A small drop in an ocean

You know I don’t just complain when I see something wrong with the world. I also point out when I see something good. I had one such experience this week, and it was with the Mumbai Traffic Police.

I got caught by a cop for running a red light at the Churchgate stoplight, where I thought the left turn was free. I was stopped, asked for my driving license and told that there would be a 200 rupee fine. I don’t think it is right for us to bribe, given that we complain about cops asking for bribes all the time. So I told him that I would pay the fine as long as he gives me a receipt. He said with a glint in his eye, that the fine couldn’t be paid there, and that I would have to turn in my license, collect it the next day from the central police station and pay the fine at that time. I said that was fine. His facial expression suggested displeasure at having lost a potential bribe. He said, “Okay, you look like a decent guy. How about you give me a hundred bucks and I let you go with your license?” I replied, “As long as you give me a receipt for the bribe, I am up for it.” With embarrassment etched all over his face, he said, “Fine then, collect your license from the police station tomorrow.”

The next day, I went to the police station. That’s when the party started. I was squinting in the afternoon sun trying to figure out which counter to stand in line at, when I heard the cop at the nearest counter say, in English, “May I help you, Sir?” I fought a nagging desire to pinch myself as I walked up to him. I gave him my fine receipt and paid the fine. While giving me back my license, he gave me a feedback form. He said, “I would greatly appreciate if you could fill this form, sir.” I filled it up, and as I handed it back to him, he asked me if the cop at the intersection had asked for a bribe. I told him that he had. He said, “Please give me his name, so I can file a complaint with the anti-corruption bureau.” I said that I didn’t know his name. He gave me a card with a telephone number on it, and said, “If you ever have trouble with a cop, especially as far as bribes are concerned, just call this number. We have roaming squads of anti-corruption bureau officers who will come and take care of it within 15 minutes.” I didn’t know what to say. I thanked him, to which he grinned broadly and replied, “Mention not!” As I walked back to my car, I could not help but think that the fine had been worth it.

This may seem like a small isolated instance of professionalism and honesty in an ocean of corruption, but it is a turning point. I said just a few days ago that the scary thing about our national attitude is that it isn’t going change anytime soon. Could I be proven wrong? I certainly hope so! I sincerely hope that one by one, these little nuggets of wonder called ‘pleasant experiences with the government’ add up until a day comes when they are the rule rather than the exception. After all, little drops fill up an ocean.