Dyarchy made a mess

When both the East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal shared the administration and collection of revenue, they became rich but the poor farmer became poorer day by day. There was complete chaos, both wings of administrators, the British and the Indians enjoyed authority and trappings of power sans responsibility. No one was answerable to no one.

India today suffers from the same malady. There is Sonia Gandhi who rides roughshod on the government of meek Manmohan because the latter stands beholden to the former and has lost the capacity of decision making. The whole world knows that he is the most tragic figure today. Thus the Congress President, a foreigner by birth, enjoys authority and trappings of power without being answerable to anyone and all the footslogging is done by the prime minister who cannot but take all the blame for economy, law and order going wrong. The accountability of real holders of power is almost zero.

Just about everything has gone wrong because of poor governance. Scams galore and corruption in cabinet have sent congressmen scrambling for cover but none is available. Not even a fig leaf for the nude. Everyone is naked in the hamam but now the corrupt ministers and their cohorts are naked in their offices and living rooms. They are not ashamed either because corruption has become a way of life for politicians in power.

Remedy for malady

Of course, there is a remedy for every malady. But those who are charged with the job of setting the house in order are themselves a part of the robber brigand. Now that the police is playing the role of robbers, both the police and real robbers are enjoying a new kind of relationship. They are thick as thieves. There is money in it and both cannot abjure love of the lucre.

The real remedy of the malady of corruption and nepotism lies in changing the sick government for a healthy one. It has to be done through a legal and constitutional manner. Educate the voters first so that they are not influenced by the money and muscle power of the present ruling party. Is it possible? Of course, yes. If the uneducated Indian voters who have common sense could throw Indira Gandhi’s government out of power through the ballot, the corrupt rulers of today can surely be ousted. Ballot is more powerful than the bullet.

If there is a doubting Thomas who has little faith in the sagacity of the common man, let him or her read history of India. The nation needs a good Acharya or a Dharm Guru who will motivate masses to walk on the path of righteousness. Acharya Chanakya groomed a cowherd boy into a fine soldier and leader of men and with the help of masses overthrew the Nand dynasty from Patliputra.

Chandragupt was crowned king. His motivated men defeated the Greek general Seleucus Nikator and established the Indian suzerainty over Afghanistan and parts of central Asia again. Mind is the Man. Motivate minds of men and women to bring back the Indian administration on rails.