In a world where honesty is often presented as situational, staying true to one’s principles can be a daunting task

I caught snatches of an interesting conversation on the radio recently. The host and the guest were having a free-flowing discussion on the role of honesty and truthfulness in life. The conclusion was that honesty always pays, but a half-truth may be acceptable to avoid hurting the other person. I did not agree to subjective honesty as the situation demands. I remembered a few incidents while working in the government. These were lessons learned about integrity and honesty in public life. I was working on an arbitration case a few decades back. The advocate representing the contractor approached me to tilt the report in his favour for consideration. I told him that the case would be dealt with on merits. He was expecting elevation as a High Court judge, and I was warned of being hauled up in his court. I do not know if he was promoted. I was certainly not summoned. I moved to a government company in Delhi. I started commuting to work with my senior colleague in his official vehicle. New to the organisation, I claimed the entitled conveyance allowance for the commute. He gently pulled me up and told me that I could not claim the money till the time he chauffeured me. I continued to travel with him till I was elevated and had been provided with an official vehicle. Another acquaintance from the private sector informed me about his promotion. Having received my congratulatory wishes, he hesitantly told me he was now in a position of authority to do something for me. I pointed out that I was better placed to do his company a favour, and not broach the subject again if he wished to remain a friend and a business associate. We continue to be friends. The word got around. I was not subject to any more proposals of illegal gratification. A gentleman joined the dispute resolution board that I am part of only when he was assured by a former senior colleague about my proven integrity in public life. I am not vain, or at least try not to be demonstrative of my vanity, but I could not resist a proud smile. There were also incidents when I was on the receiving end. I did not live up to the standards that I had set. My father-in-law met an untimely death three decades back. A few days after the rituals were over, I accompanied my brother-in-law to the local post office to withdraw the savings. The dealing assistant’s table was piled high with earlier case files. The work was done within the time frame promised, without his touching the money that we were asked to put in the office drawer. I could have refused and waited out. I chose the easy way. I once read an article that corruption is a global phenomenon. It exists even in developed countries like America and Japan. The difference is that it is at the highest levels and does not affect the common man. I recently flew with a senior corporate leader who echoed exactly similar sentiments. This is the conundrum that I am unable to resolve. We should not be teaching our children conflicting lessons. To me, being truthful or honest are the two sides of the same coin. There cannot be two standards, be it in business, politics, personal life, or at the common man’s level. American author, H Jackson Brown Jr  said “Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring and integrity, they think of you.” That will be the day when we will be truly proud of ourselves.

(The author is an electrical engineer with the Indian Railways and conducts classes in creative writing; views are personal)