The making of a Sarvodaya Sannyasin

Once upon a time, in a nation corruption was at its zenith and then ….

Ref: http://www.icac.org.hk/new_icac/eng/abou/history/main_2.html

Corruption on the Rampage. Hong Kong was in a state of rapid change in the 1960s and 70s. The massive growth in population and fast expansion of the manufacturing industry accelerated the pace of social and economic development. The Government, while maintaining social order and delivering the bare essentials in housing and other services, was unable to meet the insatiable needs of the swelling population. This provided a fertile environment for the unscrupulous. Many people had to take the “backdoor route” simply to earn a living and secure other than basic services. “Tea money”, “black money”, “hell money” – whatever its name – became not only familiar to many Hong Kong people, but accepted with resignation as a necessary way of life.

The Victims. Corruption was rampant in the public sector. Ambulance crews would demand tea money before picking up a sick person. Even hospital amahs asked for “tips” before giving patients a bedpan or a glass of water. Offering bribes to the right officials was also necessary when applying for public housing, schooling and other public services. Corruption was particularly serious in the Police Force. Corrupt police officers offered protection to vice, gambling and drug activities. Law and order was under threat. Many in the community had fallen victim to corruption. And yet, they swallowed their anger. (Does not it read like what our own country, India, has been facing in last 6 decades? Read on…)

Community Backlash. Corruption had become a major social problem in Hong Kong, but the Government at the time seemed powerless to deal with it. The community’s patience was running thin and more and more people began to vent their anger on the Government’s futile attempts at tackling the problem. In the early 70s, a new and potent force of public opinion emerged. People pressed incessantly for the Government to take decisive action to fight graft. Public resentment escalated to new heights when a corrupt expatriate police officer under investigation was able to flee Hong Kong. The case proved to be the last straw.

Last straw. Controlling assets of over HK$4.3 million, Peter Godber, a Chief Police Superintendent, was under investigation in 1973. It was suspected that his unearned wealth had been obtained from corrupt means. But Godber managed to slip out of the territory undetected during the week given to him by the Attorney General to explain the source of his assets. Godber’s escape unleashed a public outcry. Students spearheaded a mass rally in Victoria Park, protesting and condemning the Government for failing to tackle the corruption problem. Demanding prompt government action, protesters with slogans like “Fight Corruption, Arrest Godber” insisted that Godber be extradited to stand trial.

Answering the Call In response to mounting public demand, the Government was quick to take action. Following Godber’s escape on June 8, 1973, Sir Alastair Blair-Kerr, a Senior Puisne Judge, was appointed to form a Commission of Inquiry into Godber’s escape. He compiled two reports. The first detailed the circumstances of Godber’s escape. In his Second Report, Sir Alastair pointed out that “responsible bodies generally feel that the public will never be convinced that Government really intends to fight corruption unless the Anti-Corruption Office is separated from the Police…” In the wake of the Blair-Kerr reports, the then Governor Sir Murray MacLehose articulated for an independent anti-corruption organisation in a speech delivered to the Legislative Council in October 1973.

Decisive Action. “I think the situation calls for an organisation, led by men of high rank and status, which can devote its whole time to the eradication of this evil.” Sir Murray told legislators. “A further and conclusive argument is that public confidence is very much involved. Clearly the public would have more confidence in a unit that is entirely independent, and separated from any department of the Government, including the Police.” Many in the community sensed the wind of change at this time. They started to see the Government setting the stage for the birth of an effective anti-corruption regime.

The Birth of ICAC. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established in February 1974. Since its inception, the Commission has been committed to fighting corruption using a three-pronged approach of law enforcement, prevention and education. The ICAC’s first important task was to bring Godber to justice. In early 1975, Godber was extradited from England to stand trial. The charges were a conspiracy offence and one of accepting bribes. Godber was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Godber’s extradition and prosecution were an unmistakable statement of ICAC’s determination and resolve to eradicate corruption. It was this landmark case that kicked off a new start against corruption and the beginning of a quiet revolution.

You can know more about ICAC at its official website: http://www.icac.org.hk/. In case you are wondering, how much dent did ICAC caused to the problem of corruption in Hong Kong, here is the latest Transparency International report. ref: http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results

Hong Kong has been ranked as the 13th most honest country in the world with score of 8.4 out of 10. Whereas India has been ranked as 87th most honest country in the world with score of 3.3 out of 10. To understand more the meaning of score of 3.3/10 that our country, India, has been given, please note down the following data (ref: http://www.millionface.com/l/is-india-a-poor-country-revelation-on-swiss-bank-accounts/):

Black money in Swiss banks — Swiss Banking Association report, 2006 details bank deposits in the territory of Switzerland by nationals of following countries:

Top five
India—- $1,456 billion
Russia —$ 470 billion
UK ——-$390 billion
Ukraine – $100 billion
China —–$ 96 billion

Now do the maths – India with $1456 billion or $1.4 trillion has more money in Swiss banks than rest of the world combined.

This is what has been going on in India in last 6 decades – the most shameless and degraded people entered our political system to plunder the country whereas our wretched intelligentsia and spiritual class could not find any time from their relentless pursuit of personal pleasure and personal salvation respectively to bother about savage political ruin of the country.

Time to wake up now. It is now or never. It is do or die for us – we have suffered for 6 decades. Enough now. If Hong Kong can do this, why can India not do this? Support “India against Corruption” movement spearheaded by Sri Anna Hazare which aims to bring Jan Lokpal bill which will create the institution of Lokpal in India similar to ICAC of Hong Kong – a totally independent, anti-corruption agency which will have power to prosecute the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and businessman and will have the selection procedure to bring the most honest people in it. The Jan Lokpal Bill calls for setting up Lokpal and Lokayuktas (in states) independent of government control. In the activists’ version, investigation in any case will have to be completed in one year, and punishment would be a jail term of minimum 5 years and maximum of life imprisonment. The government’s version recommends a prison term of minimum 6 months and maximum 7 years as punishment for corruption. To read a detailed comparison of Government proposed “protect the corrupt” Lokpal bill and Jan Lokpal bill, please read this link: http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/doc/how_will_civil_society_s_lokpal_bill_curb_corruption.pdf.

It is time to do or die to bring Jan Lokpal bill into existence so that the corrupt get punished for their anti-national deeds and India becomes free from the stench of corruption to a considerable extent. Decades from now, people will say the same thing about India then: “Once upon a time, in a nation corruption was at its zenith and then ….” – the public rose and forced the parliament to bring Lok Janpal bill and then, the corruption reached the nadir in that nation soon (with scores of corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen sent to jail and their ill-gotten wealth confiscated back to get used for public welfare).

Time for action. Send this post to all your friends and share it on online forums – the story of Hong Kong will surely inspire us to strengthen their devotion to “India against corruption” movement more and more.

Amen (Be it so)!

Jai Hind,
Gopal