Corruption : Jugalbandi, Orchestra & Solo

CORRUPTION: JUGALBANDI, ORCHESTRA & SOLO

Anti-corruption stir, marching candles and torches and media glare thereon these days are music for my ears like most of the Indians. In music, Jugalbandi has been common for ages. Even a non-initiated music lover like me is having Jugalbandi recordings of Ustad Bismillah Khan and Prof. V.G. Jog – Shahnai and Violin recital for almost half a century. In spite of other players like Mahadeo Indorker on Tabla, it is called Jugalbandi. Other players are facilitators for the performance. Likewise, Jugalbandi in corruption is quite common. You want a berth in the train and the TTE says ‘No Seat’. The moment you show him a big note, his answer changes to ‘Come with me’ and you get a comfortable berth. You could take a longer route – via a coolie or coach-attendant and even save some money. The other day I went for petrol for my car in the night as the petrol prices were to be hiked from midnight. By the time my turn came the pump was closed for the day on the dot at 10:00 pm. I quietly walked to the office area and got a 5 litre can for a little premium. My friend had to give Chai-Pani for timely police verification for his passport. These are Jugalbandi performances of corruption.

Musical Orchestras are being conducted for centuries. Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Mozart are the classics. Zubin Mehta, Timir Baran, Ravi Shanker etc also have contributed a lot to the present day orchestra. In corruption – orchestras involving several players and a conductor were not heard off much earlier even in our own country, which is fighting today for Jan Lokpal to counter the menace. It was in early 1980s that our Prime Minister recognised the Corruption as a global phenomenon and a few years later another Prime Minister quantified it to 85%. I am sure until then it was pure Jugalbandi played at different stages. Bofors was probably the first major performance orchestrated and conducted by foreign hands, followed by Fodder, Cash for Question, Cash for Vote, IPL, CWG, 2G etc. I am sure that such orchestras as well as jugalbandis will be controlled by the measures the democracy takes - may it be the Lok Pal, Jan Lok pal or some other form of ‘Stick and Carrot’ for positive motivation. But what about Solo performances?

Solo performances of corruption are the acts of commission of something which we are not supposed to do and omission of something which we are supposed to do. If I am supposed to reach my workplace at 10:00 am and don’t as a habit, it is Solo corruption. I am not supposed to use office vehicle for personal use, but I frequently do without any emergency, or take office stationary home for unofficial use, I am engaging in Solo corruption. I jump the queue for something is again solo corruption. Such solo corruptions can be tackled only through self determination and restraint. While we show solidarity with Anna hazare’s movement which may lead to ways to eradicate orchestras and jugalbandis of corruption, we must pledge to counter the temptation and eliminate Solo corruption.