and refuse. I knew that if I refused, surely my passport work would be jeopardised. And if I paid bribe I would be a benefactor to the evil of corruption whom we people, belonging to the young generation, at every avaialble opportunity, criticise caustically and to which we attribute the poor state of our country even after so many years of independence.
At a point of time, I was in a revolutionary mood. I even felt like forming a cartel of students of DA-IICT none of whom would agree to pay the bribe. Partly responsible for this belligerent feelings of mine was the book that I am reading these days - "A long walk to freedom" - Nelson Mandela's autobiography. The story of his relentless struggle with the inhuman apartheid system practised by the whites in South Africa is inspiring. Like any other revolution, the revolution led by Mandela also bears the testimony to triumph of truth and power of organised, motivated people.
But I am no Mandela and don't even intend to be one. ( 27 years in prison! Gosh!) I am happy being Vivek. And so I unceremoniously buried the plan of a revolution.
I relented and paid the bribe because I realised that I do not have the locus standi as of now to fight these things. One must make himself capable before he embarks on a struggle. Even Mandela earned for himself a decent education and support of masses befor he initiated the battle. I could have locked horns with the Thana Incharge. But what thereafter? Persons like him are a rule rather than an exception in the Indian system. Do I have the resources to fight the system? How many around me would have agreed to join hands in this activity? What am I but a student?
I could have refused to pay the bribe and then spent months shuttling between passport office and the police station, spending much more than 100 bucks on auto. So what was more pragmatic? I chose the adventitious route and closed the matter by paying the bribe. But conscience cannot be reined. And so now onwards, I am aftaid I will never be able to criticise corruption in the country as vehemently I used to. Because at least for once, I have been a party to it.
My first time but in no case will be the last time because I am in India.
So what is it that I did?
I paid a bribe!
The other day, I had to visit the Thana Incharge for the verification purpose as I have applied for a passport. I had to pay him 100 bucks! According to rules rules, he is supposed to come at my residence and verify my identity and address without charging me a single penny. In stead, I had to go to him and energise him with a dose of vitamin M.
I felt very bad as I brought out that 100 rupee note from my purse. All the time I was thinking whether should I pay the bribe. Or should I put up a brave face and refuse. I knew that if I refused, surely my passport work would be jeopardised. And if I paid bribe I would be a benefactor to the evil of corruption whom we people, belonging to the young generation, at every avaialble opportunity, criticise caustically and to which we attribute the poor state of our country even after so many years of independence.
At a point of time, I was in a revolutionary mood. I even felt like forming a cartel of students of DA-IICT none of whom would agree to pay the bribe. Partly responsible for this belligerent feelings of mine was the book that I am reading these days - "A long walk to freedom" - Nelson Mandela's autobiography. The story of his relentless struggle with the inhuman apartheid system practised by the whites in South Africa is inspiring. Like any other revolution, the revolution led by Mandela also bears the testimony to triumph of truth and power of organised, motivated people.
But I am no Mandela and don't even intend to be one. ( 27 years in prison! Gosh!) I am happy being Vivek. And so I unceremoniously buried the plan of a revolution.
I relented and paid the bribe because I realised that I do not have the locus standi as of now to fight these things. One must make himself capable before he embarks on a struggle. Even Mandela earned for himself a decent education and support of masses befor he initiated the battle. I could have locked horns with the Thana Incharge. But what thereafter? Persons like him are a rule rather than an exception in the Indian system. Do I have the resources to fight the system? How many around me would have agreed to join hands in this activity? What am I but a student?
I could have refused to pay the bribe and then spent months shuttling between passport office and the police station, spending much more than 100 bucks on auto. So what was more pragmatic? I chose the adventitious route and closed the matter by paying the bribe. But conscience cannot be reined. And so now onwards, I am aftaid I will never be able to criticise corruption in the country as vehemently I used to. Because at least for once, I have been a party to it.
posted by Vivek Pabari at 10:14 AM
12 Comments:
you say that how can I just being a student make a difference to the system. if we all carry the attitude that how a single individual can make a difference.. our country is going to go down the drain. We, each individual has to rise and make a positive impact on the system to remove the evil of corruption!! Rise and Shine mates..
hehe.. all that was pure crap dude, all these things look good in books or in comments.. but the best policy is being pragmatic, pay some money and get your work done hassle-free. Enjoy your completed work and forget abt the bribery shit.. yipee!
It happens! Gandhi did eat meat once only to realise that it was bad! Now, u have all right to voice ur opinions as vehemently u did bcos u hv xprncd it once and thus understand its bad effects better now!
things get done easier if therz a bribe.. well if u're ready to wait a long time for somethin to be done or resign to the fact that it'll never be done, then u can go abt bein all idealistic...
spoken like a true cynic eh....sry but thats the only thought that entered my mind
@all of above
don't really agree with your remark.
It holds true to you becos u have the capacity to pay bribe but not for any poor chap.
Totally agree with the point of - we all want getting work done hassle-free but when we talk in domain of society,there should be a voice of revolt..
No hard feelings- Suppose a person who has no money and still in need of getting some work done- still pay bribery.
case1)- if you want to make a home for yourself- pay bribery to MCD.
case2)- If you want your electricity and water problem solved- pay bribery.
case3)- If you want a reservation in a train- pay bribery.
case4)- if you want an admission in college- pay bribery
case5)-if you want to your case to be solved in court- pay bribery
case6)if you want to file a report in Gov. Org. -pay bribery
what a fuckin system - we are living in..
If nobody ponder over this issue -then who will be. We all blame politician for corruption, blame police for corruption- who are they people- they are us..
if every people have a opinion like this -then this world be a shit ..
Nothing will happen - we will always blame this fucking system -not ourseves..
yaar chaai paani to govt. office me chalta hi hainnever mind, we need to add little curd in milk before whole milk is transformed into curd and curd is better than milk!!what say?
yaar jotune kiya is alright.
main teri feelings ko samajh sakta hoon
what some of these above buggers have said is hard to realise in practical life
sometimes life main kuch aise steps lene padte hain jinke hum khilaf hote hain
-sandy
my answer is in my blog..
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
@prasoon-dude, do u want passport or not??raising a voice alone can defer ur work indefinitely. who'll pay the price then?
This wasn't expected Vivek.. well try that yourself.
i promise that i wud hv joined you, although i dont plan to intiate it now that u hv paid up and my application still remains to be processed.
also a really good "attempt" at justifyin wht men do :P (women dont hv to do that :D)
yesterdya, i 2 had 2 shell out the 100 n i must admit that i felt a very awkward feeling never felt before.
hey vivek..i am amod's fren...
its nice that someone feels for some major issues liek corruption..well even i hav felt these urges at times..u know...one can chose either of the two paths...firstly, you can go against the system..refuse to give up in front of them no matter what comes...and that would mean days of no money..no support , lonely nights , sense of major responsibilty..your mind will be filled with revolutionary ideas but the pain of having no audience for that...its a life of suffering , pain , depression and loneliness but at the end, when you will die...that one moment will be the most satisfying one..the realisation of living up to your principles and dying as a martyr..that one moment surpasses all the moments of pain...
and hey if you chose to live a life of luxury..full of supporters...evone who eagers to listen to u...then u hav to be a part of system..
i respect both the kinds...cuz they hav chosen their definite paths and they are sticking to it..
someone who tries to be follow both ways is a hypocrite..!..and now u hav to make yoru choice...but whatever choice u ll make...just be loyal to it!!
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