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       'Everywhere we have corruption. Nothing is free from corruption. Everybody wants to loot this country ... The law does not permit us to do it, but otherwise we would prefer to hang people like you from the lamp post in public': These were the observations of SC judge Katju while rejecting the bail plea of a Bihari government employee involved in the multi-crore fodder scam. So what will then be the fate of key accused Lalu, if found guilty? Let not our hopes run high. In any case, with the law of the land taking its familiar course, the chances are that, while the small fry like the godforsaken Bihari Babu will get legally roasted, a grand toast would await the likes of Lalu.

        Indeed, it has become a sickening charade, watching one political looter after another walk free, along with the loot. There is a canon in taxation that says the cost of collecting a tax should not exceed the tax. But the money and mandays spent on such futile legal pursuits to bring to book the corrupt invariably overshoots the loot. In Bofors, for instance, it is pretty obvious that the Rs 64 crore kickbacks are a pittance compared to the amount spent in 'not-recovering' it.Yet, no sane nation can give up chasing those shadows, or otherise, it would also mean moral bankruptcy besides empty coffers.

        The SC judge's frustrated lament is a clear sign of resignation, a feeling shared by the multitude in the country. From Bofors to JMM bribery to hawala to cash for queries to what not, scams by the hundreds, involving big names and bigger amounts, have inundated the courts and hogged public limelight. From Election Commission rules to anti-corruption legislation, there is no dearth of laws. Yet, all the big fishes have not just consistently slipped through the porous legal nets but have cocked a snook at all to occupy positions of power that they were accused of abusing. In our own TN, those who walked the courts have never failed to walk to the Fort at a later date. Clearly, modern jurisprudence has been incapable of delivering true justice in those cases. The SC's helplessness is actually the nation's!

        Of course, corruption is universal. The UN even has a forum to tackle corruption. It is called United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). It seeks to 'create a global language about corruption and a coherent implementation strategy to counter it'. It is estimated that every year over $ 1 trillion changes hands as bribes all over the world, 'enriching the corrupt and robbing generations of a future'. The UN has even designated December 9 as Anti-corruption-day, though we know corruption itself is round the clock and calender. The UN's Global Programme against Corruption says, 'corruption undermines democratic institutions, retards development and hurts the poor ...'. Lofty words, indeed. But here is the passing punch: The UN ranks as the most corrupt entity in the world. According to a report, 'it is a bureaucratic swamp of corruption and mismanagement ...aid money is often stolen and dozens of agencies duplicate efforts'!

        But for all its painful pervasiveness, corruption in the Indian context has another side too, if you choose to be a bit perverse. It has scrupulously kept pace with the changing times and has largely stuck to the political ethos of the country as ordained by the Constitution. For instance, when Judge Katju says, 'everyone wants to loot the country', is it not obvious that corruption is very democratic, truly of the people, for the people and by the people, and in the name of the people, if we may add? Again when a single party, Congress, dominated governance, corruption was centralised. And Bofors was the last but fatal shot of such 'monopolised corruption'. With coalitions and the outside- support-syndrome gathering gusto, corruption has become truly federal and decentralised. The profiles of parties and leaders representing the nooks and crannies of India, decorating the rogues gallery now would prove the point!

        Corruption has also turned out to be wholly secular, bridging communal divides which otherwise seemed too wide. Politicos cutting across faiths remain religiously corrupt. And grease is quite egalitarian too fomenting social justice no end. The rising gush of corruption has demolished caste barriers, with 'entry' into this great hall of infamy not restricted just to the chosen ones of the upper crust. Look at the number of champions of the underclasses waving to the crowds that they robbed, while walking up and down the court steps! And with corruption, there seems to be no gender bias either with the Swindlers' list having a generous quota of women.

        Political bribery has kept pace with economic reforms too. We all know barter got replaced by hard cash long back. But now, even percentages are passe. Politicians, it is learnt, prefer profit-sharing these days.The corruption 'industry' has remained hand in hand with the economic boom too, aiding it as well as benefitting from it. Some analysts claim that political sleaze money has gone substantially into stock markets and real estate. It is also suggested that certain FDIs in some politically connected businesses could actually be Indian bribe money answering the call of 'patriotism'. Of course, you can bet, all these would be through perfectly legal methods and channels. Politicos too have evolved, you see. And reforms and liberalisation have excelled even the licence raj in offering fresh and fertile opportunities for our enterprising politicos. Heads or tail, they win.

        With the SC too throwing up its arms, how does one tackle this monster? The media which often blew the whistle in the past, is less and less obsessed with corruption. That is because, corruption no longer shocks and awes and therefore does not guarantee sustained TRP. But the bigger reason is that many politicos are becoming the media themselves, owning and running channels and newspapers! They would touch corruption only if the political opponent is involved and would drop it if coalition dharma warrants it!

        The ball clearly is in the people's court. But are we interested? Let's listen to Plato:' the penalty good men pay for being indifferent is to be ruled by evil men. And hear out Roosevelt too:' to sit at home and read one's favourite newspaper and scoff at the misdeeds of men ... it is easy, but is markedly ineffective. It is what evil men count on good men to do'. But while we decide, it seems a sound idea to erect as many lamp posts as possible, just in case. Fine, if the law changes course and judges have their way. Otherwise, let there be more light at least in our neighbourhood!