Ratan Tata, Guru and Integrity
I was watching Ratan Tata’s interview on CNN-IBN. I must admit that I am his fan. Hence my assessment will definitely be a biased one. This interview was more impressive for me due to a couple of reasons – one may be the recently released film Guru.
Those of you who have not seen Guru – it’s a film where the protagonist – an industrialist, goes on conquering new horizons and achieving new laurels. For him only thing that matters is success. It’s immaterial how he achieves this success.
This is a very important issue for me. In today’s India, I don’t think anybody including the Govt. remembers that India is a ‘Socialist Republic’- a contribution of Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi – she draped mother India with that ‘socialist’ tag. I am not sure – did the Govt. officially change the status?
Anyway whether they have changed it officially or not, one thing is sure, they have thrown out the word from their dictionary by their actions.
I will give one simple example. For BCCI what matters is the amount of contract it has collected from the sponsors. In the process if the poor citizens of the country is deprived of watching of matches – who cares?
Recently Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation has decided to close down loss making bus depots. If in the process, the poor citizens are deprived of the most essential requirement - conveyance – who cares?
Look at any of the ministries – the buzzword is profit. You will ask, ‘what is wrong in profiteering?’ I will answer, ‘Everything, The Govt. is not here for profiteering. The Govt. has certain responsibilities for the welfare of its citizens’.
You will say Govt. gives out so much dole – look from prince to Nithari victims, Govt. doled out compensation. Govt. is so much concerned about the poor people that they even provide appliances for entertainment – Look at Tamil Nadu, The CM is giving away TVs. I will say, ‘Yes, they are doling away as if public money is their father’s property’. The one question comes out crying, ‘where is the integrity and probity in public life?’
I am sure you are shifting in chair, uncomfortable, thinking, ‘what’s the fun? What these have to do with Ratan Tata or Guru or Integrity?’
Let me start with Integrity. If we look the action of all public figures, whether it is political class, corporate class or any other section of the society, we will find that nobody is bothered about integrity. And obviously, we the lesser mortals are following them and banishing ‘integrity’ from our dictionary.
Guru reminds us the present attitude of all of us. Get what you want, the mean? Don’t think about right or wrong. Only things matters are material gain. Our new generation has become so much bankrupt in morality and integrity that we are not surprised seeing IITian involved in drug trafficking in the name of business and profit. We all are aware how the corporate world with the connivance of politicians and bureaucrats bends every rule and regulation ever printed in the rulebook.
Now let me quote from Mr. Tata’s interview:
This is what he says of the corporate responsibilities:
‘But on the corporate responsibility point of view, this would be much more ‘in focus’ if enforcement of violations were also undertaken in an effective manner. There is always a view among some segments of the industrial community that they are above the law and that they can manage the environment’.
This is his advice to new entrepreneurs:
What could I say to them? The idea has to be there, the robustness of that idea is there. The only thing I would say to them, if I could, would be: "Don't compromise your values. Don't add to the destruction of the fabric or ethics in the country. Try to build on it and look at building a better India." Perhaps one thing I would say to most young people: "Have a sense of spirit for your country rather than merely for yourself."
And about Integrity this is what he says:
Integrity is very important to me. I have tried to continue the foundations of the Group in terms of operating with integrity and with a value system. And I would hope that will be followed after me and that this is one of the strengths that we have and differentiators that we have and we should, in fact, nurture it and cherish it and fight for it ferociously.
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