Scriptures, Google agree

Google's famous credo, 'Don't be evil', acquires a greater payload of moral force each time a corporate house is caught mocking the rules. In India tainted by scams, that credo rings like a hymn amid noisy lies. Google says that its maxim goes beyond the obvious: "It's also about doing the right thing more generally - following the law, acting honorably, and treating each other with respect." That is a refreshing, although an old, thought.  Thousands of years ago, a sage summarised the copious and exalted puranas. The sage said: "Astadas puranesu Vyasasya vachan dwiyam/paropkaraya punayay, paapaya parpidnam." It means: The salient truth of 18 puranas is that there is merit in doing good and suffering in sin.

Corruption is raging through our systems like a malefic, implacable cancer. What is it that the common people do in the battle against the disease? The defeatist response is to say that since even some of our rulers collaborate with the corrupt, there is absolutely nothing that citizens can do. Such a response fails to recognise the stellar valour of people like Anna Hazare. Anna and his volunteers — the latter mobilised spontaneously and unbidden — have shown that citizens' voices can join in a chorus of righteousness. But even as individuals, Indians can make a difference.

By heeding the words of the scriptures and Google's code of conduct, every individual can work towards creating an environment so wholesome that evils like corruption will have no place to thrive. The personal endeavours I suggest go beyond not bribing the TT for a ticket. I saw what can be done if mere kindness is shown. Once, travelling on Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani, a passenger with an RAC ticket was reconciling himself to pay some extra for a berth. The problem was the 'extra' being demanded was substantially higher than the 'normal extra'. While the passenger was calculating the losses, another traveller offered to give up his berth for a part of the journey. That way, the traveller said, they both could get some sleep and an act of bribery could be thwarted.

The RAC passenger was overwhelmed and said he didn't know how to thank his co-traveller. The latter replied, "I was in your position once, and someone helped me. You do the same when you get the chance. Whether or not you get a berth in heaven, you will certainly get one on a train!"