Girish's Blog

If you happened to view the above two BBC TV serials, I am sure most of you would remember these rib-tickling serials of yore. The mention of these serials is necessitated by the fact that these were a commentary on the British bureaucracy whose Westminster model we inherited. The bureaucrats used to confuse the ministers with their bureaucratese to perpetuate their perks and control over Government, with the assumption that it is not politicians who run Government but the bureaucrats. In a large part it is true, as the bureaucrats form the crucial backbone of the Government to ensure the policies and program of the Government of the day are executed in a silent and efficient manner. In theory this is all fine – but with reference to India – what does happen in reality? In view of the various scandals which have seen the light of day recently from the CWG scams, Adarsh Housing scandal, Karnataka land scams, Maharashtra mining scandals, and the list could prove endless – someone needs t...

I wonder if one realizes the cost of corruption in Rupee terms unless one sits down to analyze the monetary impact on the common man. Corruption in India is rampant and a cancer which is eating away into the moral fiber of the country at the same time making the population cynical, with most people saying “what can we do? – our country is like this only”. For one, you can say that you will not participate in corruption at the individual level – it could be as minor as passing on ten bucks to the traffic cop who stops you for a traffic violation. If citizens participate in corruption, this becomes a self perpetuating cycle with everyone wanting to take the easy way out. With this attitude what happens? The people in power (read Government) or wearing a uniform as a symbol of power, know that they can always extract their pound of undesirable flesh as the common man does not have a choice. One pays to get legitimate work done, even with all legal clearances in place, thus the cost of exe...

JAI BABA SWAMI I was packed and ready to go to Dandi a good two days before the departure date of 7th November. On 6th November I reached home a bit late and had received instructions from our ex-acharya to take a printout of the list of “sadhaks” and “havan” (holy fire ceremony) participants of Ambuja center, Andheri. I took the printouts and placed them on the packed bag in the living room, as we had decided to leave at around 6am, and I had to pick up a “sadhika” at Bandra, ex-acharya at Juhu and the last at Virar. A couple of months earlier, a “sadhak” from the Juhu center had asked whether I would be joining them in the hired bus for the Mahotsav and I had replied that I would be travelling in my car. I went to bed at 9.30pm and woke up at around 4.00am to get ready for departure. After morning ablutions and prayers, it was exactly 6am when I went to take the car key from its regular place, to my shock the keys were not there, a thought crossed my mind – don’t tell me I am not des...