05-27-2009, 12:19 AM
X-posted . Please look at the link:
Thanks, ramana
<!--QuoteBegin-"ramana"+-->QUOTE("ramana")<!--QuoteEBegin-->In the Future strategic scenario thread some members were exploring the idea that Indians were corrupt. I had to interrupt the conversation as it was off-topic there.
My understanding is that corruption as a state institution was an outcome of the East India Company rule in India. The EIC officials were paid a pittance with the understanding that they could trade on their own account to make up the difference. Robert Clive had the temerity to say in his defence at his trial for corruption "I was astounded at my own modesty", in reference to his power to steal as much as he wanted after the fall of Oudh, but he curbed it and took only a little 8). Concept of "baksheesh" was popularised in company rule with the underlings serving as conduit to recieve the funds from the supplicants. All euphemisms like "upar ke amadani" etc are from that era.
I would like members to point out stories of corruption in the Vijaynagar or earlier Hoyasala rule or even Chola rule. Or even vernacular sayings other than in Hindusthani or Urdu. Maybe a new Rumila Thapad will be born to chronicle this.
After the Crown took over the officials were still paid little sums but had enormous privileges and perks and could retire to their native lands (Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and even Canada). After Independence the policy of low pay was continued by GOI due to various hardships (the British stole the treasury in WWII etc(Sterling reserves), resource mobilization for developing economy and industrialization ) and this gave an ample opportunity for self-enrichment, aka corruption. In most Western countries there are legitimate venues for self enrichment, which are prohibited by law in India (state financing of elections, allow individuals and corporations to donate funds to political parties etc) plus the old quota - permit- license raj under INC helped to institutionalize this self-enrichment process.
In the Islamic rules there was the practice of nazarana where the people who wished to see the Sultan had to bring gifts of bullion(gold coins) to get their audience. The Nizam of Hyderabad was notorious for insisting who should have audience with him 8).
The Mughal princesses and begums used to trade on their private account to supplement the meager allowance the Padshahs used to allot to them. See the refs to the pirates capturing the ship of Akbar's queen, Mariam Uz Zaman aka Jodha Bai apdf of which I had some members post a long time ago.
Along the way during the British rule, a number of sterotypes of Indians have developed and here is a wiki article on that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes...uth_Asians<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks, ramana
<!--QuoteBegin-"ramana"+-->QUOTE("ramana")<!--QuoteEBegin-->In the Future strategic scenario thread some members were exploring the idea that Indians were corrupt. I had to interrupt the conversation as it was off-topic there.
My understanding is that corruption as a state institution was an outcome of the East India Company rule in India. The EIC officials were paid a pittance with the understanding that they could trade on their own account to make up the difference. Robert Clive had the temerity to say in his defence at his trial for corruption "I was astounded at my own modesty", in reference to his power to steal as much as he wanted after the fall of Oudh, but he curbed it and took only a little 8). Concept of "baksheesh" was popularised in company rule with the underlings serving as conduit to recieve the funds from the supplicants. All euphemisms like "upar ke amadani" etc are from that era.
I would like members to point out stories of corruption in the Vijaynagar or earlier Hoyasala rule or even Chola rule. Or even vernacular sayings other than in Hindusthani or Urdu. Maybe a new Rumila Thapad will be born to chronicle this.
After the Crown took over the officials were still paid little sums but had enormous privileges and perks and could retire to their native lands (Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and even Canada). After Independence the policy of low pay was continued by GOI due to various hardships (the British stole the treasury in WWII etc(Sterling reserves), resource mobilization for developing economy and industrialization ) and this gave an ample opportunity for self-enrichment, aka corruption. In most Western countries there are legitimate venues for self enrichment, which are prohibited by law in India (state financing of elections, allow individuals and corporations to donate funds to political parties etc) plus the old quota - permit- license raj under INC helped to institutionalize this self-enrichment process.
In the Islamic rules there was the practice of nazarana where the people who wished to see the Sultan had to bring gifts of bullion(gold coins) to get their audience. The Nizam of Hyderabad was notorious for insisting who should have audience with him 8).
The Mughal princesses and begums used to trade on their private account to supplement the meager allowance the Padshahs used to allot to them. See the refs to the pirates capturing the ship of Akbar's queen, Mariam Uz Zaman aka Jodha Bai apdf of which I had some members post a long time ago.
Along the way during the British rule, a number of sterotypes of Indians have developed and here is a wiki article on that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes...uth_Asians<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->