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by Lloyd Fernando

We are members of
one great body,
Planted by nature in a
mutual love,
And fitted for a
social life that
We must consider
we were born for the
Good of the whole
- Seneca

Solidarity in helping to establish goodwill and harmony among the people of this land is a prime objective as we begin to settle down in the 21st century. Let us recognize our potential to attain still further heights of governance, administration and development. Today is the time to determine how we may involve ourselves in answering the needs of tomorrow.

We must keep apace with a changing world and the ever-increasing challenges that confront mankind. Promoting peace and prosperity, goodwill and good health among the peoples of the world is foremost among the myriad challenges.

Terminological inexactitudes

"Let us be true: this is the highest maxim of art and life, the secret of eloquence and of virtue, and of all moral authority", said Henri Fredric Amiel.

"You can't just miss the train, either you miss it or you don't miss it", said the late Rev. Father Peter A. Pillai, the Rector of St. Joseph's College, Colombo, during my college days when he was admonishing my colleague for habitually coming late to class. "The fact remains you have overslept and hence the delay in getting to the railway station on time", the learned Rector went on to elaborate. Even though one may refer to this as an involuntary excuse under the circumstances, yet it is nothing but a terminological inexactitude!

Sometimes, we stayed away from school for anything but an illness but still the reason given officially is 'illness'. We consider these excuses a mere trifle and continue to carry on regardless with these trifling falsehoods 'for better for worse' through various stages of our lives.

In the public service, that which is not true has been the order of the day, either wittingly or unwittingly. Leave of absence from office, short leave or sick leave very often leave room for some doubt but it is generally taken for granted; in any case, officially, it is in order.

However, it is in respect of dealing with the public that the truth matters. When a member of the public calls over at a public counter or at the office of a public servant for assistance or information in respect of public business, there is a moral duty by the public officer to explain whenever necessary and tell the truth courteously, and correctly as far as possible, without giving false hopes or sending the caller astray, or inconveniencing by sending him from one table to another or from one office to another.

Even if the answer has to be in the negative, or disappointing from the point of view of the caller, good public relations could certainly make a world of difference. One does not have to be untruthful to be polite! It is far better to be truthful and be done with it than leading a person astray - and eventually into bitterness of the individual against the whole organisation.

It often happens that helpless members of the public are sent from pillar to post - and in search of the truth or the facts of the 'case', they come a cropper!

Universal man

In the political arena, it is so much worse. I know of an instance where a close supporter of an elected representative of the people had been living in a world of promises for almost the entirety of the period of office of the M.P. and finally, on the eve of the general elections, he changed "colours"! Can anyone have blamed him?

I also know of an elected representative of the people who, candidly and in no uncertain terms, told his supporters who came to him for jobs that he has nothing to offer them on his own but that his private secretary would inform them as and when suitable vacancies occur for which they would have to make their applications accordingly.

Quite contrary to expectations, the truth was appreciated more than the fiction' of others - and the M.P. was re-elected at the next general elections with a resounding victory that created quite a sensation especially among the older parliamentarians.

It was Rabindranath Tagore who said: "In these days, blinded as we are by motives of self-interest and by cruel insatiate greed, we seek refuge in him who came into this world to reveal in his own person the real self of the Universal man."

The right attitude

"Must we always talk for victory, and never once for truth, for comfort and joy?" asked Emerson in journals of 1856.

There is a good deal of truth in the saying that "Of the unspoken word, you are a master, but your spoken word is master of you".

Kind words have much power, as they bring help and encouragement, as well as sunshine. Kind words are of great value than money which could be earned. They are like the gentle rain from Heaven that blesseth him that gives, and him that takes". Good manners are synonymous with good behaviour which includes courtesy and kindness, the exercise of which costs but little effort.

Consideration for the feelings of others is an adjunct of politeness. You will make no enemies, as well as get on smoothly in your office or workplace, if you make an effort to exercise such consideration, and act with restraint.

Lord Chatham has said that a gentleman is characterized by his self-sacrifice and preference of others to himself in small things.

The future

The future belongs to those who are realistic and truthful, to those who are standard bearers in a realistic world as we move forward in the 21st century. It will be a world of uncertainties of new and difficult challenges. It will be a world that demands well-informed committed men and women to meet those challenges with confidence and be able to inspire others to forge ahead to build a better world.

The time has come to be true to ourselves - and so be it that we could, with confidence, say that we have re-found the joy of life and the happiness that results when realizing the quality of life which is indispensable in generating harmony in families, and peace in the world.

"In this beautiful world
I have no desire to die,
I wish to live in the midst
of men,
In the sunlight, in the
flowering forests,
In the heart of living beings,
May I find a place...."

Rabindranath Tagore

(The writer was the Former Secretary to Governor, N.W.P.)

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