Scandals-whether in politics, academia, or other areas-can be useful. They focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could.
Recently, a judge of the local anti-corruption court in the state of Karnataka in India resigned, stating lack of cooperation from the government in punishing the wrongdoers within the administration. Surprisingly, this act on part of the judge managed to garner immense support form all corners of the region in pressurizing the government to act against its own officials. This scandal, to a certain extent, was able achieve what years of emphatic speeches from eminent reformers could not - punish the corrupt. Scandals, in certain ways can definitely be useful.
Not many would want to be caught in a society with scandals endemic to it. But sometimes, these turn out to be the only means to achieve what we actually strive for - a just and a corrupt-free society. Be it the sex scandal involving a well-known spiritual guru, human trafficking being carried out on the pretext of charity or the illegal mining activities in the remote parts of the country, these scandals have turned out to be the sole forms of attention seekers to a particular cause.
Scandals need not always involve corruption or violation of some law. These also include negligence, ineffectiveness in the enforcement of the guidelines and anything which is creating a rift in the society. In my institute, there was always a dearth of infrastructure and quality when it came to health-care. Years of efforts to bring it to the notice of the administration did not reap any benefits. The death of a student because of negligence of the hospital staff was an apt wake up call. It shook the entire institute, but this event also forced the think-thank of the administration to take the required steps so that such a thing wouldn't happen in the future.
On the other hand, scandals do come with its obvious share of terrifying consequences. The very belief of the people on the entire system will be shaken even if one questionable link is exposed. The match-fixing gate in cricket shook the entire world and the gentleman's game has never been seen again with the same awe and respect as before. One more instance being, the lack of proper protective equipment for the commandos in the recent 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It did a great damage to the belief of the common man in the government and the police.
Though scandals are something people would generally not want to be associated with, let alone being part of it, it has its own share of usefulness as well as the undeniable consequences. It should be the ultimate aim of the society to strive so that one doesn't have to be dependent on these scandals to heed to a certain cause.
Recently, a judge of the local anti-corruption court in the state of Karnataka in India resigned, stating lack of cooperation from the government in punishing the wrongdoers within the administration. Surprisingly, this act on part of the judge managed to garner immense support form all corners of the region in pressurizing the government to act against its own officials. This scandal, to a certain extent, was able achieve what years of emphatic speeches from eminent reformers could not - punish the corrupt. Scandals, in certain ways can definitely be useful.
Not many would want to be caught in a society with scandals endemic to it. But sometimes, these turn out to be the only means to achieve what we actually strive for - a just and a corrupt-free society. Be it the sex scandal involving a well-known spiritual guru, human trafficking being carried out on the pretext of charity or the illegal mining activities in the remote parts of the country, these scandals have turned out to be the sole forms of attention seekers to a particular cause.
Scandals need not always involve corruption or violation of some law. These also include negligence, ineffectiveness in the enforcement of the guidelines and anything which is creating a rift in the society. In my institute, there was always a dearth of infrastructure and quality when it came to health-care. Years of efforts to bring it to the notice of the administration did not reap any benefits. The death of a student because of negligence of the hospital staff was an apt wake up call. It shook the entire institute, but this event also forced the think-thank of the administration to take the required steps so that such a thing wouldn't happen in the future.
On the other hand, scandals do come with its obvious share of terrifying consequences. The very belief of the people on the entire system will be shaken even if one questionable link is exposed. The match-fixing gate in cricket shook the entire world and the gentleman's game has never been seen again with the same awe and respect as before. One more instance being, the lack of proper protective equipment for the commandos in the recent 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It did a great damage to the belief of the common man in the government and the police.
Though scandals are something people would generally not want to be associated with, let alone being part of it, it has its own share of usefulness as well as the undeniable consequences. It should be the ultimate aim of the society to strive so that one doesn't have to be dependent on these scandals to heed to a certain cause.