Just encountered what i’ve heard and read to be an everyday occurrence in India. A cop walked over to a hawker i frequent and casually popped out his pant pocket . I was the only guy at the stall and thought he’d come to eat, the hawker reached out into his storage area and quickly gave the cop something.

When i enquired to hawker about what just happened, he told he that he just bribed the cop; he said the cops usually take 20 or 30 rupees. Though the hawker is essentially supporting corruption, he has no other choice. Lodging a complaint means taking on a system where corruption and bribery are the norm, add to that the overburdened and slow judicial process . He has to choose between an endless struggle against a huge system opposed to a little monetary loss, the choice is but obvious.

I consider a blessing that i’ve never encountered a situation where i was forced to pay a bribe but you can be assured i am sadly just the exception that proves the rule