Babus are not Bertrand Russell

What is the guarantee that the situation will improve drastically with the proposed changes? Instead, there could be a loss of precious time, as has happened in the past with many developmental schemes, where in some cases the situation even worsened. This happens when there is a tendency to become trapped in peripheral issues and not honestly identify the problem.

The civil services attract the best talent. The fate of these talented young men and women is another story. A large number of officers still remain 8216;8216;honest8217;8217;, that is do not take bribes. But they lose the courage to call a spade a spade. There is an unknown fear, that something terrible will happen to them, a fear which makes them apathetic towards real governance issues. Others are a bunch of thugs who thrive with the active support of corrupt politicians and their tribe is increasing by the day. Cowards are rewarded, it is they who climb to the top of the ladder and occupy top slots everywhere. The question is that with the cowardly and the corrupt occupying centrestage, can the nation expect to bring about drastic changes in governance by effecting cosmetic changes in the system?

In the year 1931, Bertrand Russell wrote an essay titled The Advantages of Cowardice encapsulating the crux of the problem faced by society. Russell wrote, 8216;8216;During the French Revolution, when the Reign of Terror came to an end, it was found that no one was left alive among the politicians except prudent cowards who had changed their opinions quickly enough to keep their heads on their shoulders. The result was twenty years of military glory, because there was no one left among the politicians with sufficient courage to keep their generals in order. The French Revolution was an exceptional time, but wherever organisation exists cowardice will be found more advantageous than courage. Of the men at the head of businesses, schools, lunatic asylums, and the like, nine out of ten will prefer the supple lickspittle to the outspoken man of independent judgment. In politics it is necessary to profess the party programme and flatter the leaders; in the Navy it is necessary to profess antiquated views on naval strategy; in the army it is necessary to maintain a medieval outlook on everything; in journalism wage slaves have to use their brains to give expression to the opinions of millionaires; in education professors lose their jobs if they do not respect the prejudices of the illiterate. This result of the state of affairs is that in practically every walk of life the men who come to the top have served a long apprenticeship in cowardice, while the honest and courageous have to be sought for in workhouses and prisons. Is this regrettable?8217;8217;

A familiar scenario. The art of succeeding has changed little since the time Russell wrote about. Unless the entire culture is changed, no systemic reform of any kind is likely to succeed. Instead, there is a need to bring about a profound change in the attitude of people occupying higher positions to stop rewarding cowards. It is the basic instinct of human nature to follow the path of least resistance and achieve maximum comfort for itself. Going against this basic instinct requires rigorous effort, and this is the effort that the system must support. The first and foremost requirement is to establish a society based on rule of law and equity, to create spirited people who possess the spirit to act honestly.

For those who only have their self-interest uppermost in their mind, and whose ambition is to die in the odour of sanctity, respected by bank managers, admired by friends and neighbours, and universally regarded as models of what a citizen should be, Bertrand Russell writes: 8216;8216;don8217;t express your own opinions but those of your boss; don8217;t endeavour to realise ends which you yourself think good, but pursue rather those aimed at by some organisation supported by millionaires; in your private friendships select influential men if you can, or, failing that, men whom you judge likely to become influential. Do this, and you will win the good opinion of all the best elements in the community. This is sound advice, but, for my part, I would sooner die than follow it.8217;8217;

The writer is a serving IAS officer