The real heat of the forge is needed to melt the iron but the metal assumes a new shape and gains in utility when it cools down, when it feels the touch of cold water and bracing air. YES!! Aptly called as “The Iron Man Of India”, Sardar Vallabhai Patel sets us an example to live our life upholding integrity throughout.
Integrity is a firm adherence to a code of moral as artistic values which goes hand-in-hand with character and honesty When we get deeper into the meaning, we may find many other hidden connotation such as those including uprightness, purity, probity, sincerity, decency, fidelity, trustworthiness, etc..
The observance of integrity is not a simple thing, if it is practiced properly and conscientiously, it will deliver the society from many of its venomous ills. As Sardar Patel said – and I quote:
“you will not have a united India if you do not have a good
all – India service which has the independence to speak out its mind and which has a sense of security. I need hardly emphasize that an efficient, disciplined and contented service assured of its prospects as a result of diligent and honest work is the sine qua non of sound administration under a democratic regime, even more than under authoritarian rule”. Thus integrity needs to be given much importance especially in the public life so as to have a harmony in the society.
The memorable lines of H.W. Longfellow like this:
“Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints in the sands of time”.
YES!! Sardar Vallabhai Patel has left behind us his footprint on the sands of time. As we turn back the leaves of his life book, we can find the ways of inculcating integrity in public life – Sardar Patel’s way. Coming to the point, what makes the public? It’s we the people who make up the public and there by developing self – integrity can make way for inculcating integrity in public life.
“ Introspection is a good virtue”. So let us take a trip into knowing ourselves so as to inculcate integrity in a better way. No
Doubt, it would be a cliché to quote – “Honesty is the best policy”. But then in no way can it be neglected. In this globalized world, where new markets are sprouting out each day the competition is getting tougher. People fail to understand that the tough can get going and rather they seek short –cuts to fortune which ends up in corruption. At that point honesty is ignored. The moral values have started vanishing the young minds. Moral ethics has taken a backseat . The moral strength comes up with the realization of the supreme power, understanding our religion in a right way and of course knowing the purpose of our birth. When we talk about religion, what strikes our mind at once will be the differences in each religion and the rituals. But that was not the case with Sardar Patel. He was religious without observing any of the rituals and practices which are usually associated with religion. Thus he had complete control over his body and mind. It is only if one has deep faith in an invisible power, and has an underlying current of religion, that one is inspired to render selfless service and to work unceasingly in public interest, regardless of cost to oneself. Thus moral strength is a vital factor for public integrity. So how can we go about strengthening the normal values? Very simple!! The education system must be revised a little. Moral science must be made mandatory in the syllabus and also any spiritual course. Moreover, we must be religious, as it can add up to our moral strength. But be sure that our religion must be as quoted by Abraham Lincoln – “ When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion”.
Next I would like to emphasis on tolerance the ability to bear the pain. Patel had a natural ability to bear great physical pain. To quote an instance, once he had a boil. The only remedy known to the villagers was to have the boil punctured by the local barber. The barber was accordingly called, and when he hesitated to carry out the operation with the help of a red – hot iron rod, the Sardar reproached him and taking the rod from his hand, put it on the boil quickly. Thus was his tolerance. Life is not a bed of roses. We have got to be more tolerant towards the challenges we face. These days we don’t even have the patience to set and watch a test match. Rather, we prefer a 20 – 20 match. We have to develop tolerance and it could be got from regular meditation and yoga.
Does that mean we need to tolerate the injustice against us? No!! It doesn’t mean that way. Tolerance must be in the hardships we face but not for the injustice done onto us our country is a democratic country and here people have every right to know the functioning of the government and question it too. There must be a transparency in the government’s functioning. People must not be made fool as it is happening now. We find some political leaders running their television channels where they utilize it as an arena to play the blame game against the opposite parties. This is a bitter truth. Is this the purpose of it? I don’t think so!! . Good governance is in short, anticorruption where as authority and its institution is accountable, effective, transparent and efficient. But we don’t find good governance now. What are we to do at this point? To reply this question, I think it would be better to quote what Dadasaheb Mavlankar has said about Patel. The following word by Mavlankar was written in an article on Patel’s 70th birthday:
“As a lawyer Patel has mostly criminal practice. But the one great quality which struck everyday and win for him the admiration of all was the ‘ fearlessness’ with which he dealt with the court in which he was appearing. He would never allow a judge to overstep in the least the limits of courtesy, nor would he allow or tolerate any unfairness, injustice or improper leaning on the part of the court in favor of the police or the prosecution. He thus safeguarded the self – respect of the bar and the public”. YES!! When we find any case of injustice, we must raise question and for that we have to realize that we have got every right to question against any malfunctioning in the government. Fearlessness is a part of integrity which helps in a good governance too. Thus exercising our fundamental rights and duties is a must for inculcating integrity in public life.
To inculcate public integrity it’s not just enough to have all the above mentioned characteristics. A robust awareness is again a foundational element of the society: it is incomplete and unbalanced without a common and living awareness. Here comes the role of education in bringing about awareness. If we need good governance, we must first be very much aware of our fundamental rights, duties and the functioning of the government. We must have a sound knowledge on politics combined with an ethical vision. This could be achieved if we have politics also as a part of our studies. The domestic laws, rights and duties must be taught in the high school and college levels. To understand the government’s functioning, we can have students’ council in colleges, having voting systems and thereby familiarize and emphasis students on the importance of voting. Moreover,
“Self help is the best help”. That is actually the Patel’s way of learning. In a speech in 1921, during the non – co-operation days, he gave an account of how his mind then worked. As a part of the speech he says:
“……. I was told that only if I could get 7 to 10 thousand rupees, I would be able to proceed to England (to fulfill his ambition of becoming a barrister). No one was likely to give me so much money. I realized finally that if I wanted to go to England, I had to earn the money myself. I therefore studied very earnestly for my law examination and resolved firmly to save sufficient money for a visit to England”.
To conclude, when everyone takes care of himself, care is taken of all. So, let us follow the footsteps of Sardar Vallabhai Patel to inculcate integrity in Public life. Going by the quote of Mahatma Gandhi;
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”, I have inculcated integrity in me. Have you??
- JAI HIND!!
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