In the pursuit of a corruption-free society and the cultivation of a nation characterized by beautiful minds, former President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, astutely identifies three pivotal societal pillars capable of ushering in transformative change: the father, the mother, and the teacher. Kalam’s assertion underscores the foundational role that familial and educational influences play in shaping individuals and, by extension, the collective ethos of a nation. The father and mother symbolize the domestic environment where values, ethics, and principles are instilled, serving as the first teachers in a person’s life. Simultaneously, teachers, as the custodians of formal education, hold the power to mold young minds, imparting not only academic knowledge but also moral and ethical guidance. This triad forms an interconnected network of influence, laying the groundwork for a society that not only abhors corruption but also nurtures the intellectual and ethical development of its citizens. Abdul Kalam’s perspective underscores the symbiotic relationship between familial, societal, and educational realms in fostering a corruption-free and intellectually enriched nation.
Tag: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, try to define corruption and give data (if possible)
- In Body,
- Discuss the reason for corruption in India.
- Discuss the role of parents and teachers in making a difference (corruption-free society and beautiful nation).
- In Conclusion, try to mention that nurturing done by parents and teachers determines the course of a nation.
Answer:
Corruption is thought to come from the minds of the people. It all comes down to how people think, what they believe, how they act, and what they do. Corruption is caused by a person having an unethical thought process. The most important and long-term way to deal with this is to instill more and more ethical and moral values in people from a young age.
As per the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report published by Transparency International (a civil society organization leading the fight against corruption), India ranked 81st among 180 countries and has dropped by two ranks from the 79th slot in CPI 2016. New Zealand and Denmark were ranked as the cleanest countries in the 2017 CPI list. The CPI depicts the prevailing level of corruption in the country.
Reasons for corruption in India:
- Low Wages or Salaries: The wages and salaries of public servants in India are very less, which indeed is not enough to take care of the children, parents or other dependents. This leads many public servants to involve themselves in corrupt practices.
- Crony Capitalism: It has led to growth of unholy nexus between Politicians and businessmen. The recent amendment into RPA that allows the corporates to keep their donation secret further strengthens the veil of secrecy around such a nexus and leads to various corrupt practices.
- Social and Ethical: With the increasing shift towards individualism and materialism has led to an increased penchant for a luxurious lifestyle. To earn more money people are willing to adopt even the unethical means with no consideration of others.
- Criminalization of Politics: Above 30% of the legislators in the country have pending criminal cases against them. So, when lawbreakers become lawmakers, rule of law is the first casualty.
- Colonial Bureaucracy and Failure in Reforms: The bureaucracy essentially remains colonial characterized by 19th-century laws e.g. Police Act, complex rules, wide discretion, secrecy, moral responsibility devoid of legal accountability, and the ivory tower attitude Moreover, lack of political will and resistance from within the bureaucracy has led to the failure of major reforms like citizen charter, RTI, and e-governance.
The role of parents and teachers in ensuring that the citizens of a country grow up as – ethical, moral, law-abiding citizens with a strong knowledge base – cannot be overstated enough.
Role of Father, Mother, and Teacher:
- Parents, teachers, family, and society all have a big impact on how a child grows up. They all play a big part in how the child grows up as a whole.
- A child is like her mother. The mother is the child’s best friend and first teacher. There are so many things to learn about the world from a mom. It is from her mother that the child learns about love and compassion and how to treat others. She also teaches the child about ethics. The child wants to be like her when she grows up.
- When a child grows up, the values of his or her mother show through. This is important so that the child can deal with growing problems like old age, peace and harmony, patriarchy, and sustainability in a kind way.
- All but a few of the children look up to their father as a role model. Children learn how to be responsible, disciplined, consistent, fearless, and more from their fathers.
- Parents need to help their children be positive, healthy, and a good lifelong learner. This helps the child act in an ethical way that includes moral values for the rest of his or her life.
- A teacher broadens a child’s view of the world and how to learn. Classroom learning under the influence of a teacher gives us the spark for new ideas that are important for our social and economic development. A teacher teaches kids about the values in our history, such as constitutional values and professional ethics, as well as skills they need to be able to get a job.
So, the way a child’s character is formed at a young age will help him or her be honest, inspired, and responsible in making good decisions. That’s why it is right to say, “Parents and teachers can play a bigger role in making the country clean and becoming a country of beautiful minds.”
Therefore, the nurturing done by parents and teachers determines the course of a nation – whether it will be made of upright, moral and argumentative Indians or dull-minds ready to compromise on their ethics.
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