CORRUPTION

                  Lack of political will?

Corruption has come to be viewed as a serious factor affecting political, social and economic lives in both developed and developing countries. It is an act that is known to everyone, yet not easily tamed; obvious to the eye, yet not easily defined.

World Bank defines corruption as the “use of public office for private gain”. No doubt corruption is linked with power and authority; more so with the unearthing of the recent scams, corruption has become synonymous with power and authority. However this is serious undermining of the menace of corruption and moving away from the core of the issue. Misuse of power and authority is just a small part of corruption.

Corruption basically is compromising one’s morality and integrity to gain an advantage over the other person. One may say that corruption is a part of every individual, every society, every organization, every administration or government and thus justify the inaction. While this is not far from the truth, the problem lies in the fact that an act of corruption always happen at the expense of the other person or group. A gain of one is the loss of another resulting in a vicious cycle of corruption.

Corruption takes many forms and the use of public office for private gain affects the public exchequer the most. This facet of corruption assumes a special focus as it diverts the funds meant for public good.

The recent events in Nagaland involving MLAs are very unfortunate, the fact that one of them even feigned ignorance made it worse. Every Naga testifies to the fact that Nagaland is one of the least developed states in India; lack of money is no longer an excuse now. One thing which has always surprised me is the lack of an Anti-Corruption organization, an organization empowered to book the culprits and produce them before the High Court.

There is a need to release the CBI from the control of the government and bifurcate it into two parts; one dealing with corruption and the other with organized crimes. Lokpal should be given the power to make suo moto inquiries and be made responsible to the Parliament in the line of Comptroller and Auditor General of India(CAG). While Lokpal will be an important step towards checking the menace of corruption, judicial and electoral reforms are a must to make it double-edged.

While many reforms are expected in the Centre, the question of whether the Nagaland government will be ready to implement the reforms still remain unanswered. Nagas root for a people friendly Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, an autonomous CBI but is there a political will to embrace the same? Will the Nagaland government give a nod to CBI probe? Will it establish a Lokayukta in the state if it is passed by the Parliament? Nagaland today need a strong opposition party, a vibrant public and a political will that is citizen centric.

 

 

FORCE- not a solution

Force is not a solution to man’s problems.

End is not all that matters; it’s the means that determine the worth of it. Getting whatever we want may seem like the rule of the world but it is the willingness or the unwillingness of the givers that truly decide the legitimacy or the futility of forceful taking.

We live in a society where “Might is Right” is the adage that governs. If one has a strong backup, one becomes almost invincible. If you want it, you take it; the tears that conceal themselves behind the victim’s eyes are either ignored or unseen. But what can the victim do anyway? Does he even have an option? Even if he decides not to give, it will be taken; and not simply ‘taken’, he will be left only with few bruises if fate decides to turn in his favor.

One thing which every living soul testifies to is the fact that the society is never free of problems and that the society as a whole strives to find a solution. Very often we see the solution, we know the source of the solution, we even know the way to it but we are reminded that time can never be mastered upon. An obvious fact which many of us fail to notice or choose not to notice is the fact that whatever be the situation force is never the solution.

History never betrays the readers. We do not have to look beyond the oceans for an explanation of the same. Gandhi and his non-violent means and the ultimate result of over throwing an empire speak for itself. It is not that violence was never tried; they did but met with the same response. Violence begets violence indeed. Our own history tells us about the futility of resorting to force. We have a hope today, however bleak it may be, of reaching a solution to society’s problems. We may be rest assured that no force is being used and the positive outcome is evident.

Resorting to forceful means is not new to the world, it has its presence felt in the history of civilization and it has yielded no positive outcome. In areas where it succeeded, it was at the expense of the conquered; despotism and dictatorship was given birth to. The world today seeks solution to the very same problem. It will be unwise to even consider that a problem that resulted from force will be solved using force.

The society is tired of seeing history being repeated. The outcome is anybody’s guess. We search for a historic outcome but all we get is a historic cliché. Let us set aside force for a moment, who knows the solution may lie elsewhere?

An Amazing Paradox

                     The Least is the Greatest (Luke 9:48)

                "GREAT" is such a hypnotising word that at the mention of it, one can easily lure vulnerable minds and snare them with the assurance of making them GREAT. Serious analysis of the deterioration of human morality and integrity, which ultimately ails the society, reveals the "Crave for Greatness". Every individual wants to become someone great in life. GOOD!, if your vision is Christ-centred and are willing to be a channel of God's blessings. The society has never needed God-fearing leaders more; people who can usher in the much needed CHANGE into our degrading society. Sadly, leaders have got their priorities and their understanding of God entangled in a web of speculation and pretence that however religious they try to be, they only become a menace to the society.

                               A leader is a follower of Christ.A person who does not humble himself before God and man can never truly become a leader.George Washington,the 1st President of the United States of America,had a regular time of prayer. Every night,at 9 O'clock,he would go into a room with a candle in hand,lock the door,kneel down and spend time with God.Needless to say,he would be praying for God's wisdom and guidance to lead the country in a way pleasing to Him and for the entire America.Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a one day fast for the entire America in reverence to the Lord and it is recorded that America sky-rocketed (even) economically thenceforth.That is the kind of leadership the world needs today.They set their priorities right.They had time for God and God took care of their presidency.

              Joseph was a dreamer,David,a shepherd.Esther was a captive in Babylon,Daniel and his three friends were just another four ordinary young men.They seemed to be the least but God exalted them to great heights.Their humility among men with faithfulness towards God made them the greatest.God does not play dice.When He says"The Least among you is the Greatest",He means it indeed.I am reminded of a quotation by Alexander Ledru Rollin,

                                                    "There go the people.

                                I must follow them for I am their Leader"

             Let us look at some characteristics of Leadership that Jesus possessed which many leaders of today fail to execute:

1..Jesus was a Servant King.Jesus was a leader who served people, unlike many leaders who love being served.

He went to the extend of washing His disciples' feet.The world would say "What a humiliation!!" but God says "What a leadership!!"

2..Jesus ‘literally’ led people.He was with them,helping them,caring for them,healing them.This BIG God became small enough to stoop and bend His ear to their cry.

3..Jesus never lost touch with His Father.He maintained His time of prayer.

4..Jesus walked the talk.Whatever He preached,He practised them.

5..Jesus treated everybody equally,with LOve.He showed no favouratism.

6..Jesus loved His enemies and He became obedient to death,even death on the cross.

7.Ultimately,He seeks personal relationship with every individual.

  So we need LEADERS who will

            Lead

Encourage

            And 

Develop 

Eternal 

RelationShip.

Sovereignty! Really?

I am neither a pessimist nor a turncoat but a realist.

I am referring to our demand for Greater Nagaland and our leaders' continuous nudge with the GOI and the subsequent compromise always. Nagaland is strategically too important for India that for the GOI to ignore our interest will be a blunder. Nagaland may be rightly called a 'necessary evil', we do not contribute to nation's economic wealth but GOI needs our land,I repeat again: our land, not the people. China is already strengthening its influence over India, well supported by their "String of Pearls" strategy. I'm not worried about the survival of Nagas after independence because China will take care of us. China will pour in so much wealth that we will be literally enslaved and our land will be used for further expanding their "String of Pearls" circle. And Needless to say, India is aware of that.

I gave myself the liberty of looking into the future assuming Nagaland to be an independent State. Introspecting the areas of governance and administration, the future does look promising but not without a string of hopelessness.

With 99.9% confidence, the form of government will be Communist (we don’t expect China to overlook this opportunity, do we?). One of the leaders then will be made the President, of course a rubber-stamp President who will be an arm of the command from the wealth provider. Military bases will be developed, basic, consumer goods and capital goods industries will spring up, primary sector will be strengthened to source these industries and tertiary activities will be organised. Tycoons will make their entry into the new market provided, ***** hotels will be built to accommodate them, better roads for their sophisticated cars, malls for their children and clubs and pubs for recreation. ‘Economy will bloom’ will only be an understatement.

What I am basically trying to say is Independent Nagaland seem like a distant dream to me. India will throw as much wealth needed and buy Naga leaders but never let go our land because they need Nagaland though they may not care for the Nagas.

But communism will stand on the ideology of communism. People’s voice will not be heard.

So stay with India: Underdeveloped but democratic, or embrace communism and bring in development?

Tradition Vs Doctrine ( Discrimination in the church?)

Often times I have wondered if the churches in Nagaland can be humble enough to come under one roof and sort out the differences hovering over them. I am ‘privileged’ to have had firsthand experiences of many tradition oriented practices plaguing the churches today and the misunderstanding among and within the churches in Nagaland. While some churches see praise and worship as an integral part of worship, it is seen as an “act of entertainment” in many others. Is praise and worship a prelude to the worship services or is it a part of it? I was practically stunned when a ‘theology’ student, during one of the practices confidently pronounced “we have crossed the ‘singspiration level’ but yet to reach praise and worship”. WHAT!!

While clapping is a form of worship echoing the Word of God (as told by a well-known preacher), some churches completely disapprove them. In fact some of them even try to convince the congregation into refraining from it.

The pastor suddenly paused his talking in the middle of a devotional Sunday service and I was laterally taken aback when, instead of continuing with his ‘shepherding’ the pastor ‘suddenly’ started WELCOMING someone into the church. Turning back I saw one of our ‘ministers’ making his heroic entry into ‘D church’, apparently very proud at the needless approval of the pastor. Are not churches supposed to be an institution of justice and moral voice of the people? Are not we justified in calling it ‘discrimination in the church’? Many churches in Nagaland bluntly refuse to be an epitome of equality.

Can the church give a proper guidance to the already disturbed and confused youth? The society confuses us, the media confuses us, the internet confuses us, music confuses us, the government confuses us, politics confuse us, and corruption confuses us. The youth today are entangled in a web of confusion. We want and need to be rescued. The more we try to set ourselves free, the more confused we become. Please don’t confuse us even more O! Anointed Church.

  

Are women really to be blamed for rape?

The remark of Andhra Pradesh DGP, V Dinesh Reddy is highly uncalled for and a mockery of uniform. Such a derogatory remark from the Head of Law & Order maintaining agency is serious breach of social conduct and a portrayal of one’s mindset on the stature of women in the society. How can one possibly blame the victim and appraise the accused?

Chidambaram made a very rational and a sarcastic statement, and earned another admirer. “.......as long as he or she has regards to the occasion, the place and the context. Obviously, you don’t wear a whole lot of clothes to play football or tennis and you don’t wear swimwear and go to a cocktail party”, a statement worth everybody’s respect.

What made the DGP’s remark abstruse was justifying the stand of the police against increase in rape. Police cannot be faulted for rise in rape? What! Who is he fucking with!! And women to be blamed for provoking men with fashionable clothing?. Let me make this clear to the DGP: Rape is definitely not one of the ways in which a woman would want satisfaction, and does he think that all women are sluts?. I am not a lady, but being another human being, I do identify.

Quoting Dinesh Reddy, “Rise in rape cases cannot be attributed to failure of the police. One of the factors (for rape cases) is that the accused are getting provoked as women are getting more fashionable, even in rural areas.......and if one studies the crime pattern....it is one of the factors provoking the accused.”

Just because the rapist blamed the girl while convicted, doesn’t mean the girl lured him with her dress. Why on earth would a woman ever wear a dress just to be raped! It makes no sense.

God has given us intelligence, not instinct, and with it comes conscience. If you are an animal, blaming the woman’s dress makes all the sense. I am with you, dear rapist.

And with his ‘unresearched ’ remark, Dinesh Reddy has marred his image, and  career beyond repair.

And I thought the government’s decision (to stall vote) was a blunder...;)

                                                                                                                                                                      

Lokpal Debate in Rajya Sabha: UPA-II's blunder?

 My View

“Power corrupts, but the prospect of losing power corrupts absolutely”- Ram Jethmalani (BJP)

I took the liberty of deciphering his statement, and my conclusion made sense (at least to me). UPA-II govt., apprehensive of the mounting pressure from the public and the feasibility of losing public support, drafted a Bill that created uproar in the Upper House making Shivanand Tiwari term it as “a disease worse than cancer”. And finally the decision to stall vote, in the backdrop of losing support, even from its alliances, was seen as murder of democracy (Trinamool) and a sad day for Parliamentary Democracy.

Called THE LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTAS BILL, 2011, it created more obscurity and opposition than applause (over it being passed advocating public opinion, or rather Anna’s hegemony). While there were many points of discord, like violating the federal structure of the Constitution, the autonomy of the CBI, the appointment and removal of the Lokpal and bringing the lower bureaucracy under the ambit of the Lokpal, I am more intrigued by the Government’s decision to stall vote in the Upper House.

Arun Jaitley (AJ), perhaps made the best statement of the session, when he said “It is ironical that I am the leader of opposition but I am speaking for the majority”. Given the fact that the extended time period of the Winter Session expired at 12 midnight, AJ’s use of the word “choreographed” seem legitimate. The Parliament decides whether a Bill becomes an Act or not, it is the people’s representatives that decide what is best for the public. The Bill would have either been passed or killed, but the incident that unfolded in the Rajya Sabha is indeed a mockery of democracy, prompting political analyst Yogendra Yadav to describe the abrupt end as “match-fixing of the worst kind”

After all the drama, the fate of the anti-corruption bill can only be speculated. With all the considerations for, and against the bill debated in the floor of the House, what had happened was uncalled for, and presumably a blunder my UPA-II govt.. Going forth with the voting, despite the certainty of losing, would have given the govt. the much needed favor of the public, but its decision has marred the govt., and rebuilding its image before the next election will be a challenge, more so with Anna campaigning against them.

But why was the Chairman, Hamid Ansari not conclusive when asked whether the business of the House would remain in continuity post 12?