LESSONS WE MUST LEARN FROM CHIEF SECRETARY'S EPISODE.-Capt. Ravi Mahajan

'Wise learn from their experience. Wiser learn from others'. Each sad event or adversity in our own life or others' life, has many lessons for us to learn and in turn, avoid all the disgrace, discredit, disappointment & frustration such events can bring in our life. Biggest problem in such cases is that whatever happens because of one man's indiscretion, touches everyone connected, be it family, friends and relations. Just ponder over the following lessons we can learn from this sad episode: 1. 'Greed is the most Heinous & Despicable of all Human Follies. Greed generates Hate, Jealousy & Deceit within us. Greed has the capacity to destroy, what one has earned in his lifetime' (These lines are from my book 'YES TOGETHER WE CAN' , Lesson 24, "GREED Leads CORRUPTION Follows", page 165). Do we need any more explanation after what we have read in papers & seen in WhatApp videos & TV - Piles and piles of Demonetized notes along with Rs 2000 new notes, packed in cartons & shelves like garbage, was a despicable sight exposing a man's totally unregulated greed for money with no objective, pointless owning and hoarding of illegal wealth. 2. REPUTATION & STANDING TAKES A BEATING; when it happens. It takes years, perhaps more than Three decades to build a reputation & standing. But overnight, the man was licking the earth. Just to have a 2-minute meeting with him, people of big standing and stature, would have been waiting for days. NOW, in jail, even if he tries to contact someone for any help, the person would refuse to recognize him, or simply look the other way. That's the way this world works. There is no dearth of quotes and sayings on such matters. Once, one is exposed, you are on your own. None except your immediate family may come to your aid, bringing food and other requirements to the jail cell. 3. FAULTY PARENTING & EDUCATION : He must have done very well in studies, distinguished in each test & exam. To reach where he was, tremendous hard work & unparalleled diligence was required. Contribution of parents in that effort must have been monumental. But only direction was, ability to get the best in life, both position and money. But NO HUMAN VALUES were ever taught. Need for them was never felt with the type of success man had become used to. NO COMPASSION, KINDNESS, ALTRUISM, CARE or CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS and many other Values which brings Joy & Happiness by Giving, Helping or Sharing. These things cannot not be learnt in school. These have to be taught at home where parents might have thought that they could please the Gods by doing regular pujas but NO HUMAN VALUES. Result is for all to see. 4. THE RAT RACE or MONEY MANIA: Irrespective of how much professionally competent and absurdly efficient we might be in our day to day working life, we have become ZERO THINKERS, when it comes to Life, Life Skills, Life Lessons. We have totally stopped thinking, just Aping and joining the Rat Race has become the norm. We never make an effort to know or understand the correct perspective of money in Life. Everyone seems to be in the rate race for making more money, young, middle aged or the old, alike. Fear that I might be left behind, predominates everyone's mind. Result is the Money Mania, dominant emergence of Corrupt, Greedy, Selfish, Uncaring, Self-seeking Attitude and such people coming to the fore, pushing good people who value Ethics, Morals, Kindness, Brotherhood, Compassion, in the background. 5. MASTER OR SLAVE : Money plays important role in life, there is no doubt about it. But are we it's Master or Slave, which makes us what we are. Wealth is your Personal Domain. Always consider yourself the Mater and Money, your slave. Never try to impress others with your money, nor be impressed by theirs'. As long as you follows this rule, you will Happy and at Peace. The moment you flout this rule, Stress, Pain, Worry, Doubt, Envy, Impatience, Anger, Discontentment and Irritation will always be there to give company. Unfortunately, our Thinking Mind has been taken over by Greed, Lust & Easy Life which money provides. 6. NEVER THINK IT WON'T HAPPEN TO YOU : Because IT CAN. When we are high in life, we think whatever Bad is happening, will happen to others only not to me. Well, I am sure the Chief Secretary also thought the same. Mostly we think with our connections, influence and resources, we shall be able to 'Manage' any situation as and when it comes. Generally, suicidal attitude is 'dekha jayega' (Will see later). Yes, mostly we can but sometimes we are not in a position or are helpless. Never ignore that possibility with our usual Arrogance. This world is such that there is always someone higher than you, more powerful than you. Please accept that eventuality also that inspite of everything, things simply get out of hand making us just a tool in someone's hands. And also remember, basically, we are all selfish and self seeking when chips are down and our own interest are threatened. It is then, we are helpless and at others' mercy. Watch out then. Retd