The common man is part of the corruption

Got to watching a Tamil play in Hyderabad the other day.  The play has an interesting take on corruption.  I am a little sceptical about finding solutions for social issues through drama and cinema.  There can be no gain saying however that art without moral structuring could be as steady as an amoeba.

To fault governments and politicians for the high incidence of corruption has become a near way of life in our country.  Many believe that a critical statement on politics and politicians is the moral balm and nothing else need be done.  Such rampant corruption is only possible with the active connivance of the public at large.  We are at some level beneficiaries and victims.  Let us therefore not be hypocritical and wail as victims. Not fair.  This in itself is a form of corruption.

It is wonderful to see such great support to Anna Hazare and Ram Dev Baba.  If everyone in this country is so much against corruption how did it breed so steadily? Food for thought. It is nice to find scapegoats. We create them is a modest reminder. It is in this context that a Tamil play I saw recently makes great sense.  TV Vardharajan”s latest play NERADI OLIPARAPPU deals with three prototypes selected for a popular award and the retiring DGP (a dual role by G.Usha) invited to a live cast TV programme. Three members from a common man’s family gate crash into the live cast as human bombs and raise issues of corruption. The DGP then in the finale raises the issue as to how clean the common man is?

The Director deals with very common cases of corruption.  The characters do not need too much effort to establish them.  In the context of Tamil stage, the plays a re filled with rib tickling one liners and quips that leave a lasting effort.  While every one talks about corruption and is eager to pass the buck, in a rare exercise the dramatist is willing to take on the common man- a not very popular stance.

That I guess is the problem. We are not accountable.  We expect others to be clean.  John Adams had said: I set out with firm resolutions never to commit any meanness or injustice. How many of us will survive this simple test.  On the other hand we welter and savor our persona and interests at crucial junctures. Intoxicated by grandiose impressions, lets take individual behaviour on roads and traffic as a simple test.  The way we follow simple rules, the way we break lines (Q); the eagerness with which we press our social status to advantage are all screaming reflections of corruption.

            It is one thing to be part of the fashionable group and sound anti government.  The governments we get are the governments we elect and deserve. This UPA structurally and morally was not any different from what it was when we elected it.  Why play the blame game.

Surely the politician is answerable. So are those in other institutions. So is the common man. Sorry, from my perspective, the common man is as blameworthy as the rest. I rest my case.