I have been thinking on this for quite some time. Since long, I have heard people talk that Bangalore is a costly city to live in. I thought that its mere exaggeration because in a city where tender coconut is just 15 bucks (ya just 15 bucks!!!) how can it be costly. But I had the first hand experience when I moved in here.
One of first few days when I started to travel by bus, I found the conductor's hesitance in giving back the change for my ticket. But what startled me in the next few days was the conductor's hesitance in giving tickets! Here began my journey in understanding the corruption levels of Bangalore.
I became a bit clever in this aspect and started to give money only when I get the ticket. Then came the baap of all experiences, when I traveled from Marathahalli to Bellandur. The conductor as usual, gave me the ticket after which I paid him the money. All was going well and Bellandur was the next stop when suddenly conductor aiya remembered something and came up to me. He told me that the ticket was actually 11 bucks instead of 9, while simultaneously trying to snatch the ticket from me. Well, my mind was calculating instantly, if he takes the ticket away he definitely won't give me one in return, so what do I do? Then I thought its just 2 rupees, whats the big deal and I gave him the coin, while my stop arrived. And the next moment, I saw the conductor running away to the back of the bus. So I called him for the ticket. He glanced at me and gestured that, that wont be necessary. That's when my bheja got hot and I shouted for the whole bus to hear, "Arey bhaiya mene paisa diya uska ticket to de do". Then our conductor aiya, also became angry, as if I had gifted him a gold coin and now charging him for it. He took a ticket out of the box and threw at me. I was like ticket gaya bahad me par tere jeb me nai jana chahiye. So there ended my saga from which, ticketing in bus for me is like going on a war!
But I prefer to fight with the conductor rather than give away all my savings to the auto guys, who are almost same as their dear cousins in Chennai. But Chennai still has got better alternatives to autos, namely the metro, call taxis and the buses too where I did not encounter such incidents.
Though it is true that some or the other form of corruption is prevalent in all parts of India, but when people stoop down to such shocking levels, it makes you question. In some way, I think that the conductor is a poor guy and I may as well think that I have given alms to him, but at the same time it is also my hard earned money that he is taking away without my permission. And we think that instead of giving to the government we can at least give to the known devil in front of us.
In the concept of corruption, we have no one to blame but our greed. A typical example of bribing is a disciple promising god that he will break 100 coconuts if he gets so and so that he needs. Or someone putting money in the donation box and telling god to give him/her something. When we bribe our gods, what such a big deal about bribing each other.
So corruption is what makes the giver and taker both desperate enough to commit this act. Hence, if we switch off need/greed from our mind, there will be no corruption at all. So Simple :)
One of first few days when I started to travel by bus, I found the conductor's hesitance in giving back the change for my ticket. But what startled me in the next few days was the conductor's hesitance in giving tickets! Here began my journey in understanding the corruption levels of Bangalore.
I became a bit clever in this aspect and started to give money only when I get the ticket. Then came the baap of all experiences, when I traveled from Marathahalli to Bellandur. The conductor as usual, gave me the ticket after which I paid him the money. All was going well and Bellandur was the next stop when suddenly conductor aiya remembered something and came up to me. He told me that the ticket was actually 11 bucks instead of 9, while simultaneously trying to snatch the ticket from me. Well, my mind was calculating instantly, if he takes the ticket away he definitely won't give me one in return, so what do I do? Then I thought its just 2 rupees, whats the big deal and I gave him the coin, while my stop arrived. And the next moment, I saw the conductor running away to the back of the bus. So I called him for the ticket. He glanced at me and gestured that, that wont be necessary. That's when my bheja got hot and I shouted for the whole bus to hear, "Arey bhaiya mene paisa diya uska ticket to de do". Then our conductor aiya, also became angry, as if I had gifted him a gold coin and now charging him for it. He took a ticket out of the box and threw at me. I was like ticket gaya bahad me par tere jeb me nai jana chahiye. So there ended my saga from which, ticketing in bus for me is like going on a war!
But I prefer to fight with the conductor rather than give away all my savings to the auto guys, who are almost same as their dear cousins in Chennai. But Chennai still has got better alternatives to autos, namely the metro, call taxis and the buses too where I did not encounter such incidents.
Though it is true that some or the other form of corruption is prevalent in all parts of India, but when people stoop down to such shocking levels, it makes you question. In some way, I think that the conductor is a poor guy and I may as well think that I have given alms to him, but at the same time it is also my hard earned money that he is taking away without my permission. And we think that instead of giving to the government we can at least give to the known devil in front of us.
In the concept of corruption, we have no one to blame but our greed. A typical example of bribing is a disciple promising god that he will break 100 coconuts if he gets so and so that he needs. Or someone putting money in the donation box and telling god to give him/her something. When we bribe our gods, what such a big deal about bribing each other.
So corruption is what makes the giver and taker both desperate enough to commit this act. Hence, if we switch off need/greed from our mind, there will be no corruption at all. So Simple :)
2 comments:
You did the right thing in the bus and kudos to you. Your writing is very thoughtful, prose is crisp and reflects a great deal of simple elegance. As you rightly said, corruption of any kind is simply not tolerable.
But I beg to differ with you on the "bribing god" thing - prayers and offerings to any God(s) (idol/ images) is not corruption. Because all said and done, the idol/ image is not telling you to steal or cheat or lie. (I am talking about Hindu God(s) only).
Corruption is a result of inability to discriminate between right and wrong, and that is a product of family values and environmental upbringing. Family values are extremely important and it is very few select families (of a specific group of Indians who are very close to God(s)) who inculcate concepts like honesty, simplicity, character building, art and culture in addition to material progress. For them money is a means and not an end.
For the rest money itself is the end.
Hi Benny, its such a delight to read your comments!!! I agree with your point on family values, because most of our values are shaped by our parents and other elders in the family.
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