Doon Youth Centre » corruption

A kind of society it will be

Gaurav Patwal — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:44:30 +0000

I am here to learn how to learn no matter how long it will be. But one thing is sure that I will try until, I know it completely.
Because I think the winner is one who can find success in a defeat. My aspirations are not so high.I don’t want to earn huge money and die under its weight.I don’t want fame too. It’s useless.

I want knowledge, creativity, happy and compatible relationships in society, and people around me just know and remember me as a good person. That’s all I want and yeah of course, above of all, mental peace. The day I get them I’ll consider myself more than just happy. What else a man needs!

I know to find and get them all is not easy but what does it take to try for it? This is one life, a chance to win or at least try because to lose without making an effort is worse than to lose with a try. At least you will have the satisfaction that you tried once.

Along with satisfaction, it will give a thing,a thing for which this mess is all about – peace!

So, let’s try to live life in that fashion. Just imagine a world in which every person will try to be good and also work for the same. When people won’t run after money; no malpractices in order to get fame; every person will have uniform and equal opportunities to live and earn their living. When something else will come prior to money and fame for common masses . And that something else is mental peace.

Which comes only by doing good. Just imagine what kind of society it will be. Crime will reduce, corruption and other social anomalies will also decrease. Just imagine what kind of society it will be in which women will walk without fear. Children will not be murdered, girls won’t be raped and banks won’t be robbed. Just imagine what kind of society it will be.

I intend to say that every social evil shall come to an end.

By doing this we can see a dream for the establishment of this society. Even if small groups think and worked on it, then we can bring the change. Be good and let the society be good. Why can’t this be possible? If you want the change you will have to bring the change. Just imagine …

Imagine by John Lennon

Play

CWG – WILL HEADS ROLL ?

meera — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:05:32 +0000

Last night I was watching a programme on the National Geographic channel about the making of Ferrari cars in Italy. It can best be described as poetry in motion. From the liquid metal poured into moulds to make its V-8 engine, to the bodywork and upholstery used, it was an exercise in perfection – eye to the smallest detail, checks and balances at every step and nothing left to chance.

The staff working on these cars, right from the engineers down to the seamstresses, all highly motivated individuals, took immense pride in their workmanship. For them, the label ‘Made in Italy’ stood for efficiency and quality.

I then switched to a news channel and watched an exact antithesis of what I had just seen. Yes, it was a now familiar story on what can only be termed a total fiasco – The Commonwealth Games, New Delhi, 2010.

I can stomach watching Indian news channels criticize our nation but when international channels like BBC, CNN, etc report on us with smirks on their faces and snide remarks about ‘India Shining’ and ‘The Next Superpower’, well that’s just too painful.

For once though, I can’t fault them. Our officials and all those responsible for CWG have caused a nation to hang its head in shame. I don’t think I need to give details as we are all painfully aware of the shortcomings in the organisation of these games.

In our Lifeskills curriculum at DYC, we have a lesson on Choices and Consequences. Perhaps those involved with CWG needed to take this class. The mess we’re in is all a result of some really poor choices made by them.

So it seems the games are going to go ahead and I only pray that no major incidents take place during the Games to further compound our already tarnished image. The sad part is that nobody will remember these Games for the good points. There is no doubt our infrastructure like our airports, stadiums and venues are very attractive and world class. I’m sure there will be other positives too but sadly the rot is likely to overshadow any of our achievements.

When all the dust settles and the Games are over, are the powers that be going to make those responsible for this shame accountable to the people of India? WILL HEADS ROLL?

Or will this entire episode be swept under the carpet (as is normally the case), the media lose interest and all the culprits allowed to go scot-free to enjoy their ill gotten wealth?

Will mediocrity be allowed to triumph over the pursuit of excellence? If this happens then perhaps we have reached a stage where we as a nation are truly beyond redemption. I pray that I am proved wrong.

What about values & ethics ?

Amod Adaval — Sun, 30 May 2010 07:17:16 +0000

Dear all,

I am in a private road construction company working as a manager (admin & liaison).

My job involves all sorts of (in house) administrative dealings and curbing of unfair activities. There happened quite a few incidents when I was informed about my staff engaged in unfair activities like taking bribes, manipulating company’s expenses, being absent from work,enjoying at home etc.

These so called employees (though not having high posts and working as supervisors) have links with the higher authorities/management. During the start of these activities I tried to bring this to the knowledge of the management but they brushed my information under the carpet which resulted in more unfair activities being done with impunity and abundance.

Further I almost became a sore in the culprits’ eye which could have resulted in back biting and even my ouster from the company. Sensing this I had to close my eyes and gulp down the milk so poisoned with such happenings. This was hard to do and I feel almost a culprit as I was trained by my Father (who is no more) for HONESTY, DEDICATION, DEVOTION and DETERMINATION.

I am writing this article seeking YOUR suggestion. It is necessary for you to step into my shoes and advice.

Am I doing right by ignoring such activities? If not then should I put my job at stake (during recession phase) and start leading a pauper’s life and force my family the same?
Do the words like HONESTY, DEDICATION, DEVOTION, DETERMINATION etc. hold no meaning in our present environment in India (I haven’t been abroad) and do they just lead to problems and miseries?
What ‘SANSKARs’ should be given to my children which are in a true sense perfect and adaptable to our present environment?

What choice do I have?

guest — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:33:42 +0000

I was driving down memory lane today when the memory of a GD(group discussion) we had at the old DYC came to life. And it literally came to life, posing the same questions to me as it did then.

The discussion was about political corruption. And the Yaksha Prashna (read as: million dollar question) was that given the corrupt political system that we Indians have, should one vote or not?

I was very vehement in stating that since everybody is corrupt, it is a good idea not to vote. At least, at the end of the day you would have the satisfaction of saying that I was no way a part of something that will eventually do much wrong.

Most of us agreed that the only solution was a focus on ethics…a system of education wherein one can understand the significance of values. And the hope rests in our generation…seeing more integrity of character enter into politics rather than being absorbed by the IIMs and IITs.

But the question still held. The change can’t come overnight; and the returns can only come in the future. So what should one do now? Vote or stay away?

One of the perspectives that surfaced was that we should all support the mission of values, which will be a continuous process; and as of now, vote for somebody who’s less corrupt. It sounded like a reasonable solution to me. It seemed like an answer. End of the day, I forgot about the whole discussion.

But today, as I was riding to appear in my exam, the thought came up again. The question felt sharper. Now the question was: HOW CAN ONE FIND OUT WHO IS LESS CORRUPT ?

Apart from being very politically aware, there is no other way to uncover reality. And even then, the doubts may still linger. Are the media reporting facts or are they opinionated & biased?

Often, the choice is not – whether to vote for Madhu Koda or not? Those are high profile cases. In general we have lesser known candidates to choose from. One way to make up your mind is go by the political party’s name, make the inference based on its image. Another important question is that what is the standing of the candidate within the party? He may be a mere instruction follower (I refrain from using the word “puppet”).

I mean I can go on & on about the questions that the situation poses.

Also, corruption has no absolutes. Finding out who is less corrupt is almost impossible, and it is a very relative concept. Who’s better…the guy who ate a pie worth Rs. XXX crore out of the funds allocated for public welfare…or the guy whose negligence led to a mishap which killed XXX number of people? Mind you, the Rs. XXX crore also kills relentlessly;one can check the statistics on the number of deaths due to poverty and hunger; a glimpse:

►According to the Central Government’s own estimate, around 1,83,000 farmers had killed themselves between 1997 and 2007.

►However, total cases of pesticide suicides (i.e., including the family member of the farmer who committed suicide on pesticides) in the same periods was 2,38,082 .

I won’t attribute corruption as the only cause of this massacre, but it certainly is a big contributor. Imagine,when this is the state of our country what are you doing with your Rs. XXX crore safely locked away in some bank?

I’m in a dilemma; I must admit. How do I carry out my responsibility and keep my conscience clear at the same time? Hence, I beckon you all to come up with a solution.