Civil Society, Media and Corruption

Political mobilization needs a 'hate object'. Politicians are prude enough to identify or create a hate object. Nazism succeeded because the Jews were marked as hate object. Communism succeeded because the rich or capitalists were identified as hate object. Communal parties create people belonging to minority community (language group or religious group) to mobilize their support. In the era of Globalization, Urbanization and Cyber-zation, it is difficult to have a physical hate object. The clever schemers found one in corruption.

Corruption
Corruption is a generic word that could have several meanings. Corrupt could be of different shades and colours. Bribery and corruption are two issues debated in the media now-a-days. Adarsh Scam in Mahrasthra, Land Scam in Karnataka, Spectrum Scam in telecom and Common Wealth Games Scam in Delhi are few that are notorious and infamous. Were not the Insurance companies scared of the inflated bills from the hospitals? Some people live in fool's paradise thinking only the Government departments and politicians are corrupt and private sector is free from corruption. Even in developed nations, corruption may not be in everyday life, but corruption is there in business at higher levels. One report states that in the last 61 years after Independence 20 lakh crore rupees has been drained from India to safe havens by politicians, bureaucrats and business people. People may consider bribe as social problem, but it is also a spiritual problem. Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. (Eccl 7:7) The Church in India is also not immune to corruption. The job vacancies in Christian institutions are auctioned off by leaders. Even in some bishop elections, bribery is used to seek votes.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) is corrupt as underweight goods are delivered to consumers; good grain is replaced with rotten ones in PDS; oil mafia siphons petrol; most products are sold without receipt or bill to avoid taxes; many evade taxes; dowry is corrupt money as it is paid mostly in cash. Even to bury a dead in Government grave yards, bribe is needed. From birth certificate to death certificate it is absolutely necessary to grease the palms. Bank loans even for education cannot be processed without kickbacks. Yes, people are fed up with corruption; however, their frustration is only when they are at the oppression end. When they are the beneficiaries, there is no whim or protest.

Civil society
The two protests by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev was built up by the media. Media can create heroes, who do not deserve to be heroes. Clever media makes non-issues as issues and issues as sensations and even serious issues a comedy. The first protest was by a person who himself was convicted as corrupt and he got his people appointed as representatives of civil society to be part of the Draft committee of Lok Pal bill. Interestingly, from among 1.2 billion people in this country, only father and son duos were more qualified to be part of the drafting committee. The elderly gentleman did not understand that nepotism and corruption are proverbial Siamese twins. Sadly, the civil society members boycotted the committee sitting on 6 June protesting against some police action, which is no way connected to the drafting of the Bill. Their boycott clearly shows that the members of the Drafting committee were not serious to be involved in discussion, debate or drafting of the Bill. It was good that the Government declared that it would go ahead with the drafting of the Bill without the help of these representatives of civil society. Also laws do not change people. Has law against dowry curbed this menace? Has law against child marriage curbed this social evil? Has law against sex determination reduced girl child infanticide or sex selective abortions?

The second fast was gathered as Yoga Shiver (Seminar) for 5000 people, however more than 50000 were mobilized. It was subtle political mobilization with anti-social and communal elements getting premier seating on the Dias. It was interesting to see Ramdev demanding capital punishment for corrupt, while hobnobbing with those who were charge sheeted for communal riots (that killed many innocent people). Ramdev does not think communal violence is deadlier than corruption. The Government initially tried to play soft and work out a compromise. However, the Yoga trainer did not keep his word. Being a religious leader, he had a hidden political agenda; he did not reveal his intentions and lied to the Government seeking permission for Yoga training and changing it into Satyagraha. Many girl students were compelled to be staying as human shield to avert action by police. In a late, but wise decision, the yoga trainer was removed and packed off to his native place.

Media biased
Media especially Television media was giving running commentary about the Yoga teacher, while there were other important events happening in the country. Strangely, the chief Opposition Party in the Parliament had its own annual National convention in Lucknow which was not even covered by the electronic media. That shows the media is sensation hungry and is not performing responsible media coverage.

Media also ignored the fact that the demands of Ramdev were bizarre, unconstitutional, not practical and without any rational. For example, bringing black money back 'immediately' is not possible or practical for no one knows for sure where the money is. Even if it is known, it involves more than one country and has to be within the International protocol. Banning Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 will not help people any way. His rabble rousing would create law and order problem. The Yoga teacher demand includes higher education in regional languages. Already, Anna University (Chennai) has introduced B.E. in Civil Engineering in Tamil language. Each state should follow that idea. Instead of creating debate on such demands in the media, it ran a comedy track.

Christians and Civil Society movements
In the whole turn of events, what is the role of Christians or the Indian Church? Christians are called to do good, transform the culture and society. Is it possible to join hands with those who seem to lead movements?

Four criteria
Christians should be able to discern the situations, evaluate individuals and movements and then decide accordingly. A first criterion is to evaluate the leader of such movements. Is the person leading the movement a person of integrity or trustworthy or what is his track record? In this test, Anna Hazare fails as he himself was convicted of corruption. Ramdev claim tax exemption for his companies, his ashram is under land dispute, has those accused of crime as his close confidants. Ramdev also fails the first test.

A second criterion is to evaluate the institution or organization, their goals and their contribution to the society. Have they served well locally, that they want to lead a national movement? Ramdev who owns private jets can easily run an Engineering college with Hindi as the language of instruction. Has he done that as role model to be emulated by private education entrepreneurs and the Government? Tax evasion is also corruption. Has he given clarion call to his 1 crore (10 million) volunteers to pay taxes? However, he wants to make tax filing as compulsory for all citizens.

A third criterion is to find out about the funding or resource mobilization of the movement. Anna Hazare campaign against corruption was a huge budget. Where did the money come from? The mobilization of people for Ramdev show was done by organizations that had communal agenda. The funding and mobilization of people is done with a hidden agenda of destabilizing the Government.

A fourth criterion is to evaluate the target or goals of the leaders. Anna Hazare was satisfied with a drafting committee and did not address corruption from a holistic perspective. Ramdev had interesting goals that were not within the Constitution parameters and were not practical. Both these so called civil society champions fail all the three tests.

Challenge
Christians should use these four criteria to determine whether they could be part of such movements or keep away from them. Christians should develop leadership skills to lead transformation movements in all spheres of society. It is time for the Indian church to develop and deploy leaders for civil society who could change the nation for good.