Lessons of a Father....

This is a story of two brothers. One was a drug addict and a drunker who frequently beat up his family. The other one was a very successful businessman who was respected in society and had a wonderful family. 

Some people wanted to find out why two brothers from the same parents, brought up in the same environment, could be so different. 

The first one was asked, "How come you do what you do? You are a drug addict, a drunk, and you beat your family. What motivates you?" 

He said, "My father." They asked, "What about your father?" 

The reply was, "My father was a drug addict, a drunk and he beat his family. What do you expect me to be? That is what I am." 

They went to the brother who was doing everything right and asked him the same question. "How come you are doing everything right? What is your source of motivation?"

And guess what he said, "My father. When I was a little boy, I used to see my dad drunk and doing all the wrong things. I made up my mind that, that is not what I wanted to be."

Both were deriving their strength and motivation from the same source, but one was using it positively and the other negatively. Negative motivation brings the desire to take the easier way which ends up being the tougher way.

I was recently mailed this story by my father. I am blessed to have a father like him from whom "What to do" lessons have far far outweighed "What not to do" lessons. This story has given me some further insight into the human mind and I could connect it to a recent article in Economic Times - Appointment of Rohan Murthy is conflict of interest: Jairam Ramesh. Some limited sections of the media have also frowned upon the appointment of Rohan Murthy as NRN Narayana Murthy's executive assistant even citing the development as a question mark on Infosys' track record on corporate governance. In the article, Ramesh is quoted to compare this case exactly as MPs appointing their relatives to become their assistants; in short he has indicated this case, though not the word he used but in all essence, to be of Nepotism (def: Favouritism granted in Politics or Business regardless of merit). I believe he forgot or conveniently neglected a few key words in the definition of Nepotism - the last 3 words.

There are a few stark differences in the comparison Ramesh has termed 'same'. MPs are meant to work towards the betterment of the nation and its public; companies come into existence to deliver the best returns to its stakeholders. For NRN, Infosys must be like his own child and given the problems which we face economically today, what can ever be wrong for a father to return for the child's benefit along with his qualified son?! A Majority of MPs, (given that the majority constitutes of scumbags like INC, SP, NCP, DMK, BSP) don't consider this nation to be theirs for we never willfully harm our own like these parties have been doing. Given what NRN has established in business ethics, professionalism and by means of building a giant like Infosys, I don't think any of us or Ramesh or any one else too has any right to mistrust what Infosys does - it trusts NRN and they are responsible to their stakeholders and the clarifications of Rohan Murthy's appointment will take place at their meetings if any soul has any reservation about it. Clearly, NRN is comfortable working with Rohan Murthy and believes he will be the right man for the job.

Now how do I link these two stories? The tale of the drug addict father teaches one beautiful lesson - it is our choice what we choose to do from what we learn. We will learn a lesson - we have to choose whether it is a lesson about "What to do" or "What not to do" when it comes to events in life. Ramesh's interpretation of the appointment of Rohan Murthy betrays his own mentality - a small proof that a man's attitude towards any event or person depends on which glasses he has put on. It highlights once again what INC is; had it been a party comprising of free men, then yes, I would have said that Ramesh's views are his own and hence these views speak of his mentality alone and not that of INC; but INC is not a party of free men - they are a horde of men obeying the woman to the letter and hence the culture of INC is reflected through his words. Regardless of merit, Nehru and Manmohan Singh reached the peak; the former for selfish reasons while the latter for the same, but not his own - just some other woman's! Ramesh has behaved like the first son in the tale and hence he sees no difference between MPs appointing their relatives and Infosys appointing NRN and his son. The nation would not have minded had appointments to key government posts would have been based on merit and merit alone. If an appointment happens to be of a relative then it should not be criticized if the choice is that of a capable person - hence the protest. Even INC's crown prince, to whom all the INC bows (even the small learned and intellectual part of INC), is not a different case. He has seen his mother do nothing but loot the nation and given the culture of INC, we can't expect his incapable mind to do anything different or constructive if by some stroke of bad luck his hands get to play with the then unfortunate toy called 'India'.

"The character of a human being is the sum of choices made over the years; the Culture of an Organization is the sum of values, policies and practices consciously fostered over decades."

The Culture of the Organization INC has become too self-centered and counter productive. It has erased whatever goodwill that their fathers had built in the primal pre-MK Gandhi stage as a party or through efforts of men like Sardar Patel or Lal Bahadur Shastri or to a certain extent Indira Gandhi too post-independence. All their values, their policies and practices reflect extreme anti-nationalism. Bottom-line, INC chose to be the first son; they could have avoided mistakes committed by earlier generations and chosen to be better administrators, but they haven't. They had the choice to deconstruct the English Education System built to enslave us and in its place, build a system which will teach us our true history, our true heroes and make us like them, but they didn't. They could have pulled the plug on reservations just like Babasaheb Ambedkar had eventually envisioned, but they didn't. In all cases, they have chosen to be the first son - picking up evils from their creators - the British Raaj and eventually making us pay the price for it. Do we want such a culture to become our nation's culture? If we do let them - calamities like Uttarakhand would still seem a garden walk. Nature is still gentle and kind, I believe; it only punishes mankind in the right measure - to remind mankind of its follies and rectify them which nowhere means that I am  not empathetic to the plight of those who recently died @ Chardham or anyway suffered emotionally or physically, Karma has its own way to ensure the cosmos works properly. I respect the Indian Army too; the RSS and other organizations and men (named or unnamed) who have been a part to help those in need when those who actually should are waving off their responsibilities. Nature will strike again and it will keep on doing so till mankind continues to rape it. The spirituality of Bhaarat is the best chance mankind has today though that very spirituality is targeted and an attempt made to destroy its very trace. For the sake of the ethos, for the sake of peace, for the sake of a life worth living for all those men, women, children and animals around the globe, Bhaarat needs to rise back; Bhaarat needs to return from exile and claim its original role - as a global mentor. I will not praise Bhaarat as a global mentor just because I love this country; studies and testimonials around the globe have proven that. Hence, Bhaarat needs to be in capable hands; it needs the second son to come back home and take charge. We can either choose to ignore all of what is going on pessimistically believing that nothing will change; or we can do our part - which will start from a single vote in the general elections to actively being a part of politics; or from being utterly honest in our daily live, obey traffic rules to standing up for what is right at our homes, our offices or our schools irrespective of emotionally powered sentiments or all of it! This choice is summed up wonderfully by the composers of the title track of Aamir Khan's Satyameva Jayate; it is my favourite verse in the poem and carries immeasurable depth if understood -- 

जैसा भी हूँ अपना मुझे, मुझे ये नहीं है बोलना।

काबिल तेरे मैं बन सकू, मुझे द्वार ऐसा खोलना।

Jai Hind!