Corruption: India’s Enemy Within

India today is one of the most highly advanced countries in the developing world. It manufactures almost every conceivable item – from pins and needles to highly sophisticated machinery, ships, aircraft, tanks and missiles. In the realm of information technology, it ranks among the top nations too. India has successfully accomplished a ‘green revolution’ in agriculture and has a well-established political, administrative and judicial structure. But The Economist of 4 September 1999, said: ‘India is the biggest underachiever.’ This is so because even after 53 years of Independence, millions and millions of Indians are still living in conditions of abject poverty, without access to clean drinking water and other basic necessities of life. The bitter truth is that India is beset with the lethal and pervasive problem of corruption in its polity, administration, society and in the business community, which has far-reaching and devastating practical consequences. This book focuses mainly on the problem of corruption and attempts to explain why our country is gripped in its vicious stranglehold. It attempts to assess the extent of damage caused already and warns of dangers in the future if this evil is not checked. It analyses the history of corruption by tracing its origin to the highest echelons of power and tracking its following seepage to the bureaucracy, which apparently gave in too easily to temptation. This book thus claims that the correction process must therefore begin at the topmost political and administrative levels. It has suggested a detailed plan of action towards this end. Besides it has proposed some steps for the promotion of ethical standards in society as well as in the business community.