Bharat Gets A Dubious Recognition...

Amidst the endlessly depressing speculation about the possible onset of the dreaded Dengue fever epidemic in North India, today's Indian Express must have brought some cheer to most Delhiites (See http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1813131,00020008.htm). No less an authority than the venerated Transparency International has declared India to be the most corrupt country in the world in overseas business practices.

[Note: There's a comma between 1813131 and 00020008 in the Hindustan Times web-address. In case the Blogger page converts it into a dot, kindly replace it manually.]

So, the world has finally recognized our newest contribution to the world, apart from booming population and poverty that we are already known for. We're now numero uno in exporting corruption. Buck up, India... er.. I mean, my Bharat Mahaan.

Just three small weeks back it had come as a rude shock to learn that the World Bank had ranked us 47th (yes, forty-seventh) in the honors list of world's most corrupt countries (See http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1996144.cms). As per the news report, the World Bank had used six indicators, including the ability to control corruption, to rank quality of governance (pah!) in more than 200 countries, and placed China sisteen places ahead of us. It had also said that both the countries have a poor record of enforcing the 'rule of law'.

'There must be some error..' I had muttered to myself then... How could we be denied our due place in the world? After all, our virile netas (politicians), ubiquitous all-knowing IAS babus, the danda-wielding cops and well-healed Engineers, et al, had assiduously worked since independence to destroy all semblance of a 'rule of law' (courts notwithstanding) and make corruption a household phenomenon.

Yet, being always optimistic, I had thought... 'give us some time... and we'll prove our mettle'. And we have indeed done so in just 3 short weeks. My faith in my fellow countrymen was never wrong.

May God, Allah, or Bhagwan bless us...