In the profound words of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India and a renowned visionary, lies a timeless truth that transcends individual lives to shape the very fabric of societies. “Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character” serves as a poignant reminder of the foundational importance of moral integrity. Kalam’s wisdom extends beyond individual virtues, emphasizing the transformative power of virtuous character on a broader scale. The progression from beauty in character to harmony in the home underscores the interconnectedness of personal ethics and familial relationships. Moreover, Kalam extends this ripple effect to the national and global arenas, positing that order in the nation and, consequently, peace in the world, emanate from the collective commitment to righteousness and harmony. In just a few eloquent sentences, Kalam encapsulates a profound philosophy that advocates for the fundamental role of virtue in shaping not only individual destinies but also the destiny of nations and the world at large.
Tag: Human Values – lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, mention what the quote means to you.
- In Body,
- Explain the meaning of the quote.
- Discuss the terms with examples.
- Conclude, by mentioning the relevance of the quote in contemporary times.
Answer:
A.P.J Abdul Kalam highlights the importance of the quality of righteousness through this quote and gives a beautiful connectivity between heart, character, nation, and the world. It is said that people make institutions and institutions in turn build nations. We know that states are not moral agents but humans are. These sentences together specify that the unit of our world is ultimately individual and moral conduct. Instead of giving speeches about outstanding changes that should come in the world, one should work on her moral framework.
Righteousness: Righteousness, in human standards, is defined as “the quality of being morally true or justifiable.” It forms the foundation for any peaceful and prosperous society. Generally, religions focus on the quality of righteousness as a means to an end.
For example: In Hinduism, the path of righteousness(Dharma) is regarded as the ideal path or ultimate duty of every human being.
Enabling Peace: By the above quote, he lays down the path for enabling peace in a society.
For example: In Ancient India, Ashoka promoted the code of Dhamma in his empire, which was the set ideal social behavior for promoting peace and enabling prosperity in the kingdom.
Relevance of the quote in contemporary times:
- Contemporary society has been seen as digressing from the path of righteous behavior and has shown more inclination toward the materialistic way of life, which has led to the eruption of several social and societal problems.
- If individuals follow the righteous path, they are more likely to spread happiness to others and succeed in their endeavors and will contribute to the upliftment of their household status, which indirectly will contribute to the happiness and upliftment of the whole society, and then many social problems like crime, corruption, mob lynching etc can be eliminated from the society.
- Similarly, a more prosperous society will contribute to a more prosperous nation.
Righteousness in multiple dimensions in society with the indomitable spirit is essential for realizing the vision of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
Emphasis on enabling the order of righteous path in these nations will contribute to maintaining peace in the whole world.
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