Putting the I in ETHICS

If you are reading this, chances are you have a bit of spare time - in which case, I would strongly recommend you to read this.
Consider this recommendation to be a precursor to this post.

Apart from being a truly well-deserved eulogy to the best prime minister we have ever had, this article also traces the origins of today's omnipresent corruption in our system and collective psyche.

In today's world where blatant flouting of political propriety is the norm, can we ever expect to see any politician worth his salt (let alone a high-ranking minister) even considering plying by public transport? Oh, that, after (and because) he has voluntarily relinquished his position as a minister!
Yeah yeah, dream on!

True, we are not living in that era anymore, but what stops us from being better people than what we are?
Yes, none of us might (heck, can) ever attain such a towering moral rectitude as that of the great man, but why can we not try being at least true to ourselves?

I hope we never lose sight of the fact that even Shastri ji could have had his temptations.
Even he could have died rich, bequeathing a legacy of unforeseen wealth for his progeny.

However, we tend to worship only the glitzy, blighted by the chamak-damak, saluting only those who can bamboozle us with their 'numbers', dazzle us with their razzmatazz, making legends out of those who've 'made it large'.
In comes an Ambani then, while we forget the industriousness of a Tata.

Perhaps it is an unfathomable travesty, that understatedness goes unrewarded. The most genuine and morally 'rich' are often silent people. However, unfortunately, today's parlance has found the synonym of silence and understatement to only mean weakness and meekness.

Therefore, it is my humble attempt (in writing now, through this post!) that atleast I, shall put the I in ETHICS.

Strive I shall continue to do, for success and for everything I want to be...
But I don't need 'em if they come by losing the very principles which have shaped me.
What's the point of reading or writing a thousand words of eulogy....
if I do not actually imbibe the teachings of my hero - Shri Lal Bahadur ji?!

Amen to the effort and good luck to me! (and anyone else who'd like to follow suit)!!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Prime Minister!!

Yes alright, I do know that he ain't the Prime Minister anymore.
Yes, many have also come and gone (and again come and again gone) after Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.

However, to me, if there is any one politician I have always looked up to, without fail, and always felt inspired, it has always been Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.

To me, the term or designation of a 'Prime Minister' in the real sense of the word, is not someone who simply happens to occupy that chair at that given point of time. No sir/madam, won't do for me.
To me, the term does not just refer to any PM who has been a PM or is even seen as an incumbent, PM-material.

To me, a Prime Minister is someone who has led from the front, with example, dignity, courage, integrity, and most of all, worked with genuine values along with taking every action keeping in mind, the true care and concern for his people.
Which is why, Shastri ji, to me, is truly a 'prime' minister among all Prime Ministers past and present, and of course a jewel who outshone and shall always outshine any and every minister/MP I have ever seen/known.

No wonder, I have always genuinely believed him to be a true Bharat Ratna, in every sense of the term:

Led by example
In today's times, the government of the day puts the Anna Hazare's of today behind bars for fasting peacefully, how many Netas (forget PMs!) can you expect to see who would lead by example?
Can we, in our sane minds, expect our PMs to go on fast for a day each week, and THEN, (remember only THEN) appeal to the country to follow suit?
And all of this not for publicity, but just with the noble intention of the sheer welfare and self-reliance of our nation.

Austerity
For all his deeds and popularity, he remained the most simple, soft-spoken, dignified and humble gentleman you can ever know.
Despite having become a Prime Minister, there were hardly any assets he left for his own (or his kin's) self.
Forget today or later, just how many in the entire world can do that? Ever?

Integrity
There is a train accident, and nobody bays for the Railways Minister. However, the Minister himself, voluntarily puts in his papers without any fuss, taking complete responsibility for the accident.
No, I am not referring to Satyug. I am just referring to a Yug Purush who happened to be the Railways Minister then.

What a great day today, the 2nd of October indeed is - two of my favorite personalities who have led by example and led austere, simple as well as upright lives, were born on this day!

However, what I always find all the more laudable is that though Gandhiji never entered active politics, Shastri ji did do so, and still remained as clean, as respected and as honorable as always (in fact, even more!), without getting besmirched in that mud-slinging, vitriolic gutter called politics.

So while we always (and ofcourse, rightly and most deservedly) remember our beloved Bapu today, I feel that somehow, we tend to not remember Shastri ji even half as much.
Here's to you, Sir - the little big man of Indian politics and my favorite political leader ever - Happy Birthday!!
If only we could get some leaders even a fraction as good, as upright, as sharp and as humble and still as genuinely simple as you, there's no stopping our country!!