Why is everyone so shocked about the match fixing scandal involving Pakistani cricketers? How often in the recent past have we all wondered whether cricket is being played genuinely? Many of the losses are dubious. No evidence, so we let it pass.
Sadly scams and frauds have become a part of everyday life. There’s the Common Wealth Games mess, judges in Andhra Pradesh were recently caught cheating during an exam, doctors are being accused of conducting unnecessary surgeries to earn some extra moolah, seven out of 10 businessmen in general are alleged to be involved in some fraud, there are scams in the abode of Lord Venkateshwara in Tirupati and let’s not even go into the political scams. From Madhu Koda to Telecom Minister A Raja, the Galli brothers in Karnataka and many more political biggies, nobody seems to be aboveboard or on the right side of the law.
Even Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, who is appalled at his players’ behaviour, is no saint. Jemima Khan aptly tweeted “Pakistan’s President (formerly Mr 10%, now Mr 110%) is hardly the role model the country needs. Life ban for him too would help.”
While everyone is after the three tainted Pakistan cricketers, who are very small fries when compared to the bigger scamsters, what action is being taken against those involved in the CWG mess (said to be around Rs 3,500 crores) and other frauds?
Even at a social level, earlier, nobody knew anyone who went to jail and people kept away from dodgy men and women. Today, the social scene is full of shady characters. Nobody knows what their business is, source of income is and yet, if they are cool, we all love hanging out with them.
Sarah, Duchess of York lives well because her daughters support her from their trust funds and ex-husband Prince Andrew continues to let her live at his home. Yet, she didn’t blink before agreeing to introduce him to any shady individual as long as she was paid a hefty price. Luckily for her, even after being exposed in a sting operation, she is not considered a social pariah.
Ditto drugs. They are no longer the vices of a troubled soul. Paris Hilton was caught with cocaine, and this is not the first time she’s had a brush with the law, yet she innocently says “she thought it was gum.”
Society has become rather accepting of wrongdoers. As long as the means justify the ends, nobody is bothered about bending, twisting or even breaking the rules.
Mohammad Azharudin was punished with a life ban in cricket for his involvement in match fixing, but now is a MP. Bill Clinton was forgiven for the Monica Lewinsky scandal and he didn’t want to sit on judgement either about his son-in-law’s father being a convicted fraudster with 33 counts of fraud to his name.
And Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi continues to be in power though he has been involved in various sex scandals.
If you are wondering how society has become so forgiving, social scientist Beena Thomas explains, “Society has always been like this. Earlier there were no sting operations, technology or extensive media coverage, so people got away. Today we live in an exposed society where indiscretions come to light more frequently.”
Even when crimes come to light, the real culprits aren’t always taken to task. In Pakistan, instead of the accused players, poor donkeys were being pelted with shoes and rotten tomatoes. Ok, the players haven’t been forgiven, but it looks like they are just being made the scapegoats. Nobody is interested in dwelling deeper into the issue and busting the bookie nexus.
Does this mean it’s okay to live on the wrong side of the law? No, says Prof Daniel, “You are king till you get caught.” After that nobody wants to know you.
For a few tainted politicians who get away, there are people like Satyam Computer’s former Chairman B. Ramalinga Raju who end up losing everything. Pakistani fast bowler Moha-mmad Amir, at 18, faces having to see his promising career end in disgrace. Madhu Koda is rotting in jail. And for every Azhar who has rebuilt his life is a Hansie Cronje, who became a social outcast in South Africa.
Once everything is taken away from you, don’t expect people to be nice as author Wilbur Smith famously warned his readers against associating with losers as losing is contagious.
Latest Comments
Submitted by malcolm wolfe on Sat, 11/09/2010 - 5:03pm.
Talk about corruption in Indian politics and administration too. Today if you have gone to prison because of corruption it is a qualification to be in politics and not a bar. During the independence struggle, people went to prison fighting for freedom and they became great politicians. Today most of the ignorant still think that going to prison is needed to compete for politics. Anyway, it is time for people in office to turn from their selfish needs and work for the benefit of others. Don't offer bribes, don't pay bribes and don't accept bribes. That should be the message for all Indians if you want to uplift the country.
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