Can a leopard really change its spots in the political jungle?

The other day I attended a dinner party at the home of a leading lawyer who is known as a generous host. Those at the gathering were multinational and well-inclined to lots of good conversation. Soon, the talk drifted to the subject of the July 5th election of the president and vice president.

With freedom of speech also claimed as a right by foreigners living in this country, our host did not want to stop the discussion.

However, he made an appeal: "Dear guests, go ahead but no names, and keep it pleasant. The winning ticket will lead the reformasi (reform) movement, and more importantly, succeed in breaking the current cynicism and despair about politicians, especially about 'can a leopard change its spots?'"

There was silence. Perhaps he had inadvertently broached a heavy subject unsuited to the small and rambling chitchat of dinner parties.

However, the sole Indian guest broke the silence.

"Pak," he started, "I take it that spots stand for politicians' foibles, like corruption and dissemblance, among other things, and the leopard for voraciousness."

Without waiting for a response, he introduced himself. "I'm Krishnan from India, the largest democracy in the world. Our democracy is 24-carat because we feel free to lampoon politicians. Through dramatic means, they are linked to corruption. I'll tell you a story which speaks about the power of corruption and caricatures politicians."

"A government minister agreed to do a favor in exchange for a bribe. It turned out that he had to pass a series of orders, a challenge to his ingenuity, to pocket the bribe. The file, suitably doctored, was put before him. He wrote, "approved". The favor was done, and the payment was due. The other party, thinking that the amount agreed to was a bounty or booty to the minister, paid a little less than the agreed sum.

"The minister was not amused. In a rage, he called for the file, and wrote 'not' before 'approved'. The second party was alarmed that it would lose the deal and also the money already pocketed by the minister. It coughed up the unpaid balance.

"The minister called for the file again, and added the letter 'e' to his order. Now it read 'note approved'. All's well that ends well."

The gathering applauded and asked for similar stories.

Krishnan then explained that what he had related was not an idle anecdote, but carried a moral message.

"OK, say we remove the leopard's spots," Krishnan said. "Is it still a leopard? No, it will be a freak. Who can guarantee that this freak will not run amok? Its appetite may be more voracious and insatiable than the leopard with spots.

"So, conventional wisdom would advise to factor in corruption, instead of trying to eliminate the same and create ground zero, without a compass. After all, better the devil you know than an unknown 'angel'."

A British guest chimed in with words of support.

"Only in a democracy do you have the luxury of going hammer and tongs at politicians. In any other system, you have only task masters, colonels with a chest full of medals throwing their weight around, mafia dons and henchmen and, of course, a tape stuck to your mouth!

"So, full and unfettered freedom and politicians, a dime a dozen, and of various hues, would be a safe option. Get used to the leopard with its spots because the grass is never really greener on the other side."

Our host had been a bit confused about ending the discussion and getting his guests to dine, but now he knew the way.

"Dear guests, we must defer to what Mr. Smith said, because Great Britain is the mother of democracy and politicians. He has reminded us that politicians everywhere are human and will be a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly."

He seemed visibly relieved that we had not referred to the presidential candidates directly.

"Perhaps we thought Krishnan's story was only meant to amuse, but the leopard and its spots may be more welcome than we first thought," he said.

As we got up to eat, our conversation and Krishnan's tale had given us something else to chew on over dinner. -- G.S. Edwin