[Fsf-friends] Blessed With Corrupt Bureaucracy

[CK Raju]

> We need not worry about IKM. All of our activities may be uprooted. Since
> our vision is clear we will go on with efforts till it blossoms.
Good. I didn't want Anil to lose hope if 'MGP thing' failed to take off or 
getting satisfied after seeing MGP insert a clause. 

What is quite perplexing is the latest (tougher) stand by IT Minister that he 
would ensure that IPR are protected with 'more will power'. (This was in his 
interview to school children, that appeared in Asianet Global on Friday 
evening hrs.) 

This is where the role of 'bureaucracy' comes into play. Into believing and 
propagating 'its' views to the political leaders, in much similar a way 
'fundamentalism' operates. Efforts such as these would only help to fan 
violent extremism and create counter fundamentalist organisations (even the 
CIA now toes this line of thinking).

Philosophers like Max Weber, who had cast serious aspersions on the emerging 
clout of 'bureaucracy' and its rationalism, long back, are proving to be 
right in their persuasions, if one analyses the current crisis. It appears 
that 'bureaucracy' has already declared war on its citizens and the political 
systems. The political systems are most likely to become the first victims, 
who would now have  to defend the interests of this 'fundamentalist 
bureaucracy'. These corrupt [thinking] bureaucratic elements are sure to palm 
off responsibility saying that these were 'government decisions' where 'they' 
had no role!. The 'bureaucracy' might even conveniently pass on the 'charge of 
corruptness' to a particular political setup, an argument that our public 
would accept, given the strong political polarisation we have.

The only way out here appears to an all-out effort to strengthen the political 
setup, into making them believe that what is right for the poorest sections 
of society would be (naturally) right for the government. Mahatma Gandhi 
should have foreseen it, while asking the leaders to recall the 'face of the 
poorest man', before taking crucial decisions. The bureaucracy might have 
buried Mahatma long back, but we need to prevent them from burying his views.

FSF-India should have a long and arduous task ahead, given the quality of 
'bureaucracy' that we are blessed with.

CK Raju

PS : 'Bureau' means 'desk'  ('demo' means 'people') and 'cracy' means 'rule'. 
Bureaucracy hence is 'rule of the desk'.  (Correct me if I am wrong)