I just read an article on the newspaper on the investigations of what could be the worst spy scandal ever in Sri Lanka. He was an army officer holding the rank of Major. The man I shall be troubled with reminds me of many of his class whom I have met.
When we were small we had a teacher who sold the application forms to a “School”. But these forms were produces free of charge from office. But when a parent goes to office, he said “Forms are finished”. Then it was an underhand deal. I saw how he obtained money. This was my first experience as a kid about the Bribe, which later I met the kings of it.
When I was schooling I had many friends who were very rich & posh. Some times I tend to think their parents are doing the same job which my parents are doing. How come they have so much of money than we do? Their income never matches with their life styles. They spent lavishly with their credit cards. They took us to expensive restaurants & paid for all of us. Obviously they were very popular as very nice friends & everybody loved them. I was provided everything from home, so my parents didn’t see any reason why I need money. It was about self respect. If you don’t have money you won’t be anyone compared to them. No one will like you. I was mad at my parents thinking why they can’t afford to spend like that. When I told my father I have a problem about respect, he said its them who have the problem about respect. Not me.
But that time, I was not matured enough to understand what he said. I my self saw how they earned respect with money. They gave teachers sarees & expensive gifts. Teachers rewarded them back. At my school, just like many schools the procedures to take students to sports teams were not known by most of the ordinary students. It was simple. Rich parents go & make the teacher in charge happy. Then they take their kids in. Simple. But when we were in school we tried our best to change this strategy. We went to all the classes , explain students what the sport is & we took a list of names of everyone who like to join & we established a procedure to select players based on performance after having matches. You won’t believe how difficult it was & what these teachers told us. It was dangerous to challenge a safe kingdom. & May be it’s a sin to reveal too much of the plot.
When we were grown up I realize how they have more money. Their parents were Principles, Doctors, Police officers, army officers, government officers etc. They were never respected by anyone. But still they had luxurious lives. They went to foreign countries, got good education. Got the best of life. Does respect counts after a person is fulfilled with all its needs? Question is what really “Respect” means?
One day I met one of the “Bribery kings” of Sri Lanka. He was only second to politicians. He was a key man who had access to most of the peoples’ funds. He has stolen money in an exceedingly clever way. He was a lawyer by profession. He used his knowledge to go through the holes of the agreements & earned billions of money. I don’t think he will ever be challenged in front of a court. You can’t challenge smart people. Everyone in his office knows in & out of him. He helps both the political parties, temples & churches. Who the hell would want to given up on him? Who? He was introduced to me by one his office mates saying “You know this is that famous person who has his name in the papers for corruption”. I was shocked & I thought my friend was very indecent to tell that. By our Thief was not surprised. May be he used to listen to those. He smiled pleasantly & asked me “How do you do”?
Does it really mean anything?
Another day one of my friends faced an incident while he was driving in the 138 bus route. Cops stopped him quoting their favorite road rule. “Line crossed”. My friend was about to charge a fine. But the cop had a better deal for both parties. He said
“I won’t charge you the fine. But you will have to reload my mobile phone with half of the fine”. Fair deal. My friend agreed. But since it was not his regular routine & he will not meet that cop again, he never bothered to reload his phone. But many people have paid the cops on the spot. One day when one of our friends returning home after shopping a cop has asked for a bribe. She had no money to give. Then our police guy has asked her “If you have money for shopping, how come you don’t have money to give me”. That’s the state. There are lots of cop stories with the City police who look after traffic.
They are also the part of the whole system. They did not have the spirit to stand against the general practice. Or there was no need to go against it. It why should they say no for a much better life? Why? If they ask me why they should not take Bribe, other than ethics, do I have an answer? How would you prove them it will build the chain of corrupters in longer term? & their own kids they them selves will be victims of that system? Will people suffer for the benefit of the others? Will people want to live with only their salary in a country where everything is measured in monetary terms? These are what my corrupted friends asked from me for real.
I have being closely with many of the politicians. They are the worst ever. So I won’t write about them. Because …….. NO POINT! You’ll know what they do.
I mostly realize the other side of it when I travel around the country with my father. After he retired also when I met people on the way has worked with him, even now telling me “He was an excellent man who never took bribe. He was deeply respected by people around. Then I realize what respect is. & I was ashamed of my self about thinking other way around. People used to laugh at the men who took bribe when they are not around. Even when they earned something by hard working, people used to tell it’s by money. But you got to be very strong to beat the trend. To be happy about being honest. When turn back & see iam very proud of my self & my family. One day when I go to Municipal council to get some job done, a person requested some money. I said “I have never taken bribe from anybody. My family has never done such crimes. So why would I give bribe when I need to get something done when I have a legal right to get the service”? He never did my work. I never gave him money. I don’t care. But if it something I really need what choice is left for me? Please tell me.
Chain of dark continues. Same way chain of light also follows. This is only about part of the bad people in this country. Among them, there are of course very good people are there. I have met many of them. Many. In every field. Police, army, Government, Private sector, Schools everywhere there are good people as well. There are people who loved their country & who are examples. They may be poor. They may not posh. They may not be able to help neighbors with money. They may not be able to give regular parties to friends & relatives. They may not be able to see in night clubs or casinos or Grand stands. But for all of you, let me salute. You are the real heroes of this world. You make the world beautiful. Thanks!!