Are Indians genetically dishonest?

By
Justice Markandey Katju
-
11
214

I regret to say this, but the story in the link below is an exception, not the rule, in India today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP01pFw4pNQ

But there was a time when it was the rule, as mentioned by Megasthenes, the Greek Ambassador to the Court of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, who studied the conditions in the Mauryan Empire, around 300 B.C. then went back to Greece and wrote a book called ‘Indica’

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megasthenes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indica_(Megasthenes)

In this book he writes :

” Honesty is the supreme virtue of the Indian people. Mutual trust which we need so badly, is the rule rather than the exception. They leave their houses and property unguarded. Loans are given for which no pledge or witness was required. Monetary transactions are made in perfect good faith. Suits for recovery of loans are unheard of, as a law is unnecessary to help the creditor in the recovery of his loan. The debtor would rather die of shame than not repay, though he may ask for payment in instalments. There is hardly any case of theft ”.

Similar accounts have been given by Chinese Buddhist travellers Fa-Hien, Hiuen Tsang, I Tsing, and others.

Recently a retired Indian civil servant wrote in a book : “If you analyse the DNA of a child born here you will find the bribe gene. This genetic disposition presumably explains India’s chronic corruption ”.

 

But if this were true then how were Indians honest in the past ? And are we not all part of the same human species – same as the people in honest societies of the West?

 

History tells us that in Emperor Chandragupta Maurya’s reign people were honest and truthful. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to India in c.300 BC, reported in his book ‘Indica’ that the people of India had high regard for truth and virtue ( I have quoted him above ).

 

Fa Hien from China reported in c.410 AD that there were few quarrels or disputes in India. The people rarely felt the need to approach the judiciary. Public highways were secure and free from the menace of thieves and dacoits. In c.630 AD, Hueng Tsang reported that the people of India are faithful to their oaths and promises, with very few cases of law-breaking. In c.1536, Fernao Nunes of Portugal likewise reported that the people of the Vijayanagara empire were very honest.

 

Today, most government ministers in India are corrupt, and when the leaders are crooked, this quality will trickle down to all sections of society.

 

However, I am confident that things will change. Indians are not genetically dishonest, and a time will come when we will have honest, patriotic modern minded leaders who will set an example for the people to follow

11 COMMENTS

  2. Simply want to say your article is as surprising. The clearness to your
    post is simply cool and i can suppose you’re knowledgeable in this subject.
    Well together with your permission let me to grasp your RSS feed to stay up to date with coming near near post.
    Thank you one million and please continue the rewarding work.

    Feel free to visit my web page – vpn special coupon

  7. I was curious if you ever considered changing the structure of your blog?
    Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
    But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with
    it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for
    only having 1 or two pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here