A couple of days ago, a good friend of mine asked a very simple and direct question; Will you ever get lured by money gained through corrupt or immoral means? If given an opportunity will you make extra buck through corrupt ways? The question was at the backdrop of what is happening in politics, corporate involving bigwigs of media world. The question pushed me to the corner and I needed some time to answer. Anyway, how could I answer such question which will have a direct bearing on my image and it would be mere a lip service as right now I am not in a position to involve in corrupt practices or dispel it . For sure, I wanted to answer honestly with utmost commitment. That’s why I thought to avoid a cliché like, I would be the last person to think about unfair means or corruption or abuse of power--which I don’t have. In order to avoid a direct answer, I took refuse in my innocuous ability to argue things so that the scope and meaning of the subject be widened and gravity of the matter is dissolved.
Before spelling any word, I needed to ask myself--can I be involved into corrupt practices for want of money, power etc. And, a war erupted within. A war between my real-self and doubtful-self. Meanwhile, my friend was laughing at me for deflecting a very trivial question as for her it was simply a question of either ‘yes’ or no’. But for me it was a soul searching opportunity and a chance to give words and live by it.
Despite of a marathon within, I still could not make my mind up for a concrete and honest answer so tried to evade it by bringing in the theory of relativity with various allied meaning and scope of the word corruption, thinking of our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s current situation. A man of rare integrity with cleanest image is in the dock for allowing corruption in his cabinet. You can not question personal integrity of Dr. Manmohan Singh, but of course, there is a big question mark on his tenure as the prime minister of a cabinet fraught with many examples of impropriety and financial fraud. So corruption is a very relative term and it can taint you even while you are not personally involved into it.
My friend fired a salvo by accusing me of delaying the answer and the delay says all. Further it was said, Rahmani you failed the test and so lost the right to question those whose corruption stories are making headlines these days. If you can’t guarantee your personal integrity and honesty, what is a point in taking high moral ground on corruption issues? Yes, her observation was right. I might have failed just because I never wanted to reply without commitment to the words and act dishonestly to a very good friend. Rather than answering, I suggested her: Go and do this test on others and find out how many people pass it with honest admission?
After all, honesty can’t be spoken. It can be displayed through practices.
