The 'Legal' Bribing

Corruption...the word reminds us of cash bundles packed in a suitcase or a handbag to be delivered to a 'white-dressed' man, be it a politician or some mafia. Or, to some, it might portrait rallies, with people demanding corruption free politics and governance. To some others, it may also mean Mr. Khejriwaal! Whatever it might mean to us, it globally means this,

Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.

Our generation must have been the 'most-corruption-cases-witnessed' one. During the past few years huge scams have come to our notice where those in power, or those in contact with the ones in power have earned millions. Such scandals have led the country to bear huge losses. Even knowing all this, we fail to stop the wrong or even act strongly against the wrongdoers  Analysing the reason for the act of bribing leads us into various psychological factors. It also roots into the man's never ending wish to achieve(define the word) more. Researches and social activists, including myself, stress upon the need to end this practice at the grassroots level. Largely it is we people responsible for tempting them to ask money. I get a thought to my mind, always when I talk or think about corruption, an idea which my Social Science teacher had...

"Bribing for getting your job done faster has held almost all the structures of Indian Democracy. We people, tired of this money-under-the-table process try to speak against it. A feeling of revolution comes to our mind. We revolt. But why don't we think for a better solution? My view upon removing corruption is making bribery legal..."

The class remained dumbstruck! Out there, the world was demanding for a corruption free world, and this man was trying to make bribing legal?! Some, including me, refused! Call it our awareness, or immaturity, that we were unable to digest his idea.

He continued, "Making bribing legal would solve almost all our problems, setting particular rules on bribing, about the amount and time period, will help remove the stagnancy in our governance. Further, this would 'sieve out the loopholes' in our system."

The idea was yet not digested by us. The thought of making bribing legal would mean rich getting richer and poor poorer! I was not then, not even yet, that mature enough to get the seriousness of his point. The class ended in a haste, our minds refusing an alien into a crowd of set beliefs, which called themselves 'the seeds of revolution'...

Today when I recall that class, I try hard to understand what my teacher actually meant, because somewhere I sensed in it the potential to cure the wound. But till today I fail. The question keeps me thinking and the answer seems to be far off. One day, I was reminded about this, I was watching television then. Commercials were on, me waiting for some show to resume. My mind hovered to find answers, when I struck to something, not the answer, but a symptom. Deeper, I could see the seriousness of this symptom...

I realised how it had remained unnoticed to all, how under-the-table money was being offered so 'publicly'. Television Life...the addaa of 'legal' bribery! The commercials I was viewing were the most important and clear-cut symptoms of how money was being played with, using 'vital nutrients' as a shield. The commercials switched too quick, giving no time to the viewer to judge and mostly fall prey to the glam of the advertisement. The list would go long if I mention some examples. You must have watched various advertisements boasting of their products first and then mentioning some attractive gifts free with the good. I have lived that time when Lay's wafers had a hard time and used to give a free gift with the packet to attract buyers(we children). But where's bribing involved in all this?! Right? Money doesn't seems to be involved in black in this industry! Then how am I making such blames! Wait...you need to broaden the way you define bribing.

This is what I mean by it,

Bribing is an act of doing or making someone ready to do something which does or propagate wrong, wrong by law or humanitarian values.

This definition tries to include all such acts which are encouraged by any influence, money or thought. Now you might have gotten something regarding why I am calling TV commercials active sites of bribing. The definition generalises, now I would also call making of terrorists as bribing, they are bribed by thoughts. Various politicians, devoid of any practical or sensible social reform, usually bribe people by cheap divisive beliefs, and it's our weakness that we fall prey to them! It is usually seen that elders tend to 'bribe' children, promising them to offer something upon certain conditions. This bribery of thought has much more affected than that of money. Speaking about commercials, I put forward three major issues that compel me to call TV advertisements foul:

1. Truth based upon fake foundation: Most of the commercials today do not have anything to do with the genuineness of the product. Most of them boast so much about their product that the true quality remains behind curtains. Regarding bribery, the actors involved in promoting such 'fake truths' are misleading people and spreading a lie. Money is poured onto them just to increase sales, even if the matter in the advertisement is false. This is clear-cut bribing!
2. Deny our Right To Choose: We might get tempted to see, in supermarkets, soaps available in packs of four saying 'a combo offer', rather nowadays single soap bars have disappeared! This attempt of soap manufacturers is indirectly an encroachment upon our right to choose! We are left with no option but to buy the four together. Many others have opted this as it leads to a good sale of their products. Irony lies in the fact that it is presented as an 'offer'!
3. Increased Dependency: My brother usually questions me that if we had no energy drinks, body growth supplements, where would have we been? How did men in history manage to live such a period of evolution? This makes me think about how dependent we have become on such items. PediaSure, Bournvita, Complan and many others give scientific reasonings in their advertisements. But ever wondered how nutritious is plain milk?! More DHA, more vital nutrients and what not do they promise! People remember one thing, our ancestors lived much more 'easy' life than we do now. They lived on natural plain diet. Our wish, being specific, our greed to achieve has made us leave no effort. Lifespan has increased, on bed. 

The points mentioned above are worth giving a thought. We live in this world, where in front of our eyes money is earned on lies. Legal bribing happens on a wide screen! Still we wait for the show to resume, yet enjoying the ads. Bribery is a part of our life, as my teacher said, it has become 'legal' now. We just fail to recognise its presence. We forget the most seen!

We fight to end corruption, but it ain't so easy process. My friend says- "Why do you write about environment? Go! First end corruption in the country!" I said it is not that easy. You need to go step by step. He looked impatient. It is natural when you find so many cases coming up around you and can do nothing but prepare yourself for an entrance exam which is gonna set your future. We read, hear, watch about corruption every now and then. News channels do sting operations to bring out the hidden. You watch the news, your mind heats up. Thoughts come to your mind so as to change the world. You rise, virtually. You see a change. For a moment a patriot gets birth. For a moment. Then you realise that you have your exams and you aren't ready yet! The initial thought dies, the patriot fades, the transient feeling returns to dormancy...you set to work to set your future...Future that promises leisures, happiness, money...And then you get bribed...and then you get bribed...