Corruption and Character

A young couple has been most committed to introduce values and morals to their daughter. They do it through reading to her stories and sharing life experiences with her to help her to absorb some foundational values. She is now six years and is at school.

One day she came back with an eraser, that did not belong to her. Her mother made her return it to its owner the next day. Another day she came back with a color pencil, that she picked up from the play ground. Her mother got angry with her and insisted that she gave it to the teacher next day. On another occasion, she had a hairband in her school bag. At supper time, her parents were furious with her for repeatedly violating the dictum, 'do not steal'. They even deprived her of ice cream at dinner, to enforce compliance from her. She was forced to go to bed without being read to, the bed time story.

She was sobbing by then in distress. She came charging out from her bed room and asked her mother, 'why is daddy bringing paper for me from his office for me to color and paint. Why are you discussing ways to show less income to avoid paying income tax'? Her parents were speechless and quietly put her to sleep not knowing how to handle the situation.

This family who shared this experience with me, told me that the greater challenge is to build character than fight corruption. Character is the thermostat to measure what is right and wrong. This springs from a conscience which is formed of values and sound judgement. This needs to start from early childhood by demonstrating that values can be practiced even amidst temptation. There is so much awareness and agitation in our country to do away with corruption at all levels. Will more legislation and regulatory mechanism help! I doubt.

Anna and I visited Switzerland for the first time in 1983. Our friend, Hedwig, who came to greet us at Zurich railway station invited us to a coffee bar. We were about to carry our suitcases to the bar, which was about 50 meters away. Hedwig asked us to leave the luggage at the place, where we were sitting. She affirmed us that it would be safe to do so. We stayed with her for four days.  She was not used to locking her house, when she went for work or for shopping. Hedwig told us then, 'it is common here to be honest'. That is character, although one does not have same values even in Switzerland today.

I wish there will be more on character building in our news papers, TV programs, movies, internet than on corruption! We are tired of corruption and its enormity. The antidote to corruption is to engage people in dialogue to embrace sound character and moral precepts.

M.C.Mathew.