THE INDIAN ETHIC

Justice Surya Kant recently brought focus on the Arthashastra, which must be studied by those in public life. But its guidance cannot help much in governance if we lack ethics as often seen nowadays 

- Justice Kamaljit Singh Garewal

One of the most serious incidents which tested our ethics was the year-long farmers' agitation of 2020-21 that came to an end when the laws were withdrawn. Which side was acting ethically and which was acting legally? How should one strike a balance between ethics and law?

0N the edge of the village is a small pond, on the banks of which grows a peepul tree. The village elders would gather under its shade in summer months to meet and exchange stories. Shepherds and cowherds brought their flock to drink water from the pond. Children frolicked mischievously on the flat ground nearby, watched over by their grandfathers. This was the typical scene from times immemorial. It was our rural idyll.

The peepul tree is centuries old and has watched the march of invading armies, seen the young set off to defend their country. After one lot of invaders was replaced by another, more sophisticated and better organised young men joined them to defend their Empire. But a band of fighters took up non-violence as the path to win freedom back. The peepul tree watched the transition to Independence, with great expectations. Inevitably, development came and machines began to plough the farmlands in the name of progress. The peepul tree too was cut down, while the pond got filled up and dried. With this advance of pseudo modernity, the centuries-old village life also slowly came to an end. The destruction of traditional village and small town life was now complete and our traditional ethical values were put in jeopardy.