Game Changers:: Wilhelm Rontgen

Rontgen, a physics professor in Austria was working on a series of experiments with vacuum tubes when he discovered a rare kind of rays. He became consumed by his work and spent days and nights in the lab. He named his invention as X-rays; X is a term often used on Mathematics to denote the unknown. Before Rontgen's revelation, physicians were unable to look inside a person's body without making an incision. Rontgen, the father of diagnostic radiology, was the recipient of the first Nobel Prize for Physics in 1901. He never took patents on his discovery so that the rays could be widely used.

Corruption

I have second hand experience with corruption among politicians; by second hand experience I mean my experience through my parents, relatives and friends. I have first hand experience of corruption with cops in bangalore and in kerala - several instances. I have first and second hand experience of corruption at government institutions also.

However, my experiences are relatively small in number. Therefore, I am not able to conclude from my own experience whether majority of politicians, and govt officials are corrupt or not. However, I have heard from the media, friends, and people around that a very high percentage of politicians are corrupt. But, based on fact I wonder what that percentage is - 50% or 75% or higher?

The reason I am wondering about this is the following - Recently I heard couple of public figures such as Nandan Nilekani and Narayana Murthy talk about politicians in the context of the recent events. They clearly stated that they have tremendous respect for politicians. They seemed to make their conclusions based on their experience. These people have proven themselves in the non-policial arena, and have been hugely successful in the IT field. They are also contributing to the society and the country as well. One would not think twice to trust their judgement, and I have the same tendency.

Now, I am faced with inconsistent information. What is the truth? Is a high percentage of politicians and government officials corrupt, or is that false? Do I trust the statements by the above mentioned public figures, or do I stick to my several year old belief that I have formed based on a lot or opinions and some first hand experience?

I wonder ...

To get a good answer, I know I'd have to start defining what corruption is. I resort to Dr.Google who refers me to Wikipedia as expected.

Corruption includes, but is not limited to, the following activities [1]

1. Bribery in politics, business, or sport
2. Collusion, an agreement between two or more persons, sometimes illegal and therefore secretive, to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage
3. Electoral fraud
4. Embezzlement
5. Organized crime
6. Price Fixing

7. Abuse of the system
8. Cronyism (partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications)
9. Influence peddling (illegal practice of using one's influence in government or connections with persons in authority to obtain favors or preferential treatment for another, usually in return for payment.)
10. Nepotism (favoritism granted to relatives or friends regardless of merit)
11. Patronage (favoritism in which a party in power rewards groups, families, ethnicities for their electoral support using illegal gifts or fraudulently-awarded appointments or government contracts.)

In general, corruption is any deviation from an ideal. When I started writing I was mainly referring to political corruption, mainly bribery in politics and bribery in general. But, corruption is more broad than that.

Now, I understand why we say that the society is corrupt. Several of the above including 7, 8, and 10 is often considered alright in many occasions.

I wonder how much I should correct my own thinking and actions before criticizing and thinking low about others.

I wonder ..


[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption

Jay Hai, Jay Hai, Jai Hai Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hai

Jay Hai, Jay Hai, Jai Hai Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hai

This is the ending of the National Anthem. When I hear this line, I still get the memory of the feeling I used to have as a child. Jana Gana Mana was sung everyday after the last period of class. After the song was over the class was automatically dispersed - everyone would say "Thank you miss" or "Thank you sir" and go home. To me, these words were almost like, "On you marks, Get set, go" - a series of words recited at the starting of running races; upon hearing this the athletes would dash off from their starting point. As soon as these lines were uttered, a group of us friends would dash off similarly from our desks screaming the words "Thank you miss" as we ran off from our classes to our destination (cycle-rishas or buses). I still get that feeling of an ending and starting as I hear those lines ....  In a way it can also be related to another ending and starting - the ending of slavery and the starting of freedom.. Happy Independence Day to all.

Facebook and me

I used to love to hang out with friends. After class, or during weekends, when there was nothing interesting to do, I would roam around from one friend's room to another. It was a casual walk, usually accompanied by humming the latest movie song or some old movie tune, and dragging my chappals along as if I was sweeping the floor as I go. I would eventually end up in some room where other guys, who also had nothing interesting to do, have gathered. The discussions usually focused on planning mischief, college activities, food problems, cricket, football, movies, politics or about other interesting topics. At times the group spent time teasing some poor soul who was present among us; typically it would be the same guys who were always the target of such teasing. The discussion usually went on until it was time for food, or it was too late at night, or the poor soul who was being teased decided to leave for whatever reason.

Anyways, after graduation I have not had much chances of idle, pointless roaming, and participating in discussions about global politics, cricket or other random topics - until I joined facebook recently. No, I do not see facebook as anywhere close to the kind of experience described earlier, but i see it as a platform where one can hangout when there is nothing interesting to do, or you decide you just want to roam pointlessly.

That would probably reason why I like hanging out in facebook.

Dignity of work

	Here is a dialogue from Act 1 Scene 1 of Julius Caesar (Shakespear) FLAVIUS Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
	COBBLER Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl. I meddle with no tradesman’s matters nor women’s matters, but withal I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes. When they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather have gone upon my handiwork.  The cobbler in the scene seems to be proud of his work. "Surgeon to old shoes" - that's how he describes his profession. We can imagine how carefully he may mend broken shoes and become satisfied once it is repaired. I wonder if real surgeons take their work as seriously. I wonder if at least some of them would have to say, truthfully, "we are cobblers to hearts". What attitude do I have towards my profession? What attitude do I have for others of a different profession? What attitude do I have for the mundane tasks of my profession? I am to treat ourselves and myself (and the respective professions) with dignity and respect. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" [1].  I should treat others the way I would expect them to treat me. [2]    [1] 1 Corinthians 12:21 [2] Golden Rule , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Rule