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| Benchmark lecture in JU | | Morality sans politics - cause for erosion in public life: Governor | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Jan 11
"In spite of degeneration in politics, India is fast emerging as a global power of the 21st century on the strength of its talented human resource material and enterprising entrepreneurs" said the Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha while delivering annual benchmark lecture on ‘Morality and Politics’ at University of Jammu and asked
'’how much more we as a Nation can achieve with a better quality of political leadership combined with moral value"?
The Governor set the tone for his talk by quoting from the great philosopher, Dr Radhakrishnan's address to the Constituent Assembly, "Much has been said about the sovereignty of our people. We have held that ultimate sovereignty rests with the moral law. People as well as rulers are subordinate to it. Righteousness is the King of Kings"
Pained over rampant corruption and dwindling values in politics, the Governor, who is known for his plain speaking, while recounting the Gandhian era lamented that politics without morality has brought about great degeneration in public life. 'The ideal of both right end and right means has given way to dubious ends through dubious means', he said, adding that the politics of sufferings and sacrifice of yesteryears has now become a profession of profit not only for oneself but also for generations of one's family.
Without criticizing anyone, the Governor while referring to degradation that has come about in the country hurriedly added that 'even today we have some individual leaders in politics who uphold high moral values but they are the exception'. He stressed the need for considering positive measures that can eradicate the widespread infirmities in the public life by radically improving educational and electoral systems. He observed that corruption is rampant in every sphere of activity and elections have become the fountainhead of not only corruption but also crime, communalism and casteism. 'This malady has to be cured', he said and strongly favoured electoral reforms to ensure purity in elections. He said that Election Commission of India from Seshan to Gopalaswamy has established its credibility in trying to ensure purity in elections but it is hamstrung in its efforts due to our not carrying out electoral reforms.
General Sinha also sought improvement in educational system and advocated that the temples of learning should remain apolitical and not become the battlefield of party politics. 'Politics should be studied at our Universities but there should be no participation in party politics', he said, mentioning that Varsities in developed countries keep away from party politics. 'While focusing on job-oriented education, we must promote moral values too', he said.
In an hour long lucid lecture, heard in rapt attention by the jam packed Zorawar Auditorium of Jammu University, the Governor discussed in detail the pre-independence era in India, describing it as a blend of politics and morality.
Further elaborating on the topic of the lecture, the Governor made a distinction between a statesman and a politician, saying that the former has a wide and long term vision and thinks of the future while the latter has a limited and myopic vision who thinks only of the next election. He wished the young generation that takes to politics should strive to become statesmen rather than politicians. He added that in a democracy assertive and vigilant public opinion can ensure that moral values are not ignored nor are they allowed to be trampled upon
Emphasizing the need for adhering to moral values and ending corruption, the Governor said that many civilizations have been destroyed as a result of internal corruption rather than external aggression He concluded with the great words of Swami Vivekananda…' "A wonderful glorious picture of India will come. I am sure it is coming: a greater India than ever was… On our work depends the coming of the India of the future. She is there ready, waiting. Arise and awake and see her seated on her eternal throne, rejuvenated, more glorious than she ever was, this motherland of ours".
Vice Chancellor, Professor Amitabh Mattoo introduced the Governor to the audience. Earlier, the Governor released a book 'The last colony' –Muzaffarabad-Gilgit-Baltistan published by India Research Press in collaboration with Centre for Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Jammu. |
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