Skip to main content

Is it a crime to be honest?



This post is in memory of all those who have paid the highest penalty in the fight against corruption... 

This case was highlighted by CRIME PATROL DASTAK on May 19th, 2012



"Satyendra Kumar Dubey could have chosen to keep quiet, like the majority of young professionals of this country. He could have continued doing his job as a deputy general manager in the Centre’s National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and shut his eyes to the variegated ways in which a prestigious project - Instead Dubey opted to do the right thing by alerting the PMO to these developments because he believed the project was of “unparalleled importance to the nation”. He paid with his life for having done so”  - Indian Express "

Most of us would have chosen to keep quiet in similar circumstances - and that is what makes the courage of people like Mr Dubey awe-inspriring, and exemplary. Yes, his murder did spark countrywide - and even international protest. But why must it always be so? Why must we, the people of India, be reactive rather than proactive? 

In his complaint addressed to the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in confidence, Satyendra Dubey, an IIT Kanpur product working as an engineer in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), pointed out instances of corruption in the project. He also requested anonymity, that his name not be revealed. In complete disregard to the safety of this principled man, the government revealed his name, with the result that he ultimately paid for his life. He could have kept silent, but he didnt. He was a qualified -  a highly qualified engineer, a BTech - MTech from the IIT. He could have opted for a cushy corporate life, which he spurned. Instead, he opted to serve the nation - and paid for his life!

There are any number of cases of whisteblowers being victimised - and even killed. This is basic common sense - how can you reveal the name? Are our politicians concerned with the interest of the whistleblower - and by extension - the interest of the nation? Or are they concerned with self-preservation? In this prevailing atmosphere, little wonder then that people do not speak out in any sphere of life, government or private. We are emasculating our own population! We are teaching them that silence is golden even in the face of oppression! Brilliant, great thinking! 

And we, the people, are silent. 

We have always remained silent - until we scream after the event - this screaming lasts for a few days...

And Then, We The People, Fall Silent Yet Again.

Is it a crime to be honest? There are any number of cases of honest people paying for doing their duty. Why should it be so? What is the lesson that we are giving our children? What kind of India are we bequeathing to our children? What example are we setting our children? 


Corruption is the single largest drain on our resources - and not just in terms of monetary and/or capital resources. We are losing our top people- either to the system (as they get converted to the style of functioning), or to other countries - or even to the jaws of death. In either case, it is a loss to the nation... an irreparable loss....


Jago Sonewaalon...
Labels:

Comments

  1. Swati negi20 May 2012 at 13:49

    bringing such issues is a gr8 initiative sir,,and d only thing i can say that honestu is repaid @ sum point of time no mattr hw much evil prevails around one bt justice is still a winner.Justice is nt only by govt or people or systm bt there is sum1 above all whu knows vry wel hw 2 balance gud or bad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Swati negi20 May 2012 at 13:53

    a gr8 initiative 2 bring such topic on ur blog,Sir.and as far as honesty is concernd ,honesty is always repaid.no mattr how much evil prevail around u bt wen one is honest he is paid back.n its nt only govt,peopl,society juding u dr is sum 1 abov all whu knows hw 2 balance gud n bad.

    ReplyDelete
  3. nandita20 May 2012 at 23:26

    The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.Corrupt influence is itself the perennial spring of all prodigality, and of all disorder; it loads us more than millions of debt: takes away vigour from our arms, wisdom from our councils and every shadow and authority and credit from the most venerable parts of our constitution.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reflections Of Vishal V Kale21 May 2012 at 06:50

      Rightly said - corruption is akin to the acid that eats away at the foundations!

      I wonder how long before the majority of Indians both realise the above and convert
      their thoughts into concrete action?

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PK, The Movie : One Of The Best...

\ PK : A Movie Ahead Of Its Time; A Movie That Is A Very Vital And Current Need! I dont normally review movies; my blog does not lend itself to such an activity, given its positioning as one that asks some tough questions to Indians. I am making an exception for this movie, not because it is a landmark movie {which it is}, but because this movie is also one that asks some pretty blunt, and to some people, offensive questions.  It is rather sad and humbling to see the vigorous protests to this movie, and some cases of active on-street protests and interference in some places. Sad, because there is almost nothing in the content that should excite such actions; and humbling because it is a painful reminder that we as a nation have still a ways to go in our quest for true development! Before I move onto the movie, I have just one question : did the protesters also protest to Haider? If no, you did not find the negative portrayal of The Indian Army objecti
6 comments
Read more

Tarkeshwar Mahadev : Pune Hidden Gems

What do you do when you have something good, something that is praiseworthy, and something that can be an attraction? Answer, if you are in Pune – keep silent about it, tell no one. This is seemingly exaggerated – perhaps it is exaggerated; but I am flabbergasted by a series of unbelievable locations that I have visited in Pune City – within main Pune City, mind you . These are not well known – at least not one single localite informed me, even on asking . At least those I talked. If I didn’t talk to the right people, perhaps I am in the wrong. But – if you expand your vision to TV, Cinema, Popular opinion, hotels – the situation above gets proof. I earlier visited Pune on a family holiday, stayed in a good Hotel. Not one Hotel informed me of these; not one person – Taxi, Tour Guide – even mentioned these . Thus, it seems to me that Puneites don’t realise how lovely a city they have, how mesmerizing are its many, many tourist-worthy places, how rich and unspoiled,
2 comments
Read more

Book Review : Chhatrapati Shivaji

Chhattrapati Shivaji stands as one of the most celebrated medieval heroes in Modern India; it is a name that touches a chord in almost every Indian, and is a powerful force to reckon with even today, three centuries after his death. He is present everywhere you can see; he is one of the few to withstand the onslaught of naming everything in sight after the Nehru family. A Chhatrapati square her, a Shivaji Terminus there – many cities have honoured themselves with some landmark, statue, street or square in his name. Such is his current followership, and so powerful is his presence. This makes reviewing any book related on this personality a big responsibility, a tough task  – and not one to be taken with insincerity, or with bias,  or attitude. I had always thought of The Chhatrapati as a tall personality, a commanding and great Indian; but had never given a thought to the pull, the deep connect and the powerful influence this genius had on me; as I read the current book, as I t
Post a Comment
Read more