Karma of Corruption

Text of Speech delivered at the graduation day of Rajagiri Vidhyapeetham, Kochi on April 21, 2012

A very good afternoon to you all.

My dear students, Mr Veerappa Moily, Father Anthony Kariyl, Members of the faculty, parents and invitees.

I am extremely grateful to the management of Rajagiri Vidyapeetham for giving me the honour of participating in the graduation ceremony, Samavarthana.

Considering that you students will soon walk out of the hallowed portals of this institution, I have decided to dwell on the topic of integrity, which unfortunately is in scarce supply in our country today, as we are rocked by one scandal after another.

When I was told that a politician would be the Chief Guest, for a moment I decided to change the topic. How can you talk about honesty and ethics in the presence of a politician? But when I learnt that the politician would be Mr Veerappa Moily, I heaved a sigh of relief.

Mr Moily is one of the rare politicians with a clean image. When I first met Mr Moily many years ago, I was the education correspondent of the Indian Express and he was the Education Minister of Karnataka. Thereafter, he became the Chief Minister and as far as I can remember there was not even a single corruption charge against him. The management of Rajagiri Vidyapeetham could not have chosen a better chief guest for this occasion.

I have known Fr Anthony Kariyl from his days at Christ College, Bangalore. The credit of turning around the once notorious Christ College, if I may say so,  into one of the most prestigious institutions in Karnataka goes to the revered Father.  I am sure Father Kariyl would have instilled the highest values in all you students.

I would consider moral values more important than the bookish knowledge that has been imparted to you, because what the country needs today is men and women of character.

When we speak of corruption, politicians instantly come to mind because they are the most visible to the common man. After politicians the scanner falls on the executive and the judiciary, but what about corruption in the private sector and even the media?

Many years ago the then Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi described corruption as a universal phenomenon, but today unfortunately corruption has been universalised in India, sparing not even the private sector.

You will be surprised to learn that many corporate houses too function like the government. Bribes, commission in procurements and cuts are common in private enterprises too. What is saddening is that even journalism one of the noblest professions has not been spared by the malaise of corruption.

As you students walk out of this institution, I would urge you to maintain the highest levels of professional integrity and ethics. No, I am not asking you to become saints. We are ordinary mortals and money is no doubt important to all of us, but what is even more important is the means through which this money comes to us.

Bad money invariably leads to disastrous consequences and suffering.  You will never be able to enjoy your ill-gotten wealth. I have seen politicians who have amassed wealth through illegal means spending the entire amount on their health or other personal problems. Bad money can never bring you happiness. You will never be able to enjoy such wealth.

I call this the Karma of Corruption.  Your Karma will catch up with you if not today, tomorrow, but definitely within this lifetime.

I read somewhere that honesty is the single most important factor having a direct bearing on the final success of an individual, corporation, or product.

I would request each one of you to maintain the highest degree of integrity in whatever you choose do to. You might be a small number, but do not worry, please set an example to those around you and it will have a cascading effect.  And let me assure you, many years hence when you look back you will have the satisfaction of having lived a happy and content life.

I wish you all great success in your future endeavours. I am sure each one of your will bring credit not only to yourselves, but to this institution, your parents and the country.  May you all have a great future ahead.

Thank you very much.