“I cannot be better, because of how the world is”: the origin of corruption
As a citizen in the first world, I was consistently exposed to the idea that third world countries are not just economically impoverished but also less humane and civilized. In my grade 5 environment unit, I was taught that China and India were “evil” for only using non-renewable resources and cutting funding to clean energy. It makes sense, given India’s history of colonialization, limited resources, and large population that people would resort to corruption and underhanded dealings. However, I am more astonished that many people do try to be good. Katherine Boo presents within Behind the Beautiful Forevers a microcosm of society in the slums of Annawadi. Some individuals in the novel try to preserve their dignity despite the systematic oppression against them, and some submit wholly into corruption and exploitation. Hence, what can this book reveal about the origin of corruption in individuals? In a society of extreme poverty and injustice, is it possible to remain virtuous?
Corruption is defined as the dishonest conduct one performs for illegitimate private gain (Paskal). To determine where corruption
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Can we really hold the poor to the same moral code we possess while we comfortably sit in our homes? It amazes me that hope can be such a powerful thing. Throughout Behind the Beautiful Forevers, it is hope and idealism that led Abdul to try and preserve his dignity in face of injustice, and yet it is the desperation of everyone around him that led to corruption in the first place. Abdul berates himself, knowing that “I cannot be better, because of how the world is” (Boo 241). I am fortunate that I can afford to hold myself to high moral standards. It is enough, I would say, that Abdul and Sunil and Manju and Asha try to do better for themselves until they could do the
Corruption is commonly defined as “being dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers)” according to Merriam-Webster.com. However, although defined, corruption cannot be measured. Without measurement of this ten letter word, it becomes troubling within jurisdiction’s law abiding citizens live in. As a result, hysteria, panic and doubts arise which are only a few out many reactions the public makes. With the press only stirring greater chaos, corruption is never completely solved, which is why it must be confronted and measured before it’s too late. If not it’ll only continue to linger throughout media headlines and forums, but also the society, it conclusively affected and left a mark on for example, Pageland, SC.
...oes not show emotion to either side, which truly makes a difference. I am astounded that the slum dwellers of Annawadi are doing what they can to make it through the day, attempting to fulfill Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs of the Western world. This development into a Western country was short-cut ridden, the result of corruption and social structural factors that cause widespread poverty. The other side of greed is apparent within this non-fiction text, a moving text published by Katherine Boo.
In order to raise awareness of the staggering injustices, oppression and mass poverty that plague many Indian informal settlements (referred to as slum), Katherine Boo’s novel, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, unveils stories of typical life in a Mumbai slum. Discussing topics surrounding gender relations, environmental issues, and corruption, religion and class hierarchies as well as demonstrating India’s level of socioeconomic development. Encompassing this, the following paper will argue that Boo’s novel successfully depicts the mass social inequality within India. With cities amongst the fastest growing economies in South Eastern Asia, it is difficult to see advances in the individual well-being of the vast majority of the nation. With high
people in relatively affluent countries react to a situation like that in Bengal cannot be justified; indeed, the whole way we look at moral issues our moral conceptual scheme needs to be altered, and with it, the way of life that has come to be taken for granted in our society. (p. 230)
“Despite so many reforms, the idea of untouchability is still very much a part of Indian life." (doc A) There are hundreds of millions of people trapped under the poverty line in India, who can’t escape. They are kept in a cycle of poverty with no end. However, instead of getting the help that they need, they are being pushed further down into poverty, leading to generations of families trapped. The cycle of poverty in India is being pushed along by discrimination of the poor. The poor are discriminated against by being denied health care, pushed out of school, and targeted by officials, which leads to more poverty.
For all Annawadians except Asha, corruption ingrained in society prevents the impoverished citizens of a Mumbai slum from being able to become successful in life. Despite working hard, saving money, and only wanting to better the life of their family, the Husains’s story is demonstrative of the fact that an unintentional entanglement in the “great web of corruption” “in which the most wretched tried to punish the slightly less wretched” could easily lead to near ruin (Boo 115). Over the course of her narrative, Boo shows that Annawadians recognize the issues of corruption present in their society, and the fact that they lack the power to change the system. For Annawadians, the courage and aspiration to become more successful in life meant taking a gamble, and Boo shows that their gamble could only be made in a system where the odds were forced against their
In his article, “Famines, Affluence, and Morality”, Peter Singer (1972) discusses morality and our moral obligation towards helping those suffering. He sheds light on a lot of problems in the way of life that we currently lead. The article opens by introducing us to the famine situation in Bengal, which has left millions suffering due to the lack of food, shelter and medical care. (Singer, p. 229). Singer’s main argument, which consists of 3 premises, draws up the conclusion that affluent people int he world, who have more than sufficient to meet their essential needs and spend on trivial luxuries such as expensive clothes, cars, etc. should instead re-direct this extra income towards relieving, if not elimination entirely, the suffering of the people in Bengal, or anywhere really. In what follows, I will examine Singer’s argument and expound on the objections raised against his seemingly sound conclusion. Further, I will also discuss my only objection to Singer’s argument and briefly outline our traditional moral categories.
Transparency International defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” In politics, as we have learned, this includes (but is not limited to) fraud, bribery, embezzlement, influence peddling, lying, conflict of interest, and patronage.
It is affecting different sectors in a variety of forms. The major forms of corruptions are the political corruption, the bureaucratic corruption and the economic corruption (Chêne, 2012). The political corruption happened during the 2010 general elections and 2012 parliamentary by-elections which were marked by fraud and irregularities. As a result, the pro-military party won almost 80 percent of the seats available for election (Bertelsmann Foundation, 2012). The bureaucratic corruption is the most serious form of corruption affecting the public sector and service delivery. It is widespread and has become a major barrier to commerce and investment for growth and development (Chêne, 2012). The economic corruption is mostly in the form of cronyism where many state assets are being privatised to close associates at below market rates (Bertelsmann Foundation,
When dealing with corruption, first question to ask or to clarify is what corruption is. NSW Research (2002) describes corruption anything from gaining materialistically by virtue of position (for eg. getting a special discount at stores) to engaging in ‘direct criminal activities’ (eg. selling drugs). Newburn (1999) believes that there is a thin line between the definition of ‘corrupt’ and ‘non-corrupt’ activities as at the end, it is an ethical problem. For common people, however, bribery generalises corruption.
Corruption is something that is motivated by greed and fraud. It’s a very threatening personality that controls and destroys people’s lives and makes them the kind of person other people don’t want to associate with.
Recently, in India the more powerful people have been depriving the poor of their mere wealth. According to the author, " million living below the poverty line is that the public exchequer is being looted, and that the money earmarked for development is going into the pockets of the rich and the powerful."(2 Bunker). This portrays that the donated and tax money that has been put forth for the poor is going into the high authority pockets. This leads to a greater gap between the rich and poor. The ones that deserve more are being deprived and tormented of their rights. Only 17% of the development money is reaching the poor the rest is taken by the corrupt officials. This is also shown when the article states, "Thousands of schools, dispensaries, roads, small dams, community centres and residential quarters have been shown to be complete on paper, but in reality are incomplete, inhospitably unutilized and abandoned."(1 Bunker). It is evident that the government is showing these facilities have been provided to seem diligent on paper. However, the basic necessities which is a citizens right have been taken away from the poor. Many rights including the voting rights of the poor village people are snatched by the officials. The poor do not have the right to true information of where the money for the poor from the government is being spent. It is because false receipts and vouchers
Distant, detached, and ignorant of society's degenerate condition, the developing society feared reality's ugliness. Believing that decadence encouraged decadence and that one's birth influenced one's character, society sought welfare reform, establishing centralized institutions for public assistance. Once established, the Poor Law separated families, put the poor to work in occupations that no one wanted, creating an environment that was less appealing for public assistance, and more appealing for employment. Believing that it had made today better than yesterday, society went about its business, ignoring the reality of starvation, illness, and death. The conditions after the Poor Law forced people to avoid public assistance, leaving them the only...
In 2012,Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index ranked India 94th out 176 countries. "It is not about petty bribes (bakshish) any more, but scams to the tune of billions of rupees that highlight a political/industry nexus which, if not checked, could have a far reaching impact”(KMPG,2012).Corruption poses a risk to India’s GDP growth and continual level of Corruption will lead to a volatile political and economic environment.Almost half of India’s economy runs in the informal or black market sector, ‘shadow economies’ permeate the lives of every citizen.What seems on the surface as broken,dysfunctional system,operates smoothly with ease for those with money and power.Whereas,for an Average citizen, access is limited and a reminder of a failed democracy.In this essay I will be looking more deeply into the issues of Corruption and how it has impacted the Indian economy.
Montesh, M. (n.d.). Conceptualizing Corruption: Forms, Causes, Types and Consequences. Retrieved May 4, 2014, from