What would you do upon finding USD 10,000 on a street?

12 July, 2012

A Brazilian homeless couple returned USD 10,000 to police after they found the amount in a bag, on a street. Given the wide-scale corruption in India, CJ Ashim asked fellow Indians what would they do, in case they find a sack filled with money.

IN THIS age, how many of us would return a sack of money if found on a street. Many of us would look left and right and then pick up that cash and take a short cut to home. But, this does not hold true for a homeless couple in Brazil who returned $10,000, which was inside a bag. They could have used that money for themselves and used it for overcoming their present homeless state. But, their honesty did not allow them to do that.

Just imagine this sort of condition, if it took place in India. What would happen? In a country like India, people known for their corrupt behaviour would most probabaly use it for their own luxuries. We have seen policemen on the streets and the traffic policemen looting commuters and getting the much desired bribe, which they are always after. But, it would be unfair to generalise Indians, as there might be some Indians who would return it like the Brazilian couple. On the similar lines, it might also happen that some other Brazilians will take that money back home. So, it varies from people to people.

Shrabani Mukherjee, who resides in Gurgaon when asked what would she do, if she was faced with the same situation like the Brazilain couple, replied, “I would be tempted to keep that money, but I would have evnetually returned, as there are chances of getting caught.” Sanjeev Saini, who is an MNC employee on the other hand said, “I would not return the entire amount. I would at least keep 50% of it and hand over the rest”. But, in case of Sanjeev's decision, it might be a risky affair, as the police would be tempted to keep a close tab over him too. So, the best thing for anyone would be to give it all or keep it all.

Not everyone thinks on the same lines. Vivas Anand Parashar from Darjeeling said, “I will keep the entire amount and not let anyone know about it.” but he added, “Though, I would be scared initially to keep such huge cash.” but if people are very serious about such things, they need to have an appropiate plans for it. Vivas says, “I would keep the money under the bed, break the wall, hide the money and use the money wisely”.

It is very easy to say that I would do this and I would do that, but when such situation truly arises, things could turn out to be different.