“If you cheat on someone who is
willing to do anything for you, you actually cheated yourself out of true
loyalty.” ― Crackpot
When others’ have problems, people
often think that it is somebody’s problem. If you ignore, it becomes your
problem finally. Here goes the story:
I worked in a private engineering
college as a professor. The college served one month notice due to their
administrative problems. But it did not give me relieving order, service certificate
and last salary drawn certificate at the time of my leaving the service. Worse,
it did not give me salary for the last three months. The owner of the college
was with an autocratic and feudal mindset. He had lots of money. Hence, his ego
was filled with lots of arrogance and adamancy. He treated the principals, professors
and faculty members in his group of colleges as puppets. He believed in the
philosophy of ‘use and throw’ and ‘divide and rule’. I did not appreciate his unprofessional and unethical
practices but I continued to serve in the college as the students revered me
and respected me. They gave me lots of love and affection for my dedication and
commitment. I tried to reform the system but my hands were tied. Hence, I
confined myself to sharing my knowledge with students regularly; and teaching
and research during my leisure time. I also counseled, coached and mentored the
students who approached me for guidance. In this way, I made a significant
difference to students. Unfortunately, the father of the owner who was a
visionary leader and founder of this group of educational institutions died and
the position of the group of colleges was worsened. The senior professors,
principals and directors resigned from the college as they did not appreciate
the owner’s attitude and arrogance.
Suddenly I was served with one month
notice and salaries to the faculty and non-teaching were not paid on time. I
served as per the notice period but I was not given the service certificate,
last pay drawn certificate and salary for a period of three months. I sent
several reminders to the owner while serving in the college to keep things
ready at the time of my leaving the college. Unfortunately, there was no
response and things were not kept ready at the time of my leaving the college.
The principals and director of the educational institution advised the owner to
pay my salary for the period I served but the owner was adamant with an unethical
mindset. He revealed his true colors by cheating me. He did not pay my salary
for three months. I had lots of financial hardships as I still belonged to a
lower middle class family and I depended on my salary. I was hoping that my
salary will be paid on the last working day. Unfortunately, I was not paid
salary and I was not allowed to continue my services also. I felt very bad
about the unethical attitude of the owner.
I raised my problem in various regional
forums and with the officials of the affiliated university. Unfortunately,
there was no response as the officials had an understanding and close nexus
with the owner of the college. These officials were regularly invited for
college functions and anniversaries and paid with heavy honorarium. I felt that
corruption entered in this way into educational institutions. I approached other
national forums to bring awareness and started mobilizing other intellectuals
in India on social media including my four blogs. Most of them initially felt
that it was my problem. I reminded them clearly that today I was cheated and
tomorrow they will be cheated. Today it is my problem and tomorrow it will be
their problem. The intellectuals understood the gravity of the situation and joined
the movement and pressurized the unethical owner of the private college to pay
my salary. Finally, I got my three months of salary thanks to the support of
other intellectuals who felt that somebody’s problem might become everybody’s
problem tomorrow.
Conclusion
John D MacDonald quoted, “Integrity is
not a conditional word. It doesn’t blow in the wind or change with the weather.
It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who
won’t cheat, then you know he never will.” Most people often think ‘what is in it for
me?’ People don’t intervene until it becomes their problem. It is not a healthy
sign. To conclude, never think that it is somebody problem. Always empathize
with others. It is always ‘just is right’, not ‘might is right’. We must always
support ethical values and principles to bring a positive change in the society.
Above all, remember that truth alone triumphs in the world. The people who
cheated intellectuals and educators never rested in peace. They suffered at the
end.
“People are often unreasonable and
self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you
of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat
you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be
jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten
tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and
it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between
you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” ― Mother Teresa
Reference
If you like this article, Like and
share Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Professor-MSRao/451516514937414
Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million
Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html
Life is great!
Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR
Leadership Consultants India
Listed
in Marquis Who's Who in the World in 2013
Vision 2030 Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCO-gWmTRk
Twitter: @professormsrao
Google
Plus: https://plus.google.com/+ProfessorMSRao
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/profmsr7
Global Top Gurus 30: http://www.globalgurus.org/leadership/upcoming.php
Speakerpedia:
http://speakerpedia.com/speakers/professor-msrao
21
Success Sutras for Leaders:
Top 10 Leadership Books of the Year (San Diego University) Amazon URL: http://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Leaders-ebook/dp/B00AK98ELI
Thanks for reading!
Kindly share your thoughts and
comments below, I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.
Copyright©2015 MSR Leadership
Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part
without permission is prohibited.
This is a nonprofit blog to share
Professor M.S.Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global
leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by
email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright
is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in. This material may not be sold, or published
in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party
without permission.
