Thought for the Day - The Loss of Decency

 Today I got a call from my friend Vinod. We had met last evening and enjoyed time out - laughing, eating haleem, bajjis. Normally he does not call me unless there is something important. he said - shocking news. I have been sacked! Vinod worked for seven years in a reputed government institution headed by an IAS officer at a DY Director level. For someone to be told in the morning one fine day that they have been relived and can go and join their parent department the next day is shocking.

It's downright rude. It lacks decency. Lacks grace.

The least we can give someone who is going away is a decent farewell. A recognition and acknowledgement of their work, maybe a few kind words from colleagues. Time to gather their breath, collect their stuff, say good bye properly. 

But no, this has to be like death. Now!

Then I wonder what happened to decency in public life.What we see is a reflection of what we have become as a society. Someone dies, we do an RIP and then post a joke right after. Everything is ok - lies are ok, half truths parading as truths are ok, character assassination is ok. No one think twice about it because every single leader seems to be doing that.

Who cares for decency any more.

But I'd like to believe that somewhere in their corroded souls there is a small part where a sense of decency remains. I hope that we find that and grow that. Like the trainees who learned of his sudden transfer who quickly bought a gift for him. I hope they did not learn the stupid things from their seniors - of not treating people like people, with respect and dignity and decency.

But its also true - that we cannot expect it from those who do not have it. I do hope and pray for incidents like the ones with the trainees that reinforce my faith. For every single a..hole leader, we just need one incident like this to offset that.