Integrity : An Inevitable Attribute of Success

"A quiet conscience makes one strong" - Anne Frank

Let's begin the article by asking a simple question to ourselves which fulfills the purpose of this reading.

" What will you do if you find some money lying on the road and nobody is nearby seeing you ? "

We all are human beings who commits mistakes no matter the experience we possess and its natural in this world. Nothing unusual !!! But what if one is engaged in wrong doing that might also put others at stake. Integrity means "doing right even when no one is watching". In the present scenario, it has become the need of the hour where we come to know about several incidents which could have been avoided if the so called quality was possessed and exercised. It must be shown in all aspects; personal, professional and social whatever the circumstances maybe. The world would have been a better place if everyone would be honest to themselves and others. It is the conscience that differs according to people which facilitates the decision making that results in doing good or bad. At the end of the day, everyone has their own justification for the actions done by them.

Being a social being, one has to show high level of integrity towards others for the overall well being even if one has to face consequences for the actions taken. The relationship between Integrity and Success has a direct effect and it can be analyzed from different angles. In this article, I would like to share the story of a bureaucrat who has faced hardships and paid a high price for being fair.

Shri. Raju Narayanaswamy IAS, a 1991 batch officer hailing from Changanassery, Kottayam stood first in all the examinations he attended which also fetched him a scholarship from MIT. Graduated from IIT, he decided to work for the system rather than running behind lucrative jobs and successfully cleared the Civil Service Examination with first rank. He possessed a high level of integrity and so his intolerance towards corruption earned him flaks from politicians and businessmen including his father-in-law. Being transferred 22 times and assigned to work under junior officers did not pull him back from exercising integrity for the common man's good. As an public administrator, Raju has shown justice to the people through various initiatives, notably the widening of Patalom Road which created regular traffic blocks. He was also part of the evacuation of illegal encroachment team handpicked by then chief minister, V.S Achuthanandan. He says, “In my service life I have always fought corruption. We could be sidelined but officers should not get demoralized. The public applause we get for taking strong stand on issues is what keeps us going’’.

Its the mentality and conscience to do right makes such people survive in this world. At present he is working as the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Kerala. People like Shri. Raju Narayanaswamy are needed for the empowerment of our society.

Be the Change to Bring the Change  
 Elaph Hafis