Some time back I was listening to C K Prahalad on his vision for India. And among the points that he made on that day, there is one that has stuck in my mind. I am not able to dislodge it. Haven’t found the answer yet.
He had stressed the need for Moral Leadership. Now where do we get that? I looked around. I looked high up. Looked everywhere. Nope. Zilch. None.
Do you know any clean Politician?
An Upright Police Officer?
An Incorruptible Judge?
An Honest Citizen?
A Role Model?
An Icon?
It’s ok if you don’t have the answers. Most of us are still searching.
Ok, let’s forget the public domain.
Do you know a parent who is a role model for his/her child?
Just think about it. What I feel is that our value systems have changed. We always look for the lesser evil.
Let’s look at religion.
The leaders are right up there, maybe even one notch up beyond even the politicians. Just look at their lifestyle. And wealth. It’s hard earned, alright.
One God-man procures his “props” from the same vendor in Gujarat as India’s leading magician.
Another one I saw, alighting from an aircraft and being whisked away immediately in a drool worthy Mercedes, not the ones they make here in India. Pure German.
While I watched their tales unfold on TV, I felt a strange glee.
I am sure, God would approve.
Where are the youngsters? Where are the idealists?
Everyone loves playing the “Seniority” card. Our culture is conducive for that. But the downside of it is that seniors try to cling on to what they have, somehow, for as long as they can.
In the process, there is no second line of leadership, be it in politics or religion. Just look at the number of people over 80. Running the country.
Maybe that is the primary cause of moral decline in society.
P.S
I may be wrong. In fact I do wish I am wrong.
(The ones whom I know and respect, some Super, Super – seniors are busy blogging)
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A lie is still a lie, isn't it? A bribe remains a bribe. Corruption remains. Our approach has become complacent. Everybody's doing it, so shall I.
In the earlier days, there with people with strong principles. Their words and actions matched. I do happen to know some people like that.
Morality hasn't changed. Our approaches have.
There are quite a few young people too who have very standards. Thank goodness for small graces.
Thanks for the nice comment, Rajee
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Poet,
Good one...where are the role models??
There is no retirement age for bloggers....that's nice and am happy I can blog on and on...:) :)
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Dear PBS,
A real dilemma of all conscious human beings. But, are MORALITIES a permanent feature? Don't they change their composition with the changing times? A MORALITY is a sum total of the NORMS for particular behaviour in a given period of time in a social set-up. A ffew decades back--KISSING in public was a TABOO--but it is now a fashion. A quarter century back--a young girl talking to an unknown young boy in public was seen as something immoral but today a girl or a boy without a friend from the opposite sex are treated as GOONKS---earlier it was a part of a good behaviour, today it is the other way round.
The MORAL VAUUM is in the mind s of old genre---a thought----while the young ones have their own moralities---about which they would resent about some 30-40 years later. This is the way the life moves? isn't it, sir? I know it is hard to agree with me--for I believe moralities are NOT A FINAL WORD on human conduct---definitions change with the changing times and generations---What was DISHONESTY a few years back--has become HONESTY today. Think, sir, think? regards. Rajee.
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Hullo Poet ( in a mood more bitter, less sweet)
I am sure you would agree that there were men of high ideals and unfliching adherence to principles in earlier days.
Your above statement is irrefutable. How would you react to a suggestion that it is not that such people have become scarce but that our social priorities allow them little scope to display their character qualities? Has not money become the only measure of quality of humans, enterprises, accomplishments and recognition?
Are you familiar with the words Dharama, Kaama , Artha, and Moksha.? Intangible forces of social dynamics put these four in an ever changing order of priority. Ours is an age where Kaam is topmost and is followed by Artha. Ad gurus, the manipulators of the flood gates of Kaama, are the ones we quote even on moral issues. Is not consumerism synonymous to us with progress ?
Does , so called, goodness have any other option but to withdrw into a shell for its own survival?
Kindly do not invite disappointment by trying to seek out men of moral superiority, instead, direct your search to God's endless bounty of joy and wisdom. That may well turn you into a magnet of moral beings.
Cheers.
Sceptic
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Thanks!!!!!
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