SOMETHINGS SHAKE YOU TO THE CORE!

The unfolding story of how Shri Mahesh Kumar(MS/RB) lobbied for ML’s post through bribe is one, which overtime is going to be identified, either, as a nail in the coffin of railways or the turning point (more probability of the earlier). This single incident is going to have very large ramifications on railway working, image of the railways, image of the railway men, morale of the railway men, funds made available to the railway men, and above all my career with the railways. This incident is hurting my insides so bad, that I have got shaken to the core and have lost orientation.

My school friends had always asked  — When will you become a Member of the Railway Board?(ofcourse jokingly). There were keen on knowing WHEN, but never asked WHY?  Now they know the WHY also?. As far as I am concerned, I now know why I donot want to become one!!

 It is necessary for me to pen down WHY I feel so strongly about this incident, if nothing else then to unburden myself!!

a) Railway ministry is politically jinxed: At the political level nothing seems to be happening correct for the railways. First, for 10 years the ministry is with allied partners, secondly, when someone with courage takes over (Mr Diwedi) and tries something long required he is unceremoniously discharged, thirdly, when a supposedly Mainline minister comes in and with loud claims of being a clean guy, he is taken down by his ACE card of claim to position — Honesty.

Leadership!! There goes our wish of a competent and well meaning political boss. 

b) Financial crisis: The biggest problem with railways is finances and we go to the government every year with a begging bowl, asking for money to fund our development. We never got it till now, and now we have lost the moral right to even ask for it……. So Indian Railways wants more money for its infrastructure projects so that it can squander it away…..

Development!! There goes our wish of having more money for development.

c) Honesty: We have been a relatively clean government department, and we used to be proud of it! With 15 lacs railway employees, every family in the country has a railway men in his near family or neighbours. We railway men (with the exception of the Railway TTE), were seen as hard working, honest people, who kept the wheels of the rail moving 24X7X365 without regard to self or family. Mr Mahesh Kumar just given a motive to our selfless service to the nation– Corruption

Honesty!! There goes our wish of being recognized as an honorable Indian.

Having lost confidence in leadership, development, and honesty, there is little that the organization has to offer now!!

For me, I have no opinion/view/fact/information about whether Rajiv Gandhi was or was not a beneficiary in the Bofors case. BUT for me it is a turning point, and it has harmed the country as none other. When I was haggling with a Rickshaw wala and cajoling him to take the correct fare from me over 20 years back, he had simply remarked that there is nothing correct in our country, as even the PM is dishonest. I had no defense for his argument and had simply paid him whatever he asked for and moved on.

Corruption that day for me had penetrated the arteries and veins of the Indian Society. On this day, corruption has entered the vein and artery of Indian Railways. Atleast each one of us will be perceived as being corrupt by the common men (truth, reality, personality, individual not withstanding). Our heads are hanging in shame!