Plagiarism Peril Prevails

The peril of plagiarism prevails and the most shocking fact is that it is prevalent in the class considered to be 'intellectual' and 'knowledgeable' by the society. Plagiarism is the act of passing someone else's work (generally intellectual work like research material, data, lifting from book, work of art or music etc.) as one's own and original creation without acknowledging the original author or inventor. It is an intellectual theft having moral, social and financial implications. On a legal level it also a violation of intellectual property rights of the original inventor or author. Although cases of such copying and theft have been reported in industry (where such theft could have large financial implications), large part of this discreditable works are registered in the name of the academic and research fraternity. In these professions it is largely an issue involving moral turpitude committed for seeking recognition amongst fellow workers. Some are motivated to do it for capturing chances of upliftments in career. Various forms and facets of plagiarism are reported by people from the academic community spanning different parts of the world. From the developed world to the third world countries to the socialist China (the emerging superpower), all have witnessed there share of this evil. Reports of such acts have been repeatedly springing up in media and when such issues are made public there is a huge outcry against the persons named in it. But, the fact remains that there is a need for a strengthened mechanism to handle cases of plagiarism on permanent basis. While such systems and agencies exist in USA, in India, we are devoid of any such institutional mechanism. With all major international findings indicating a dominant position of our country in the new emerging world economic order such system is much needed to preserve the credit and integrity of our academic and research institutions. (Visuals courtesy www.chemistry.berea.edu and www.sociology.camden.rutgers.edu revealed through Google Image Search)