Recently I received a forwarded message about ‘2G Spectrum’ A. Raja’s [belongs to DMK party then the minister of Telecommunication in Manmohan’s cabinet] GRAND Bungalow with the message ‘Think before you vote’. Initially though I too was overwhelmed by seeing that picture, yet considering the entire modern technological tool, I took that message with a pinch of salt. Because the picture didn’t give information about the location of that Bungalow. Those who are genuine about fighting against corruption should also do it in a proper way with giving all kinds of authentic details. As the location of that Bungalow was not disclosed, then I doubted about the genuineness of that picture, though I too support such a campaign against corruption.
Because Raja was (technically) ‘legal’ in doing his corruption whereas this picture is (technologically) ‘illegal’ in its campaign. Raja was ‘logical’ in his argument about his actions/policy; this campaign is ‘illogical’ in its message. In the same way, Manmohan (who says, ‘Telecom policy sound, implementation faulty’—The Hindu, Feb. 25, 2011, Bangalore edition, p. 1) Singh is an ‘adharmi’ keeping a blind eye in the name of upholding ‘coalition dharma’, Raja was dharmic in the policy which was approved by the PRIME MINISTER’S cabinet. So if we blame Raja, then his Prime ‘Mantri’ (minister) should equally bear the responsibility. Later Raja was acquitted by the court against this corruption but still not completely out of it as the case might come back again to haunt him.
In all ideologies, there are two aspects: relationship and principle. While upholding the one, care should be taken that one is not upheld at the cost of the other. For example, the Mahabharata says that a King should collect his tax like a bee collecting honey. The logic here is that while the bee collects the honey, it not does not do any harm but it helps the flower to become fruit. While the principle of ‘collection’ is upheld yet the ‘relationship’ of not hurting is also maintained. While the king manages to collect revenue to run his government, yet he allows his people also to flourish so that they can remain a continuous source for his income. Only in ‘apatdharma’ (dharma of emergency), he is allowed to take by force extra tax that too for the common welfare for all.
In the same way, when we launch any campaign against any evil, we too should maintain the dharma of ‘principle and relationship’. As a principle (against corruption), Raja should be exposed and punished for his crime, yet spoiling one’s name in a wrong way should be restricted as it goes against the value of relationships. While purging the evil in a system we should see that the person is not damaged as a human being. Like the bee collecting the honey, the snake must be killed but the stick should not be broken (this is only a saying and I am against killing any snake). While fighting against any crime we should not become criminals.
And the Muktivedic principle is: ‘Sin must be punished but sinners must be saved.’
Dayanand Bharati, Gurukulam, February, 28. 2011.
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