Jai Hind: Proud to be an Indian

ALMOST A COUPLE of years ago, in this very month, India lost a great soul, who redefined the meaning of valour and honesty. S Manjunath, sales manager with Indian Oil Corporation, was killed after detecting the irregularities at petrol pump in Lakhimpur Kheri district of UP in November 2005. The district court has convicted all the eight accused in the case and a justice has been done.

This case was too going Priyadarshani Mattoo and Jessica Lall case way with witnesses turning hostile but the campaigning of IIML alumni, NGOs, S Manjunath trust, media and students made sure that the justice prevails.

Satyendra Dubey, Project Manager of the Golden Quadrilateral in Gaya like Manjunath was murdered after he raised the issue of corruption and reported the “great loot of public money” in road projects.

These two men represent Generation X —– a generation which is highly educated, talented, dedicated and committed for country’s future. A generation which is resilient and is voicing rebellion. The justice might have prevailed but has it really? What about the issues for which these two men died for? They are still unattended. The mafia still operates and is functional in Gaya and same is the case with petrol pump mafia who is still making profits out of petrol and diesel.

The conviction of guilty is just palliative and problem will be solved only when the actions are taken against the main culprits behind the scene.

As the author Shiv Khera in one of his book says “We cannot be a party to state, which expects a citizen to be martyr if he wishes to counter dishonesty. The best tribute can be a Whistle Blower’s Act. Most people are badly hurt by the corruption in our country. This is the time for them, along with various bodies and associations to get together and initiate a movement for a more honest society and good governance”.

We can’t do anything about the past, but we still can decide the future. The future of our country is in our hands. Satyendra Dubey and Manjunath has shown us the way. Their life, though a short one, was inspiring and their life will be etched in our memory forever.

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