In a world that is rapidly progressing in all fields of life, one cannot help but notice the unsavory aspects of living in the modern world. We can’t deny the remarkable advancements of modern society but, as they say, there is always another side to the picture. At present, our world has a plethora of objectionable issues. Although it is difficult to say which issue is the most problematic, many would unanimously agree that corruption is perhaps the most disagreeable. Which brings us to the question: What exactly is corruption?
Corruption can be defined as moral depravity, perversion of integrity and dishonest proceedings. In simple words, an immoral act by any person is called corruption. The prime example of corruption is, of course bribery.However, the most important question is how and why corruption takes place. Our world has progressed by leaps and bounds but it is as clear as day that inequality has prevailed in our society. This is what has given birth to the abominable immorality known as corruption. Corruption is a raging issue that is common amongst all the masses. It is man’s nature to always want more and more and to never be content. Hence people use unlawful means to achieve their ends. It is seen that due to the ever present problem of inflation, a normal person’s salary becomes insufficient to meet his demands. To enjoy all the facilities and fulfill his demands, man often seeks the way of corruption to make some easy money. This is the behavior of the not-so-wealthy people. Since corruption is common amongst all the levels of society, the rich have also fallen prey to this deadly disease, more so than others. The rich are not only powerful and influential, but also power hungry. Their insatiable greed for wealth, authority and supremacy is one of the main reasons for corruption. As John Steinback said:
“Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.”
It is a universally known fact that corruption is more common in the upper echelons of society. Corruption seeps into the very foundation of the government and poisons all the sectors. Politicians are often viewed as the pioneers of corruption. It is the sector in which corruption has run rampant.Similarly, the police, who are responsible for maintaining law and order of a state, are extremely prone to the hazards of corruption. It is an extremely commonplace practice to bribe police officers for petty issues such as avoiding fines or speeding tickets. Not only this, but often the police are fed money to keep any case in the dark which may pose a threat to the reputation of the person making the proposition. Another sector which is notorious in regards to corruption is Judiciary. It is usual for individuals to bribe judges and lawyers in order to escape trials and justice. This creates an atmosphere of discord, enmity, injustice and antagonism.As Henry George said:
“What has destroyed every previous civilization has been the tendency to the unequal distribution of wealth and power and social injustice.”
The gravity and seriousness of corruption should be recognized worldwide. It is of utmost importance that steps are taken to discourage the vices of corruption as much as possible. People should raise a voice against this horrific problem. People often turn a blind eye to corruption which has encouraged the corrupt. Corruption is never one sided. The corrupt and the ones who condone their behavior are both to be blamed. This is a worrisome state of affairs which must be dealt with an iron hand. As Prathiba Patil said:
“Corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective.”
As corruption in a person is a sign of lack of solid character content, steps should be taken by the government to provide means for education of character building. New policies should be introduced. Corrupted individuals should be swept away from all the sectors of government. Since the main reason for the viral spreading of corruption is its unquestionable acceptance, steps should be taken to ensure strict punishments for corrupt people, regardless of their social backgrounds. An example of harsh punishment must be presented before the masses to discourage them from corruption .Steps should be taken for rectifying the system of Judiciary so that people may enjoy equality and social justice. If social justice prevails, corruption will wither away and die. In order for this to happen, all the individuals of the state must step forward, take initiative and battle the forces of corruption. Then and only then can we hope to defeat the horrendous stigma known as corruption.