23 May 2015 - QA 6

Gurudev, in my business many times I have to take the help of bribe and corruption even thought I do not want to, because without this many times things do not move ahead. How can I overcome this?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

I believe that it is very difficult for one person alone to fight against corruption. That is why it is very important to do it in a group. Then things will happen. You must have noticed that there is a group or committee for businessmen in every town and city. Similarly there are labor unions also everywhere to protect the rights of the labor. When you come together as a committed group, then you can strongly fight against corruption. Gather a group of 60-100 individuals who are ready and committed to fighting against corruption. Once such a group is formed, they can create pressure to stop corrupt officials and practices in the administration. Suppose someone asks you for bribe for something, you can quietly go and tell these people. This group can then go and force that corrupt official to get your work done without bribe. They will simply walk up to that official and ask him to get the job done without any bribe. They will stage peaceful protests to bring an end to such things.

People in Maharashtra have actually implemented this. In the town of Ahmednagar, it so happened that a certain road had not been constructed. It was written off as completed only on paper. Some 50-100 youth from the Art of Living went together to the Mayor’s office and asked her, “Madam, please tell us when this road will get constructed. We will not leave until you give us a definite answer, and we will also not let you leave the office premises”.
These youth just sat there smiling in the office of the Mayor. The lady got scared seeing this. She had no choice but to get the road constructed immediately. In 24 hours the road was constructed! So in this way, you need to form active groups everywhere to create pressure on the local administration and government officials to refrain from corrupt practices. Only by creating such pressure groups can we all fight against corruption in the society.