The Home of SIV-G

When the invitation first came to me in 2005 from the University of Passau, Germany, to attend the Lecture on Economics of Corruption, it was a pleasant surprise to me.   Then, I had no slightest idea that I would visit not only Germany but also Austria and present the thoughts gathered in my mind over these 19 years of exposure and experience in the arena of Vigilance.  It is this 'vigilance' that paved me a way to visit Passau, where I stayed between 7-14 October 2006 to attend this program.  This was represented by around 40 countries where I presented my paper on Vigilance.   I was indeed thrilled to introduce my concept which I call SIV – G (to pronounce like Shivji minus 'sh' sound) about which I will discuss little later. 

The University of Passau is an important place in Passau.   Students from all over the world study in this University which has its main focus on Economics. Those who know the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which rank countries as per their level of corruption must be familiar with the Transparency International (TI), a Berlin based non governmental organization.  The TI brings out the annual Corruption Perception Index in association with the University of Passau.  Therefore, an invitation from such a University and for an event relating to anti-corruption assumes significant importance.  Particularly for me, being a vigilance officer, such an invitation is very encouraging and motivating.   This is the university where I presented my ideas on Vigilance in two installments, the first one in 2005 and the second one this year.  The participants to this program were anti-corruption practitioners, researchers and some are professors from different universities all over the world.  

 

While preparing my presentation I was conscious of the fact that I am going to represent India and there existed a global platform where I could put forth my thoughts gathered in my mind all these years.  The net result is that I could come out with the "Suresh's Law of Corruption Dynamics" and presented in absentia in 2005 in the University of Passau, thanks to the influence of my intellectual guru.   This law tries to prove scientifically how the dynamics of corruption works.  This law has four elements in it namely, Corruption, Governance, Values and Systems.   Interestingly, there were positive reactions from at least half a dozen countries, which included Nepal , Bangladesh, Chez Republic, Cambodia, USA and Germany.  In fact, the participant from Nepal had sought my permission to copyright my ideas and also invited me to Nepal for a lecture.   More interestingly, one of the Universities in USA has shown interest on this Law and invited me to do PhD and all probability I would be able prove this law in the years to come.

 

In 2006, I received the invitation again from the University of Passau, Germany to attend the Lecture on Economics of Corruption.   This time, I preferred to present a paper on the unknown aspect of Vigilance titled "Vigilance – the right operating system for good corporate governance".   I sent my paper to the University who not only accepted my paper but found some interesting elements in it.  They suggested that I should touch upon the impact of corruption in the globalized world which is witnessing liberalization and reforms.   This gave me an excellent opportunity to strengthen my Law published last year.  And that paved way to my reinvented concept of "SIV-G".   As mentioned in the beginning, SIV-G has to be pronounced like Shivji without 'sh' sound. This concept SIV-G stands for Self Imposed Vigilance for Good Governance.  There is a similarity between the role played by Lord Shiva (Shivji) and SIV-G, both for destruction of evils.   In the case of SIV-G, it is destruction of the evil of corruption. SIV-G, in fact, has turned out to be an axiom to the Suresh's Law of Corruption Dynamics.  

 

This concept of SIV-G is based on the sound premise that if there is darkness, there is no point in cursing it.   Bring light, darkness vanishes.  In the same way, SIV-G is an attempt to bring the light of good governance using self imposed vigilance so that the darkness of corruption vanishes.  

 

What comes first to your mind, when you hear the word 'vigilance', is the most favourite question which I would like to ask anyone with whom I interact?   Vigilance is a unique concept which does not exist in other countries in letter.  This concept is unique to India.  There are anti-corruption bureau, anti-fraud and anti-crime agencies and so on.  There are no vigilance officers and vigilance departments and vigilance commissions etc. exist in other countries, the way it is known and termed in India.  A simple exercise using a search engine in internet by searching for the word 'vigilance' would confirm that it is related by and large to preventive medical care and related issues.   However, there is a very strong purpose behind this concept of vigilance in India.  

 

Eternal vigilance is the price for liberty, it is said.   Shakespeare in Tempest uses the word 'vigilance', which conveys the meaning of alertness.  Some more traces of vigilance were found during the American Revolution in which some self appointed vigilance committees existed.   These committees were subsequently dismantled after formal governments and administrative mechanisms were established.

 

During the colonial times, the presence of 'vigilance' as a function existed in the form of instructions and guidelines issued by the higher authorities to their subordinates to ensure proper administration and prevent misuse of authority.   However, due to the expansion of activity of government huge public funds were handled by government servants and thus were vested with vast powers.   This has led to mounting aspirations and provided ample scope for misuse of authority and breeding of corruption.  Complaints against administration started pouring in.   The vigilance mechanism, which was basically meant to check the misuse of authority, which by all means intended to prevent corruption, has shifted its direction towards fighting corruption.   And today we see our approach is totally towards fighting corruption and not preventing corruption.  Why not we shift our approach to prevention.   So eternal vigilance applied for good causes produce the desired result.

 

"The thief is an artist and the policeman is only a critic", said Oscar Wilde.   The real glory will come only when the thief takes over the role of the policeman to criticize his own art and reform himself.  This would be the greatest reform that can even happen to mankind.   It is possible only with the SIV-G.  When we apply the self imposed vigilance to the factors determining governance, it leads to good governance.   This is what SIV-G is all about.

 

In fact, in crisply described words, the concept of Self Imposed Vigilance (SIV) can be best understood from the couplets of Thiruvalluvar, when he observed:

Every act is to be performed after considering the exertion required, the obstacles to be encountered and the purpose to be achieved on its completion.

 

In the ultimate analysis, I am very optimistic of the fact that corruption will vanish from the earth sooner or later.   I have a very strong reason to believe so.  The way slavery existed during 1850s no longer exists now.  It has vanished. Surely corruption will also vanish from the scene like slavery.  How fast we make it happen depends on how effectively we use this SIV-G.   I am hoping to see it in my life time.

 

This is how the journey of Vigilance to Germany was accomplished and in a way, the first ever attempt to globalize the concept of Vigilance through the unique concept of SIV-G.

Follow the link to see the Photos of Passau, Germany

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/govindsuresh/PassauPhotos