“I shall not fear anyone on Earth.
I shall fear only God.
I shall not bear ill will toward
anyone.
I shall not submit to injustice from
anyone.
I shall conquer untruth by truth. And
in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
People often emphasize on money power
and muscle power. They forget to emphasize on moral power and brain power. They
think might is right. They often forget
to think that it is the right
matters, not might. At times they
think who is right and wrong, not what is right and wrong. Let us discuss
this in this article.
When we think about who is right and
wrong, we tend to look at individuals. In contrast, when we think about what is
right and wrong, we look at issues without any fear and favor. We look at
issues dispassionately.
Might
versus Right ― A Short Story
Professor Ken served in a private college
for more than three years. He was passionate about sharing his knowledge and
shaping students as leaders. When he
joined the college as a professor, some of his friends asked him reasons for
joining a substandard college which did not have adequate infrastructure,
facilities and with a track record of irregularities including non-payment of
salaries to the leaving employees. He said that he had passion for teaching and
training and he can set the system alright from irregularities. He tried his
level best to set the education system and the college from irregularities. Gradually
he focused more on shaping students and enjoyed interacting with them. Many
students loved and admired his academic leadership. The college served notice
of one month on administrative grounds. He didn’t feel bad when he was served
with notice because college did not have adequate number of students to offer courses.
Additionally, image of the institution was eroding due to weak leadership by
the management. Unfortunately, college stopped paying salary to him before
serving the notice. He decided to meet the owner of the college for asking his
salary. The owner was avoiding him as he had evil intentions to avoid salary. Above
all, he did not have the courage to face Professor Ken directly. The owner was
notorious for not giving salaries to the leaving employees. On the other hand,
he blackmailed the leaving faculty by filing wrong cases when the faculty
demanded their salaries. He had money power and muscle power to browbeat the
employees and intellectuals.
Professor Ken approached principal to
persuade the owner of the college to pay his salary. The principal was also not
taking any interest as she flattered the owner to ensure her survival in the
college. Finally on the day of leaving the college, Ken requested the principal
to pay salary, and give his service certificate and relieving order. The
principal told to Professor Ken, “The owner of the college has money and muscle
power. He won’t give you salary. He is more intelligent than you and he knows
how to trap you.” Professor Ken replied
to principal, “It is not who is more intelligent counts in this matter. It is a
matter of ethics to pay salary to the employees as per the terms of the
agreement. It is not the might counts
but the right counts. As a professor
I cannot cut corners the way owner cuts corners and cheats the faculty. I have
ethics and etiquette. I have to be an example to the students and role model to
the society. Therefore, I will fight through right means and appropriate forums
ethically to get my salary. The owner is noted for cheating every leaving
faculty by not paying salary since there is nobody to question him. Employees and intellectuals are afraid of his
political connections and money power. I will fight to I get my salary and
teach a lesson to unethical owner so that he will not cheat anybody in future.”
The Principal sarcastically smiled over Professor Ken’s words. Professor Ken
felt pity on Principal. Finally, the professor had to leave the college without
taking salary for more than three months and relieving order.
Professor Ken approached appropriate
forums to fight for his salary. The owner used his political connections and
money power in most of the forums. Finally, one forum took up Professor Ken’s
grievance and addressed it earnestly and taught a bitter lesson to the cheating
owner. It was a big jolt to the unethical owner from an ethical intellectual. The
owner realized that there was one professor who taught a lesson in his life. His
colleagues and students praised Professor Ken on his victory. He replied, “It
is a victory for all intellectuals and employees. It is a victory for truth.
Satyamev Jayate!”
Conclusion
The professor had to fight to the
finish to get his salary by focusing heavily on various aspects. He wanted to
change the unethical practices in private colleges. He wanted to reform the
educational system in India. He wanted to create a healthy society by checking
the irregularities and corruption. He dedicated his entire life to the cause of
students and education and became an academic leader and legend.
Message
The message from this story is it is
not who is right and wrong counts but
what is right and wrong counts. One
man who can bring the change in the society is YOU.
“Remember that the greatest crime is
to compromise with injustice and wrong.” ― Subhash Chander Bose
References
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Life is great!
Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR
Leadership Consultants India
Recipient
of 10th International Prestigious Sardar Patel Award―2015
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