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If Sukumar Ray had been alive today, he’d have certainly penned something about ghoosh (bribe) for his immortal legendary collection of poems, Abol Tabol. But ghoosh was not as endemic as it is in today’s India.
Though Transparency International’s Bribe Paying Index (BPI) draws attention to Indian businessmen’s propensity to bribe their ways through in foreign shores, what is more alarming is the fact that bribe taking and giving have become accepted phenomena in average Indian’s psyche.
Since asking for bribe largely stems from government employees, who prefer to view their service as favor given to common people, it is a matter of conjecture whether it will ever cease altogether. Perhaps the answer to get rid of this malaise lies in making them more accountable for their jobs. Accountable for both catering to one’s duty in entirety and quality of service rendered.
The moot point however is who will bell the cat. Because if not the bribe takers, there is lot at stake for bribe givers. Sounds confusing? In reality, it’s simple enough. If Indian businesses are excelling in bribing overseas, what stops them from doing it in India? And so the cycle starts, whether majority of us detest it or not.
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