Is Indian Bureaucracy the Biggest Obstacle in National Self-Actualization ?

One of the most enduring legacies of colonialism, originally designed to support the British Raj, the bureaucracy of India, has devolved into a decaying iron framework from its once-robust steel structure. This rigid, rusted cage demands urgent dismantling and reform. A complete overhaul is necessary to introduce groundbreaking changes and hold the bureaucratic system accountable for its prevalent inefficiencies and ineffectiveness, which have, unfortunately, become its distinguishing characteristics in India.

This structure, initially built to sustain British imperialism, was cleverly adapted and manipulated after India gained independence to strengthen the authority of the ‘leftist’ state. It’s a reminder of a bygone era that must now adapt to fit the realities of a modern, independent India.
India’s bureaucracy has long been seen as the nation’s ‘bourgeoisie’, deeply influenced by socialism, harboring a belief that they bear the responsibility or the ‘burden’ of improving the lives of ordinary citizens through welfare measures. This mindset mirrors the concept of the ‘White Man’s Burden’, where the proclaimed aim was to uplift ‘Blacks, Asians, Africans’ but was, in reality, rhetoric used to impose racial supremacy.

The ‘mai-baap’ (parents) culture has led to an enormous accumulation of power in the hands of bureaucrats, ranging from the streets of Ramgarh to the corridors of Parliament.

Why would anyone willingly give up their privileges once acquired? In this instance, a group that has held sway over the administrative system since British rule would never willingly risk their status and benefits being challenged. The socialist-leftist policies of various governments inadvertently assisted them in consolidating their power and privileges under the guise of welfare. The bureaucracy didn’t aim to teach people how to fish, but rather preferred handing out fish to the public, of course, taking a share for themselves. Strategies such as the license permit system furthered their agenda. The procedures, rules, clearances, documentation, and approvals were purposefully complicated to ensure they held the final say.

Everyone remembers the attestation by a gazetted officer required for documents to be submitted, an unnecessary process which was done away with by the current government. An anonymous bureaucrat in the secretariat may have designed these rules to complicate the straightforward process of document submission. It ensured an indelible imprint of the bureaucrat’s power in the citizen’s mind, even in mundane tasks like submitting forms to schools or colleges.

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi famously commented that for every 100 paisa sent by the central government, only 15 paisa reached the ground for actual work. One can only wonder where the remaining 85 paisa vanished to if not lining the pockets of bureaucrats and politicians. How else could they afford to send their children to top-notch American and European universities while government schools in India grapple with basic facilities like toilets? The sheer volume of bureaucrats, ranging from lower to upper ranks, who can potentially engage in corruption is staggering. The drain on our taxes is considerable if even a small percentage of these officials succumb to corrupt practices.

Gradual Shift of Power

A significant shift began in the post-1990s era, with the liberalization, privatization, and globalization (LPG) reforms, as imposed on India by the IMF. More job opportunities were created in the private sector, start-ups began to appear, and the IT sector experienced a boom.

The digital revolution of the 2000s brought forth a flurry of Unicorns (startups valued at over $1 billion), the new stars of India. These companies, social media moguls, new business world leaders, authors, and entrepreneurs began to gain attention. Power began to gradually shift from the bureaucrats to wealth creators in the private sector, but the bureaucracy is resistant to relinquishing its grasp, habituated as they are to the ‘mai-baap’ culture.

They thrive in chaos, which offers them greater power and authority, as seen during the recent Corona lockdown phase. An orderly and peaceful state risks giving rise to competition from the private sector, where new public figures can emerge. Even an anonymous internet personality challenging their authority can provoke their ire, indicative of their psychological reluctance to be questioned. This sense of unassailable authority is reminiscent of medieval Indian rulers who despised dissent.

The level of arrogance displayed by some of these bureaucrats can sometimes be startlingly blatant, as seen on platforms like YouTube where their acts of disrespect to common citizens are visible to millions yet are seldom effectively challenged. This causes one to wonder about the plight of common citizens in areas without media scrutiny or social media access. Despite citizens funding their salaries through taxes, these bureaucrats often remain unanswerable and unaccountable, even in cases of gross violations. The systemic resistance to holding their own accountable is a stark reminder of the existing flaws in the system that has been designed more to protect them than ensure accountability. Despite the payment for law and order machinery to ensure public safety, the reality can be a stark contrast, revealing a long history of neglected duties even while enjoying perks and benefits funded by the public.

Citizens themselves bear a measure of responsibility here. The police, often unaccountable for their duty to protect citizens from crimes, to shield women from assault, and children from kidnapping, can easily morph into heroes by merely executing criminals who’ve been apprehended. Consider the tragic case of Dr. Priyanka Reddy in Hyderabad, where despite receiving pleas for help, the police failed to act promptly, which could potentially have saved a life. Yet, days later, they were lauded as heroes following the encounter killing of the perpetrators.

Such encounters have become both a pathway to popularity and a means to dodge accountability inherent in their positions. Until the root causes are addressed and people educate themselves about their rights, police inaction will continue to allow blatant crimes. This will perpetuate a cycle where citizens alternately criticize the police for their inaction and then heap praise on them following encounters. This situation solidifies the position and power of bureaucrats, preserving the status quo without accountability, while achieving no tangible improvement in law and order. All of this serves their agenda, rather than the welfare of society.

While the District Magistrate retreats to his official residence for lunch, escorted by a phalanx of guards – a legacy of colonial grandeur – the daughters of ordinary families continue to seek basic protection from harassers loitering outside their schools and colleges. To some, the flaunting of prestige takes precedence over the safety of our children. Why can’t the security detail that guards a District Magistrate be redeployed to safeguard ten girls’ schools and colleges? What sort of threats do these Magistrates or their children face during a lunch outing or while attending tuition, that require a cadre of policemen waiting outside?

The truth is that most face no real threats; it is merely a system designed to reinforce the status hierarchy among citizens, to instill a sense of inequality, and to impress upon the common citizens the privileged status of bureaucrats. It’s a stark abuse of taxpayer money and a blatant display of authority that the common citizen has no right to question or hold accountable, even though their tax money funds these privileges.
During his initial term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed bureaucrats to leverage social media for the dissemination and promotion of government policies and schemes, not for self-aggrandizement. Yet, how often do we see these officials indulging in self-promotion, sharing jokes and memes to increase their follower count? The numbers are staggering.

This brings us to the question of the bureaucrats’ productivity compared to professionals in other government sectors and the private sector who genuinely contribute to the nation’s growth.

The sectors contributing the most to a nation’s growth and productivity should, in an ideal society, command a higher level of respect. In the United States, academicians, professors, and researchers are among the most esteemed professionals. They are valued because their continual innovations and theories contribute to the nation’s advancement.

An American professor, for instance, is expected to produce research papers regularly to maintain their position, dedicating their entire career to this endeavor. In contrast, in India, the most respected individuals are bureaucrats who simply need to pass an exam early in their career, and then they can luxuriate in a life filled with unimaginable perks. This epitomizes the ‘mai-baap’ culture prevalent in the country. There’s a lack of accountability and responsibility, and no impetus to continually improve oneself, as is expected in fields like education, IT, biotech, and medicine. There’s guaranteed promotion after a certain period, regardless of performance, along with steadily increasing perks and privileges. It appears irrelevant whether an individual was able to efficiently administer a district, control crime, or whether they engaged in corrupt practices. None of this seems to matter.

Until comprehensive reforms are implemented, ambitious projects like the Smart City mission will continue to flounder, money will be misused, and the pockets of corrupt bureaucrats, often in collusion with local politicians, will keep filling. Their offspring will be receiving education from the world’s premier institutions while you struggle, run ragged, to secure a decent education and a sustainable livelihood for your children.
While some officials might be investing in digital marketing agencies to enhance their social media image and follower count, the city under their jurisdiction might be languishing, plagued by traffic congestion, unregulated encroachments, and neglected government schools. They only take action to clear the traffic when they are on the move, using traffic police who dash ahead of their vehicles like servants in a bygone feudal state, their khaki uniforms the modern equivalent of yesteryear’s red turbans. You, on the other hand, endure the honking, irritation, and disarray of your town, then return home to engage with these very bureaucrats on social media, your actions dictated by a colonial mindset that the system has embedded in you since childhood.

What you need to do is demand reforms and accountability.

Narendra Modi is a leader with enough popularity and courage to confront these pressing issues head-on. If we miss this opportunity, we risk remaining stuck in the same state of perpetual inefficiency and bureaucratic control.

Max Weber, in his analysis of modern bureaucracies, presents the concept of the Charismatic Leader as the sole solution to combat this metaphorical iron cage or, as we often refer to it, India’s rusted steel structure.

An overhaul is required. New India necessitates a modern administrative setup, as one cannot expect to operate a Mercedes SUV with the same controls used in a tractor. The current bureaucratic structure needs to be replaced with a system that prioritizes performance and productivity.

In essence, accountability is the keyword.