Critique of corruption in the country
Reviewed by Kanwalpreet

Lokpal: The Need of the Hour: Corruption and Lokpal
by O.P Dhiman and C.P Sharma
Kalpaz Publications. Pages 307. Rs 900

The citizens of India have gradually woken up to the harsh reality of corruption that is eating into the vitals of our country. Recent movements like that of Anna Hazare and the earlier one of the Emergency inflicted on the people by the former prime Minister, Indira Gandhi have jolted people from their deep slumber. The authors write, "The Emergency years were the biggest challenge to India’s commitment to democracy, which proved vulnerable to the manipulation of powerful leaders and large parliamentary majorities." O.P. Dhiman and C. P. Sharma write as this voice of the people.

They trace the origin of corruption and black money in the country. They go deep into history and find that cheating and swindling were considered unpardonable crimes in India of yore. They, then, pen Mahatma Gandhi’s views about the dismantling of the Congress Party because many of its leaders, soon after the Independence of the country, had forgotten their ideals and were in the pursuit of high offices, status and wealth. Without mincing words, they discuss the rampant corruption in the present UPA government.

The authors quote Dr Ambedkar who believed that a Constitution can provide the organs of the government but a lot would depend on the people and the political parties of the country and what kind of institutions they would set up to fulfill political responsibilities. They show their concern by criticising the abuse of political power and also the misuse of the agencies dealing with corruption. They bring forth the repercussions when the public loses its patience. In the chapter, The Public Wrath, they discuss sensitive cases in the past that shook the nation’s sensibility like the Bofors scandal, the anti-Sikh riots and the Shah Bano case and the u-turn taken by the then, Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi betraying the trust of the Muslim women who would have hugely benefited from the judgment in favour of Shah Bano. The young, dynamic Prime Minister, had given hope to the women of the Muslim community but had surrendered to save the Party’s vote-bank.

After discussing the various ills that are bothering the Indian society, they show how necessary the Lokpal Bill is for the nation. Our representatives in the Parliament or in the legislative assemblies, our bureaucrats and other officials at various posts need to be answerable to the citizen of India who is also a tax-payer. They need to answer the queries of the people. The authors bring forth the Preamble of the Indian Constitution to discuss its essence and how it is not being followed in spirit. The appendices serve to further clarify any doubts regarding the Lokpal Bill. They discuss the various stages where the Bill was opposed by the opposition as well as the ruling party. The authors tell in detail why we are still away from a perfect Lokpal Bill which would help make the political system more efficient.

The tone of the book is conversational. It is technical because it deals with a lot of data. The reader might get lost in some figures because important dates are mentioned wherever required. The book depicts the authors’ anguish at the sad state of affairs. With the demand to end corruption, exploitation, ignorance, arrogance, poverty and disease, the government has to act in haste. We need institutions to safeguard democracy and move on the path of development. Transparency at all levels is the biggest challenge and also the answer to all our problems.

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