The Power Of One -Vinod Rai

In the dismal political scenario that I  grew up  and lived in  ,I  have  often found myself  asking the question –is there nothing good about Indian political institutions ? How is it that politicians ,bureaucrats ,teachers and even Generals get away with everything  without punishment?

To be honest ,I did get a answer “yes”  to the question .Yes, there are some pillars that have stood up and got themselves counted .One is the Indian Judiciary at the highest level –Supreme  Court .The Indian judiciary has been guided by some brilliant men especially Justice HR Khanna  in the crucial years of our democracy .Later , Justice Verma ,Bhagwati ,and many more were some of the most honest men one could find anywhere in this planet .The second institution that one can be proud of is the Election Commission .Nobody ever thought how powerful it could be till TN Seshan a rather bull dog looking Brahmin from South India took over .We were lucky that he  had successors like Mr Lyndoh (whom Mr Modi very immaturely called “James Michael Lyndoh” in a very taunting way in a election  rally ) and Mr Rao (who took on the might of Lalu Yadav).Without their  intelligence ,the courage and the determination to bring about a change ,India would have been a failed state .

Another individual has now made a mark .And he is  Vinod Rai .The CAG Office  is the watchdog of the nation .It sees whether the money you and me pay as a tax to the government is being well spent or not .For years the office  was lying in limbo .It required the “power of one” to energize it and bring to the forefront the powers that the constitution bestows on it .Vinod Rai  has done a wonderful job .And it makes me feel doubly proud because he  is a very good friend of the family and the friendship goes back to the seventies .He and my brother are both from the same college (Hindu) and from the same batch of the IAS .We always knew about his honesty . I think he has given the CAG office enough courage to stand up and be counted .Notwithstanding the fact that people like Praful Patel or Sanjay Nirupam drag him to court .You cant beat a honest man .And you cant beat him in a system that has a Judiciary like we have in India .

I am hoping for the CBI to turn the bend .One Vinod Rai ,Seshan ,or a Justice Verma is needed .It all boils down to the “power of one” !!Yes in this case -one swallow does a summer make .!!

Kulbhushan Kain