The Meeting in Delhi — A Real-Life Encounter with Corruption
Introduction: The City of Contradictions
New Delhi — a city of ancient wisdom and modern ambition.
It is where spirituality meets politics, where saints once walked and where power now resides.
When Dr. Baba Steve Bedi landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in April 2011, he arrived not just in India’s capital, but at the heart of its greatest contradiction — a nation rising on one side, yet sinking under the weight of corruption on the other.
The journey that began as a business trip soon turned into a profound moral lesson — a real-life example of how easily human consciousness can be seduced, tested, and transformed.
The Arrival and the Encounter
After arriving at the airport, Dr. Bedi met a Member of Parliament named Rishi, introduced by a mutual friend.
At first glance, Rishi seemed like many influential politicians — friendly, charismatic, and full of promises. Over a few drinks at the airport bar, he appeared genuinely interested in business. When Dr. Bedi mentioned his profession — Venture Capital / Business Development — Rishi’s eyes lit up.
He immediately spoke of a friend, Raju, a businessman who was developing a government-backed project and was looking for capital investment. The plan sounded legitimate — a large infrastructure and hotel project that could bring jobs and money to the area. Rishi arranged for Raju’s driver to pick Dr. Bedi up the next morning.
Everything seemed smooth, elegant, and professional — the kind of polished atmosphere where corruption hides behind fine suits and formal smiles.
A Morning of Reflection
The next morning began with discipline — prayer, yoga, meditation, exercise, and a healthy breakfast.
While reading The Times of India in the hotel lobby, Dr. Bedi came across the headline about Anna Hazare’s fast against corruption.
That news struck him deeply.
He felt the same stirring he had felt as a young man reading Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography — the awakening of a moral conscience. India, he thought, was finally beginning to rise against the deep wounds of corruption that had crippled its soul.
Little did he know that within hours, he would face a personal test of the very values he admired.
The Meeting with Raju
Raju’s driver arrived in a luxury Mercedes, introducing himself respectfully and driving through the bustling streets of Delhi. Along the way, he shared that he had been working for Raju since the age of nine, describing his employer as a powerful businessman with deep political connections.
When they arrived at Raju’s office, the atmosphere was one of wealth and power — marble floors, granite counters, beautiful reception staff, and the fragrance of expensive air conditioning. Raju, warm and welcoming, offered tea and began explaining his vision: a luxury hotel to be built on a property near Rajasthan.
As they talked, Raju revealed that the land was not zoned for hotel construction — it was agricultural land. But with Rishi’s help, he said confidently, the necessary permits could be “arranged.”
The phrase was casual, but its meaning was clear — money and influence would be used to manipulate the system.
Dr. Bedi listened quietly, realizing how easily corruption disguised itself as “a business arrangement.”
Lunch with the Powerful
Raju invited Dr. Bedi to lunch, where Rishi joined them. The table was full of rich Indian food — tandoori chicken, naan, dal, raita, and spiced vegetables. Amid laughter and conversation, Raju began discussing his health — high blood pressure, a past heart attack, and a stent in his artery. Ironically, his doctor, he said, was even sicker — a reminder of how professionals often ignore their own advice.
Then the real conversation began.
Raju needed five crores (around $900,000) to start construction. His banker, he said, would finance the remaining cost once he secured the materials.
Dr. Bedi, cautious yet curious, requested to meet the architect, civil engineer, and banker before moving ahead. He wanted transparency — a rare demand in a world built on shortcuts.
The Hidden Mechanism of Corruption
Back at Raju’s office, introductions were made — to architect Samuel, engineer Sudarshan, and the ever-smiling receptionist Gita. They presented detailed plans and layouts, all impressive and convincing.
But when Dr. Bedi asked if the permit had been approved, the truth surfaced again — “Not yet, but Rishi is taking care of it.”
The euphemism “taking care” in Indian bureaucracy usually means bribing officials.
This was the moment of realization. The corruption wasn’t dramatic or criminal in appearance. It was quiet, polished, and systematic — flowing through normal conversations like background music in a luxury office.
It was the terrorism of conditioned unconsciousness in real life — an unspoken belief that everyone does it, so it’s fine.
A Glimpse of Anna Hazare’s India
That evening, as Dr. Bedi sat in his hotel lobby watching news coverage of Anna Hazare’s fast, he felt both admiration and sadness.
Admiration for the man who had resurrected Gandhi’s spirit.
Sadness for a system where corruption had become so normalized that even good people accepted it as survival.
A stranger asked him whether such corruption existed in America. Dr. Bedi replied honestly — “There is no perfect system in the world, but in the United States, law and accountability keep corruption under control. When politicians are caught, they go to jail.”
He spoke of the Watergate scandal and how even a president was not above the law.
In India, however, he lamented, corruption had become a part of culture — infecting politics, business, and even the judiciary.
The Final Test
That night, during dinner, Rishi assured Dr. Bedi once again — “Don’t worry, I know everyone in the building corporation. The permit will be ready next month.”
He spoke with the confidence of a man who believed he was untouchable.
Over the meal, Rishi revealed he was battling lung cancer and undergoing radiation therapy.
Here sat a man who had immense political influence, money, and power — yet was fighting for his life.
The irony was profound. The same body that carried corruption was now fighting disease.
For Dr. Bedi, the lesson was clear — no amount of power or wealth can protect us from the consequences of spiritual terrorism. The corruption that begins in the soul eventually manifests in the body.
Conclusion: The Choice
The next day brought shocking news — Raju had suffered a stroke. At the hospital, Dr. Bedi and Rishi sat together over tea. The conversation turned deep.
Dr. Bedi urged Rishi to see life as a divine gift, fleeting and precious. He told him to use whatever time he had left to educate the next generation about honesty and integrity.
Rishi, visibly moved, promised to change — to live the rest of his life clean and mindful.
It was a rare moment of awakening — proof that even within the machinery of corruption, a spark of consciousness can still survive.
Dr. Bedi walked away with renewed clarity: corruption may dominate systems, but it cannot dominate the human spirit — not as long as awareness remains alive.
