HUMOUR IN UNIFORM
FAKE ETHICS
An Apocryphal Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Disclaimer:
1. Please read this apocryphal story only if you have a sense of humor. This yarn is a spoof, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. This story is a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright Notice:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)
FAKE ETHICS
Long back, during my navy days, I was once made the chairman of a selection board. There were 5 other members.
We were tasked to carry out the complete recruitment process – starting from the advertisement, scrutiny of applications, written examination, interviews, till final selection.
Of course, as is the practice in the navy, we had to perform this onerous task “in addition to our duties” – in short, it was a “bum job” and quite a painful, laborious and time consuming bum job.
A senior officer called all of us to his office to give us a “pep talk”.
“You are to go strictly by the rules and the selection is to be done purely on merit. Some people may try to interfere, canvass for candidates, send recommendations, but you are to disregard all such demands, howsoever high the person making the recommendation may be, and you are to ensure that things are above board and there are no allegations of nepotism or any other wrongdoing – as I said, you strictly follow the rules and ensure proper selection on merit. If any wrongdoing comes to my notice, I will punish all of you very severely. Do I make myself clear?” the senior officer warned us.
As we were leaving, the senior officer asked me to stay back.
When we were alone, he took out a folded chit from his pocket.
The senior officer gave the folded chit to me and said, “This has come from the top. There are a few names there – see what you can do about it.”
I did not even open the folded chit.
I just tore up the chit into small pieces.
Then I threw the torn up pieces of paper into the ashtray on the table.
“What have you done?” the senior officer shouted at me, looking stunned.
“Sir, I know that you are trying to test my integrity,” I said.
Then I got up, saluted him and walked away.
There was no interference from him, or any other bigwigs, thereafter.
MORAL OF THE STORY
Do not listen to what people SAY
Watch what they DO
I am sure you have seen many such examples of hypocrisy, double standards and duplicity where there is a dissonance between word and deed – inconsistencies in what people say and what they actually do – which exemplify the dictum: “Actions speak louder than words”.
I have seen many such examples in the navy.
I remember that once there was a senior officer who was fond of pontificating on ethics.
This officer loved to deliver moral lectures on ethics, values, integrity, honesty, morality, honour, principles, service ethos, code of conduct et al.
He constantly talked of the need for ethics and moral values.
Many years later, his name surfaced in a scam.
CONCLUSION
Look around you and you will see many such examples.
You will observe that many people do exactly the opposite of what they say, and this will convince you of this truism:
Do not listen to what people SAY
Watch what they DO
Beware of “Fake Ethics”
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright Notice:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve all rights reserved
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