Daily Lessons from Life 25 November 2010 - India hit by another major corruption scandal

"India hit by another major corruption scandal - Thu, Nov 25, 2010 AFP

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI - India's reputation as a place to do business took another hit after the scandal-tainted government charged top public sector bankers of accepting bribes worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The federal Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednedsay arrested five officials from state-run listed companies, including the chief executive of LIC Housing Finance , for taking bribes to facilitate large corporate loans.

Three senior executives from a listed private company were also arrested on charges of handing out the brides."

It is a known fact that in certain countries, businesses pay bribes to public servants, private influential persons, and anyone who can facilitate, stop or disrupt the smooth running of businesses and deals. An open secret that even the local citizens made jokes on. YET, in these countries, many intelligent, bright and educated people pretended that it never exist. That it was merely the figment of imagination conjured up by the idling public!! Of course, there are some who championed the cause of getting rid of corruption as they KNOW corruption is real! Unfortunately, they are in the minority.

Lessons for me are:

1. it is not an Asian thing. It happened in the USA, UK, France, Germany, Latin America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Antarctica (if they desire money!!), Middle East, Israel and places where there are people who believed that they are entitled to some money just for being there!!;

2. as long as it is a custom or tradition or a norm where the majority of the people who live in that country condoned or tolerated such corrupt practices, it will take root and grow. Fighting it will take tremendous courage and the willingness to sacrifice. Not many fools will want to take up that fight. Inevitably, some will - if it is not you, maybe him or her. Someone will!! Strange but true!!!;

3. all that I can do is to make sure that I will not be in that position of having to give or receive bribe. That I will walk away if I need to do that. I may not be able to change the world but I certainly will not be a promoter of corruption! Having said that, will I bribe myself out of a life-and-death situation in some remote places where I was wrongfully imprisoned? Maybe... Maybe not!!

May the corruption fighters live forever ...